The Good Body

The last time we heard from Ensler, she was sharing her dramaturgic ramblings on the vagaries of vaginas (THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES). Her fixation and attention have moved north to her stomach, and, as usual, Eve leaves no crone unturned, no lass unlabored, no stereotype untouched as she delves into the seriocomic depths of the estrogen-fueled abdomen. Her vocal caricatures are often hilarious, even as they evolve to touching truths about women accepting their bodies as they are--beautiful, flexible, amazing near-miracles. Ensler's quality of performance waxes and wanes, but just as her self-examination begins to lag, up pops a memorable woman she has met somewhere in the world, expanding the stage and honing the spotlight on that beautiful, if rounded and full, belly. D.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine