July 21, 2005
East to Edinburgh: Christine Jorgensen Reveals

In the 1950’s, everyone knew the name Christine Jorgensen. Nee George in the Bronx in 1926, In the 1950’s, everyone knew the name Christine Jorgensen. Nee George in the Bronx in 1926, Jorgensen did a brief stint in the army before traveling to Denmark to undergo a sex-change-operation in 1952. When she returned to the States, the New York Daily News outed her with the headline “Ex-GI Becomes Blonde Beauty” – and the rest is herstory.

Gender identity has greatly evolved since then, and Jorgensen – with her mink stoles, Marilyn Monroe coif and affected accent – was reduced to a historical footnote. However, she has recently resurfaced as a political and pop-cultural icon. Last month, a version of her tale was mounted at the International Toy Theater Festival at St. Ann’s Warehouse. Now in a run-up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Christine Jorgensen Reveals is playing New York for six performances.

The concept is simple: Bradford Louryk – in drag, a dead ringer for his subject – enters and lip synchs to a recording of a candid, hour long interview Jorgensen gave in 1958. The interviewer, one Mr. Russell, is lip-synched by the hilarious Rob Grace, seen on video.

It might seem that being locked into a recorded text would limit the piece’s theatrical resonance. But while the words are predetermined, Louryk takes a cue from Lypsinka’s performing legacy by making sure his physical interpretation of Jorgensen is real and nuanced. Whether giving a sorrowful look when asked about having children, or rolling his eyes when questioned about being attracted to women, Louryk is simply stunning. It’s an insightful postmodern treatment of a very contemporary subject.

-Raven Snook