Jesus H: A Solo Play for the Zealot in all of Us

I enjoy solo shows; the best happen when we get to see the actor's true self. She told her story truthfully and entertainingly. I would recommend this to all.... full review

Mariah Freda is a breath of fresh air. From the moment the lights come up, she captivates the theatre with an electric stage presence - you can feel that she genuinely wants to connect with each person in the audience. Though the subject matter deals with religion, cultural identity, and anxiety, Mariah keeps the show light and breezy as she deftly navigates a quick-witted script filled with colorful characters. Solo shows like this frequently come off like a series of caricatures, but Mariah avoids this trap - instead, it feels like she is celebrating the uniqueness of each human that inhabits her play. And as a bonus, it turns out she has a beautiful singing voice, too. A total delight. ... full review

I found "Jesus H" especially moving because of my own religious upbringing, but it is still universal in its themes, as the subtitle suggests ("for the zealot in all of us"). It is also universal in its impact. This is all credit to the fact that Mariah Freda is such a breath of fresh air as a performer. Her performance shimmers with energy, grace and specificity. Highly, highly recommended. ... full review

Seen 15 shows at this years Fringe so far and this is one of my top top picks. She has only one show left and I encourage all to go. Such a beautiful, charming and honest story of Mariah's story of being terrified by a long flight and having to endure the journey next to a Jehovah's witness who brings her back to her strict catholic upbringing and the questions that have arisen throughout her adult years. Mariah is an amazing storyteller, never did she seem like she was performing. She was just telling us a story as if we/I was the only person in the room. So many times in this piece I had to close my eyes and think about how I related and what I thought about her perceptions of her relationship with religion (Not God) I found myself nodd... full review

Freda is a gifted storyteller. She plays the story in such a way that you feel like you are right there with her. The result is a hilarious and heartfelt story that many of us can relate to. Her story jumps back and forth between the flight, her conversation with her seatmate, her family and her faith. At times it was impossible to stop laughing at her ordeal. Read the rest of the review on Examiner.com.... full review