People are always telling D’yan Forest to “act her age.” For her, that is simply unacceptable. At 77 years young, when D’yan has seen, experienced, and gone to bed with so much of the world, she simply hasn’t been able to settle into her age. In I Married a Nun!, running at UNDER St. Marks, she has set out to tell her story, to explain and illustrate just why being a senior is not where she’s at right now.

For the record, she did, in fact, marry a nun. For 25 years D’yan was unofficially wedded to Mary, an ex-lady of the cloth with whom she travelled the world and shared a rather active sex life (don’t worry–she’s got props). While her relationship with Mary is the focus of a large part of her story, D’yan also goes into great detail about her exploits, dalliances, and experiments before and after. She has, it seems, been comfortable in her skin and up for anything since she was a little girl growing up in Boston.

D’yan Forest is charming, witty, and expressive as she moves through her deeply personal journey. She is entertaining and admirable in her brash, unapologetic discussion of the tawdrier bits of her lifestyle. She relishes in it, wishing, it seems, the same euphoria and freedom on her audience that has been granted to her in this life.

It is only at the very end where the performance needs a little bit of sharpening. The overall meaning of the piece is lost somewhere in her final anecdotes. She muses on the solitary place she finds herself in today, but rather than elevating these thoughts for a higher, more universal message, she quickly wraps it up. What was a story of joy and excitement and unbridled experimental risks becoming just another “hello this is me in 90-minutes-or-less” solo performance. And D’yan is far too fascinating and fabulous for that to be the final takeaway.

There is something truly special about seeing a woman who has so embraced herself and her body and her lifestyle with no hesitation. It’s inspiring, even. She’s up there, bearing her soul and telling her story, armed with nothing but a ukulele.  And a light-up dildo.

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The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

Related Posts:

• Love In The Time Of Chlamydia: Love And War Stories (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• I Married A Nun: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• A Broad Abroad!: 10 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2016 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Big Plastic Heroes: Good Things Come In Big Plastic Packages (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Blind To Happiness: To See Or Not To See (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

Five Questions. Five Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

I MARRIED A NUN! Dyan Forest

I Married A Nun!

A one-woman show that dramatically depicts D’yan’s search for love and meaning in life, finding the answers—at age 77—in the smoldering cabarets and demimonde of Paris. With humor, art and her ukulele, she reveals the truth that’s valid for all of us.

Show Times:

• Wed. 2/22 @ 9:00 PM
• Thurs. 2/23 @ 6:00 PM
• Sun. 2/26 @ 1:00 PM
• Thurs. 3/1 @ 7:30 PM
• Sat. 3/3 @ 8:30 PM

Answers by D’yan Forest
(Playwright & Performer)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?
D’yan: It’s the truth, and the reason I wrote the show.

Diánna Martin’s Question
If you were going to invite five people, anyone from past and present, to see your FRIGID show – who would you invite and why?
D’yan: I’d start with the Nun, so she could see the truth. The Nun’s daughter (that’s right the Nun has a kid) would be second on the list, so the daughter could see how she ruined the marriage. I’d also invite my Rabbi so she would forgive me for what I’d love to do to the ex-Nun. Of course my shrink needs to be included, so she can get a better idea of how to cure me. And lastly, I’d invite the most conservative member of my golf club, so they would be aware of why I go to Paris, and have so much fun. Plus then, they will tell everyone else at the club about my Parisian adventures.

Antonio Minino’s Question
What is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your Art and was it worth it?
D’yan: Writing the show, and baring my soul for all to see.  So far, my bank account says it’s not worth it.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s Question
Was there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and, if so, can you share it?
D’yan: My senior citizen friends, though shocked, still talked to me after the show.

Michelle Augello-Page’s Question
What do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?
D’yan: I would love to educate people that L’amour n’a pas d’age – Love has no age, and no boundaries.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

THM Bonus Question – We’re serious this year!
In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?
D’yan: …

D’yan! That’s not actually an answer! BUT this year we will be picking for those who are NOT playing because THIS IS THE PART OF THE Q&A THAT COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEAAAAATH!  SO!

You are PAPER. And you challenge Poe-Dunk: A Matchbox Entertainment because despite the fact that they are matches you think you can conquer them with your piece of paper.  The result is a fiery blaze!  Just like your show!

Thanks I Married A Nun! for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2012 Q&A. And for letting us play the game in your place. You’re officially PAPER in any and all challenges. You may win, you may not – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

For the rest of you, don’t forget to check out I Married A Nun!

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The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.

Related Posts:

• I Married A Nun! – And That’s Just The Beginning … (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• ‘Til Love Do Us Part: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Drowning Ophelia: A New Rock Musical – 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• I’m Only Explaining This Once: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)
• Big Plastic Heroes: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)