Born To Be Alive. Selene Luna
Selene Luna is 3’10”, a little person, (not the dreaded M word). She has had a rough life and survived in glorious Technicolor. Born in Mexico she made her way to America and after being discovered as a magician’s assistant, she befriended the women of The Velvet Hammer Burlesque, a groundbreaking troupe who single-handedly revived the neglected art form in the early nineties (this is what the press release says and I have no reason to dispute this.) Eventually and perhaps inevitably she was asked to join the troupe and quickly rose through the ranks to begin her assent to stardom. She has shared some of her life adventures before on stage, she is a performer after all, but this time she is funnier, fresher, more open and more vulnerable. She answers intimate questions that arise when one is 3’10” and shares lots of amusing stories. Most importantly she shares her immense courage and strength of character in the midst of her adversity. But when she addresses the question of whether or not she would like to be “big”, she honestly answers “no” cause it’s all she knows so why change a good thing. It took her a lifetime to get where she is and gain audience as well as her own acceptance. She calls her show “Born To Be Alive”.
The audience loved her. She must have had 7 or 8 costume changes, all sparkly and sequined as befits a queen of burlesque. Her act sizzles thanks to the expert direction of veteran Derrick LaSalle. She has never used a director or for that matter a writer (John Stapleton) before. It comes with self-acceptance and the desire to put on a good show. In case your wondering she does finally strip for us displaying as fine a set of boobies as one is like to see. Selene Luna performs her magic at the Davidson/Valentini Theatre at the Gay and Lesbian Center until June 27th. In keeping with her generous heart the production is being performed a benefit to the Center. It is probably the most unique show on display in Los Angeles and worth the trip.