In short, the performance. It’s brave, honest and open. Annie Lesser always manages to get me to think about things a little differently, and this is her at her most intimate.
What I didn't like
The show felt a little rough in places. One thing that the friends I saw this with agreed on was that it would be nice to set up the conversation a bit. Who are we? Are we an old friend? Are we supposed to be a stranger? Giving us a reason for being there other than that we paid for the show would help with the immersion. I also would have appreciated some more actual conversation, particularly at the very end.
My overall impression
This is performance at its most stripped down, intimate and human. While Death and Coffee may be a bit rough around the edges and I suspect will resonate with some a lot more than others, it offers a remarkable perspective on processing loss and making sense of not-so-simple relationships.