What I liked
Mallie is absolutely incredible on stage, able to turn a slapstick or outrageous moment into one that’s incredibly human and raw. The tone itself is absolutely wondrous, successfully completing its balancing act. The framing of the story also benefits it immensely. The notion of one woman performing all the parts in Titanic for 90 minutes could run the risk of getting old, but Mallie’s personal journal entries from her youth mix things up quite a bit, especially with clever cutting between the two. The first few minutes in, I had a feeling she was headed towards somewhere extraordinary (an end revelation) and I was praying she could stick the unique landing of humor and heartbreak. Not only did she do so, but she mixed it with so many other emotions, magic, audience enjoyment, audience involvement, creativity, DIY solutions- too many aspects to really note at the moment! I will say that it provided a moment in time and space, for 90 minutes, where we all were able to leave the world and enter someone else’s, and just be invited along for the ride with open arms and glee. Times are tough, and life is fleeting, but every good story needs an iceberg. Even tragedies can have saving graves.
Lastly, I enjoyed how much a dick be an anthropomorphic iceberg was!
What I didn't like
I really have no notes. I’m not being nice either, there really is nothing I would change about this. The artist knew exactly what she wanted to say and executed perfectly.
My overall impression
One of the most ambitious, energetic, and utterly human pieces I’ve seen this festival. A adaptation wrapped in a unique framing device with original writing, with the duality of self being explored through one’s work against the behind-the-scenes of one’s trauma.
An absolute triumph in every regard!