What I liked
What a strikingly beautiful piece of theatre. From the moment we entered the space, I felt instantly transported into this meditative, loving and welcoming space. Much of this is due to Payden Ackerman’s warm and soothing demeanor as he greeted each of us. His performance remains sweet and compelling throughout the play.
Writer and actor Katelyn Schiller is equally open and inviting. She handles the time hops deftly, shifting cleanly from child to adult. She connects fiercely with everyone around her, performer and audience alike, in a way that is quite profound.
I particularly enjoyed the use of time hopping – every flashback was clearly related to what was happening in the present and really supported the story and helped move us along.
The design of the show was stunning – excellent use of light
I must acknowledge the genius of the cat. Incredible puppetry, and such a realistic portrayal of the aggravating, yet endearing tendencies of feline behavior! Very funny.
What I didn't like
As beautiful as the show was, I found myself pretty lost in understanding what exactly was happening in terms of “going dark”. In what I assume was an effort to not teach a class on this theory, a lot of the details of how all this works were delivered quickly and in an offhanded sort of way. That being said, the actors were compelling enough to keep me engaged even when I was feeling confused about the details.
My overall impression
A beautiful piece that left me in a somewhat meditative state. A loving and open cast that draws you in like a cozy blanket and really takes you along on the journey with them.
