An Up-and-Coming Cabaret Star Looks at Life, Love, Lust, and Everything Else That Happens Under the Covers

“As tempting as it is, please refrain from opening your dating apps during this show,” requests Felipe Luz in a voiceover at the beginning of their show, dubbed “Men Are Trash and I’m a Raccoon.”

Luckily, Luz is too engaging for that to be a concern. They’re not performing in a one-person show; They are a one-person show.

Luz is a Manhattanite who pursued an MFA in Acting at Ohio University (where they recently brought their show). They are a self-described “Brazilian multi-hyphenate and teaching artist” who believes “we should all live our lives as works of art.” And they are fulfilling this 100 percent in their ongoing theatrical journey, where they regale the crowd with persona life stories and lessons—with plenty of laughs along the way.

A stage is set with Japanese byōbu screens flanking a semi-dressed mannequin behind a makeup mirror and table, and a satin-sheeted bed. Luz emerges, a lighthouse beacon coming to rescue us from our denial of how modern life works (or doesn’t).

“How much will people put themselves into boxes only to get laid?” they observe. “Isn’t Grindr the LinkedIn of Sex”? And thus, the tone is set, and it’s lots of Truth and implied Dare. Luz proceeds to lay down the ground rules that must be followed if anyone wants their attention—no sex with idiots, no politics, no questions asked—while acknowledging that all those rules get dropped if Luz is feeling “super-horny.”

Luz’s honesty is refreshing and hilarious, and we laugh as they shine the spotlight back on us, urging us to consider our own motives in life and love. The show is filled with Luz’s astute observations and revelations; they admit they’ve always been a
“manic pixie dream boy,” who often exists solely as a “plot device” for people to learn about themselves before they move on to someone else (a stunning realization that surely hits home for many of us).

Lux is the kind of performer who holds your attention from beginning to end (an end that arrives too soon and leaves the audience wanting more). Their storytelling is rich and poignant, peppered with hilarity and familiarity, emotion and vulnerability. A relationship begins, addictions are addressed and conquered, feelings increase and diminish, restlessness and doubt creep in, and a wondering of what else is out there leads to growing apart and finally, a breakup.

“I’ll be forever grateful to you for showing me that I deserve love,” Luz says to their unseen former partner in a bittersweet, teary moment. Then the mood changes, as Luz, jumping excitedly on the bed, announces a plan to message all the boys they’ve ever dated and call them out— “just for the drama!”

Social media, and its impact on modern dating, gets a turn under Luz’ powerful microscope. In a nutshell, they observe that our addiction to checking on people from our past online means we can never truly turn the page and free ourselves, and our former objects of affection know this. “I’ll start dating someone else in two weeks, and they won’t even be that pretty, and you’ll wonder what’s wrong with you!” Luz proclaims to a past paramour (another shot to the heart).

It’s then that a true shot to the heart is delivered. “We’re always waiting for someone, so we don’t want to get too attached, because there might be someone better waiting around the next corner.” Luz knows themself—and us—very well.

“Men Are Trash and I’m a Racoon” recently ran at Brooklyn’s The Rat, and further NYC shows are coming this year. Follow Felipe on Instagram at @letherebefelipeluz to see what they do next (and where you can see them do it!).