I am my own wife - Lakeshore Players

Photo by Kara Salava

What a fascinating show this is. I Am My Own Wife is an incredible one-person show that tells the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (based on her real life), as well as the circumstances surrounding the writing of the play. This may not sound that interesting until you take into account that Charlotte was a transvestite who survived the Nazi government in Berlin, and eventually the Communist government in East Berlin. Her life is complicated and messy, but so interesting.

Directed by the amazing Craig Johnson, Lewis Youngren is telling this story playing not only Charlotte, but also Doug Wright (the playwright), John Marks (a friend of Wrights who brought this story to his attention), and all the other characters in the show. Through out it all, dressed in a simple black dress, tights, boots, a head kerchief, and a simple strand of white pearls, Youngren shows us the passion that Charlotte had for objects, and telling her story. It starts with a visit to the Gründerzeit Museum where Doug encounters Charlotte who is leading a tour of the house she is living in, which is also a museum of all the things she collected. Her focus is on the Gründerzeit period, which was a period of economic boom from 1867-1873. She loved music machines and clocks most of all. How this beginning expands into her telling her life story is fantastic writing.

Photo by Kara Salava

It is difficult to write about this work without giving away too much story. What I found interesting is how all the characters interacted - Wright started learning German specifically so he could talk with Charlotte easier, and we see the two characters (played by the one actor) build their friendship. It is an imaginative work that tells some fantastic queer history. It is also incredible work by Lewis Youngren who is the only one on stage through out both acts. Each character is so sharply defined and clear, from physical mannerisms, to vocal qualities. While the work isn't visible, it is clear that a lot of conversation and dialogue between Craig Johnson and Youngren went into this performance. It is an amazing job and should be seen by a lot of people. The production design by Eric Morris was perfect. The performance takes place in the black box at Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear. The audience is seated on two sides of the black box, while the set takes up the other two walls. They are both covered in long grey curtains which get pulled back to reveal part of Charlotte's collection, as well as a staircase and ladder. The curtains also get used to show various places in Charlotte's life and house. It is a great use of the full space. All the design elements worked so well together.

Go see this performance, and this show. It is thought provoking as it relates to how we each tell our own story, and how complicated people are. It is a slice of queer history, as well as world history. It only plays till the 14th so there is limited time.