In My Ass (In The World) Jasmine Pittenger explores our cultural biases about body image through the lens of an international traveler, journeying to exotic, far-away lands where those biases are not only upended, but completely thrown away.  This is juxtaposed with the backdrop of violence in war-torn regions around the world, forcing us to ask ourselves “is the violence in the world the same as the violence we inflict upon our own bodies in order to fit some unattainable ideal?”

Performing as a cast of characters from around the world, Ms. Pittenger bares her soul in some wonderfully, and sometimes brutally, honest moments. From the wonder and adoration of Senegalese tribeswomen, to the predations of well-to-do South American teens, culminating in the dangers of being blonde and full-figured on the back streets of Afghanistan, Jasmine pulls no punches as she weaves her story supported by simple but elegant projections on the set behind her.

Coming in at just under 60 minutes the piece feels a bit short, as if there is more to this story that needs to be told and we are only hearing the beginning. That said, My Ass is a delightful hour of theatre and I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a craving for kofta kebabs after seeing it.

Performance Schedule: