What I liked
I loved that this play challenged me as an audience member. As opposed to providing a character that the audience already agrees with, This play gives us someone who I’d wager the majority of the fringe audience vehemently disagrees with, confronts us with this character, and ultimately gets us to feel for them. The play at times made me laugh, feel uncomfortable, and empathize with someone I don’t fully understand.
It can’t be said enough how wonderful Hailey McAfee is in this. She is such a compelling actress, and navigates a challenging character journey with ease, taking the audience along every subtle shift the entire way.
I’m always impressed by Rosie Glen-Lambert’s direction, and this is no exception. Despite its simplicity, the staging is dynamic and incredibly effective.
The design stands out to me particularly. Mallory McAfee’s costume design is smart and brings us in on the character before a word is spoken. Russell Chow’s Lighting design blew me away. I forgot I was in a black box theater in Hollywood, the design was stunning. Padra Crissafulli’s sound design was also a major highlight for me. The sound further enhanced the emotional layer of this piece and painted the world we were witnessing.
What I didn't like
I’d be curious to see how this play develops over time. I think there may be moments in the script that could be tightened, although I think still works very well in its current state.
My overall impression
An incredibly nuanced play that explores an important subject with a complex character that challenges its audience. The production is so cohesive from the beautiful design to the sharp staging and powerful performance by Hailey McAfee.
