What I liked
I’m always sympathetic about the plight of marginalized communities and the working class. I’m certainly aware of how underpaid and mistreated nurses and teachers are because those people have overwhelmingly been women historically.
Besides drawing attention to that, Charley draws attention to just how much both a capitalist society and the patriarchy harm many people and leave them struggling their whole life.
She does ultimately help us realize what I’ve learned myself in recent times – a lot of people’s lives don’t turn out at all how they’d envisioned, but in the end we all die and none of it will matter anymore. We should simply enjoy the time we have as best as we can.
Also, Charley’s brief musical numbers, complemented by her son’s skilled keyboard playing, were fun!
What I didn't like
I like Charley but she’s awfully soft-spoken for a one-person show, a format which pretty much requires someone highly charismatic.
At least if it’s this long. Cutting this from 75 minutes to 60 or even 45 might be a good idea.
That does lead me to another issue. Charley didn’t even stick to her allotted 75 minutes. She started early to get some free extra time. I can understand Fringe is pricey and you want to find ways to game the system, but I still felt gypped as someone who entered the room at 5:58 for a 6:00 show and saw it had already begun. What did I miss?
My overall impression
A hapless elderly woman movingly describes her life of struggle, caused largely by her beleaguered profession. Definitely recommended.
