What I liked
This is tough cause I didn’t like anything.
I LOVED ALL IT. Scott Leggett’s directions was precise and full of intention and you could see how the tech helped tell the story. Everything had a purpose and the play was ahead of us the whole time. A tricky script to direct with the flashbacks, different characters, etc but Leggett delivered masterfully. I will aggressively pursue the chance to work with him in the future. The transitions were tight and fast and the use of the projection screen was brilliant almost felt like another character. One that made you giggle and one that breaks your heart.Tyler Stillwell and Pamela Eberhardt played beautifully together. The energy between them was electric and at times, being in the audience felt voyeuristic due the depth of vulnerability on stage. Stillwell encompassed a full range of desperate emotions from hopelessness to absolute joy and had us with home for every second. Pamela likewise was a tender partner to the audience, guiding us through the story with an incredibly wide range of sometimes difficult to watch emotions because she was so dropped in. They both understood the incredibly sharp knife’s edge of comedy and drama they had to maneuver and did it masterfully. Truly award winning performances.
The writing is what struck me the most. Pam can always be trusted to deliver a banger but with this play, she dives deeper into what an audience can take and cannot take. She challenges the audience to laugh at a hilarious Jared Leto joke then sweeps the rug right out from under you by daring you not to look away from tension onstage. Tension that we are all complicit it in building in our own lives . This brechtian effect was unnerving in the best way. Indeed, the comedy/discomfort dichotomy made my stomach tighten. It was so bizarre to be laughing at a joke whilst concurrently feeling absolutely horrible about the circumstances of the play and how it relates to my life. This play is easily one of my favorites from Pam because she could have easily made this just a comedy and it would’ve worked. But she didn’t play it safe, and she didn’t let us play it safe either.
What I didn't like
NA
My overall impression
Run, do not walk to see this show. It’ll have you laughing and crying. It’s cleverly written with pathos, comedic gems, and an important message. It Absolutely belongs in top of fringe no questions.
