My overall impression
Lisa Cole has done what every person should do, though few of us have the courage or skill to do publicly.
Miss Cole takes us on a jaw-dropping journey of true stories that have shaped the person she is today. She has chosen to tell her story in the vehicle of leaving a post-death video for her family and friends (hence the title), and this works well, but the substance comes from the baring of the soul in telling the stories between “video takes”.
Miss Cole’s experiences appear to have shaped her much differently than they would many others. In a brief interview after the show, she explained that the story she wrote, or more accurately the presentation of the story she wrote, was a comedy. This shocked me as much as the life-experiences she has endured.
To be sure, there is a comedic element of the show. There are moments of tension-lifting laughter throughout the show, and an hilarious dance club scene. Miss Cole’s stories are clearly true, and the presentation clearly sincere.
Is the courage in presenting a story that is as dark as the rest of our own personal stories, or is the courage in presenting a story that is much darker than the rest of our personal stories? Of course the applicable question depends on the viewer, who will most definitely ask themselves one of these.
The questions one asks themselves beyond this show, of their own lives and the world around them, is evidence of the skill with which the show is written and performed.
A little more production could go a long way with this one. However if much is added should be very careful to not take away from our view and presentation of Miss Cole’s soul, which makes the play an important viewing experience for anyone who wishes to be drawn into another world and have some soul-searching of their own.
