In Edna Mira Raia’s one-person show, “Altars for my Alters,” she splits the human psyche into a smattering of hilarious, contemporary anti-heroes. From Cordelia, the sensitive animal activist, to Pina, the hard-bitten chola, Edna highlights the strangers we culturally stereotype but takes the time to humanize and honor each one. Her characters swirl in harmonious confusion as Edna (a self-declared “anthro-apologist”) makes you love them–maybe even envy them—in spite of their inherent–and oft regrettable–human flaws.
A devoted dreamer, she leads you deep into her bottomless hole of personalities, through a proficiency in neo-classic clowning and a quirky cartoon style that is uniquely hers.
Even when these characters are ugly and scary like a spooky Diane Arbus photograph, Edna nudges you towards an uncomfortable empathy for the ‘tragic clown’ in everyone. Don’t miss her. Don’t miss any of the “hers.”