"THE SUM OF MY PARTS"

As he parades around the stage in a “Most Unique” sash in his one-man show, Michael Mullen perpetuates the very stereotypes he aims to dispel. The Sum of My Parts tells the arduously long story of Mullen’s gender and sexual identity crisis. From playing with dolls to his first boyfriend, Mullen painstakingly recounts lists of details that make him different from all the other little boys and girls. That unique difference, however, is quickly shattered whenever Mullen breaks to brag to the audience that he knows things about dresses and make-up because he’s gay- effectively lumping all gay men into a stereotype of effeminacy. The purpose of the piece seems to be Mullen’s embracing of his duality, but that purpose is clouded by his self-do... full review

As he parades around the stage in a “Most Unique” sash in his one-man show, Michael Mullen perpetuates the very stereotypes he aims to dispel. The Sum of My Parts tells the arduously long story of Mullen’s gender and sexual identity crisis. From playing with dolls to his first boyfriend, Mullen painstakingly recounts lists of details that make him different from all the other little boys and girls. That unique difference, however, is quickly shattered whenever Mullen breaks to brag to the audience that he knows things about dresses and make-up because he’s gay- effectively lumping all gay men into a stereotype of effeminacy. The purpose of the piece seems to be Mullen’s embracing of his duality, but that purpose is clouded by his self-dou... full review