My overall impression
In her one-woman show, “Death, Cancer and Other Bumps in the Road”, Laney Fichera tells us the story of her life, her loved ones and their life and death battles. Too often, death has won out.
Laney brings a unique element of emotion to the audience. Right away, she wins you over and you feel her pain/joy in her fresh and enjoyable performance.
Laney has an engaging and energetic stage presence. One minute, she’s calmly meditatating to cope with what life has dealt her. The next minute she’s hopping up on the furniture or treating us to a graceful balletic turn.
She is real, and that’s a big part of why her stage presence is so winning. You can relate to her as a real person, not just an actress reciting lines on a small stage. The stories she tells about her mother, sister and others draw you in because they’re so intimate and relatable. They are told as though you were a close friend, sitting across her kitchen table, sipping cups of coffee or chai tea.
Simple and direct. Heartfelt and genuine. Poignant and amusing. That’s how Laney Fichera comes across. “Death, Cancer and Other Bumps in the Road” is an ideal vehicle for the amiable actress and time well worth spending with a friend like Laney.
Roger Lyons
