What I liked
The concept felt original, and the character’s factual tangents gave her a distinct voice. Turner handled character shifts clearly despite the minimal setup.
What I didn't like
Several moments in the show—especially when the performer stepped offstage—felt prolonged and lacking in clear purpose. These stretches of silence disrupted the rhythm and made certain transitions feel static rather than intentional. While pauses can serve as reflection points, here they tended to diffuse the energy built up in preceding scenes.
My overall impression
In The Injustice of Virginity, writer-director Thea Pueschel presents a solo performance that follows a neurodivergent young woman’s attempt to navigate her first sexual experience. While the premise leans into humor, the piece also thoughtfully explores deeper themes such as isolation, miscommunication, and the societal pressure to meet conventional milestones.
Dominique Turner delivers a nuanced performance as Justice, guiding the audience through awkward encounters, peculiar party dynamics, and moments of personal insight. With minimal staging and props, Turner skillfully transitions between characters and scenarios, constructing a layered portrait of a young woman caught between desire and discomfort. Her portrayal effectively captures the tension between Justice’s analytical mindset and the unpredictability of human interaction.
A notable stylistic choice in the script is the frequent use of extended monologues—tangents on biology, social theory, or regional trivia. While this technique may occasionally slow the pacing, it also offers a meaningful glimpse into the protagonist’s neurodivergent perspective, inviting the audience to engage with her unique way of processing the world. Rather than traditional emotional arcs, the performance offers an intellectual and introspective rhythm that adds texture to the storytelling.
Pueschel’s direction maintains a consistent tone, opting for a non-traditional narrative structure that resists easy transformation arcs. Justice may not undergo a dramatic change, but that absence itself serves to emphasize the play’s central message—a quiet but pointed critique of how society defines and values virginity. Instead of offering tidy resolutions, the piece leaves the audience with lingering questions and thoughtful reflection, which may be its greatest strength.
