Meet Real Hermaphrodites

Futureproof Review

In the decrepit splendour of a chaotic old sideshow known as Riley’s Odditorium, we meet Riley’s family of freaks - Tiny, the World’s Fattest Man, Countess Marketa the armless bearded lady, Lillie and Millie the beautiful joined-at-the-hip Siamese twins, George/Georgina the hermaphrodite and Serena the ‘Mermaid’. 

But this troupe of survivors living on society’s edge have gone from being  ‘marvels to aberrations’ and are no longer pulling the crowds. How can Tiny stay ‘stunningly’ or ‘gloriously’ fat when rations are reduced all round?  The relentless optimistic Riley has a plan so that his family survives in a politically correct world. He has to shift their mindsets, open them to new possibilities, give them the capacity to tell a new story and literally transform them through the power of hope and other means. He has to make them futureproof.

Beauty sells. So-called normality sells. But there is a price to be paid for becoming ‘normal’ and an ugliness inside is seen at the family’s  willingness to marginalise Serena who, within the gradations of the code of freakery, is merely a novelty act and therefore not ‘real’. As Riley fails to recognise when they’re at the end of the line, and tries to turn things on their head, change, death and destruction abound.  

It would be impossible to single out anyone in this cast as they were all brilliant. The costumes and set were fabulous and the fat man suit just incredible! There is a marvellous dream sequence with beautiful long silver threads appearing as a curtain and the performance looking like an old flickering 8mm home movie, which was quite magical even though the dream in question was not a happy one. The unity of twins and indeed the family’s dynamics was clear in the incredibly moving waltz sequence.

In a time where obesity abounds yet nobody uses that particular F word it is refreshing that the play’s language is unhampered by political correctness, as is fitting for the subject matter of the play. This could stand as metaphor for society today in that couching things in euphemisms does not mask their existence. This play looks head on at human disfigurement and frailties, whether mental or physical and the paradox that is fitting in while being one’s self. We’re all in our own Odditorium, if we’re honest.

Real Madrid Signs 7-Year Old Soccer Star to Contract |

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The Spanish soccer regime, Real Madrid, has signed a seven year-old to a one year, renewable contract. The young soccer stud, Leonel Angel Coira, is from a soccer family and is enjoying total support from his parents in this venture. Coira will begin training with Real Madrid’s youth footballers during the fall.

While fans of Real Madrid are most likely thrilled with the move, the acquisition didn’t come without controversy. Many soccer fans, as well as overly concerned busy-bodies believe this move to be in poor professional taste–that sports organizations are signing kids while they are too young.

In February of 2010, David Sills, a 13 year old, verbally committed to USC. Said he had always dreamed of being a Trojan. Again, a move that was mired in controversy. Color me confused. Is it too early to start thinking about your future? Oh right. Kids don’t have any idea what they want…right. And there are no exceptions to this rule? Again. Confused.

I don’t see the problem with it. I think the issues always come from people who never played sports, or never enjoyed sports when they played them. It’s not as if this 7 year-old is going to be tossed on the field against FC Barcelona and David Villa and told to compete. He’s going to get one of the best soccer educations in the world, and he’s going to be compensated for it.

I have a feeling that a lot of the people who find such moves to be controversial have no problem going to see a movie or tuning into a TV show starring children.

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