Slut Liturgy
Written and Performed by Hope Brannon
Directed by Max Kantor
Presented by the New York City Fringe Festival
April 15, 2026
In all honesty, I don’t know exactly what to say about ‘Slut Liturgy.’ And I mean that as a massive compliment.
This show began with a bang, and it ended with an even bigger one. From the very beginning, I was hooked - even if just to see where it was possibly going. Hope Brannon is an incredible performer, commanding the story and stage with a unique ease and comfort. Swapping between characters and vignettes of her own life, we all got a glimpse into the sort of snapshot memories of her struggles with her mental health and religious trauma.
The most compelling aspect of this piece was the absolute rejection of shame. Brannon owned her stories, poking fun at her own vulnerabilities in a way that felt like the opposite of asking for approval. It’s no secret that honesty takes vulnerability, but this took honesty to an entirely new level. I can’t describe how refreshing it was to see.
Writing about mental illness is never easy, and writing about it in a comedic way is even harder. In finding a way to make light of perhaps the heaviest things a human being could go through, Brannon let us into the story in an even deeper way than if this had been a drama. Supported by an Altar Boy and Doctor Kevin, her therapist, Brannon took us back and forth through time and space, each scene punctuated by snippets of her dressed as a nun outside a church, dancing to early 2000s rap.
This piece was bold, raw and hilarious. It didn’t ask to be understood, it was was. Brannon didn’t hold our hands for the ride, but I was glued to my seat regardless.
Review by Niranjani Reddi.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 19, 2026. All rights reserved.
