What I liked
The set design and stage setup was very well done. It really gave Jackie and the other characters the opportunity to utilize the entirety of the space. I felt like I was right there in the dressing room with everyone.
I loved the use of the mirror as a device for the character’s self-reflection and also performing to the audience. “Susan, be a dear and…”
As an audience member, make sure you sit somewhere in the theater to see Jackie in the mirror to get the full performative experience.
The beats of humor were what really drew me in to be a part of the more serious moments. Nothing was over-the-top. It felt relatable. I mean, who of us hasn’t silenced a necessary rage-scream with a pillow to the face? The ring of the phone or a knock on the door kept the situation moving in a comedic way that made me want to meet the other characters and see where this goes.
I loved the dressing screen partition and light to show the silhouettes of the characters. The first time it happens made the character change so unexpected and made me want more.
Speaking of, I was very impressed with the character changes! I know how hard it is to do a quick change backstage and there were numerous changes that happened during the show.
Last but not least, this should be an obvious one but, the acting and characters were fantastic. Every character was fully formed with depth and added to my understanding of Jackie’s situation. Each persona was distinct and enjoyable (but Donovan was my favorite!).
What I didn't like
I don’t think there was anything that specifically “didn’t work.” I can understand that one of the most difficult things about putting on a show like this with multiple characters and costume changes is a challenge, to say the least. The time between one character leaving the stage and another character emerging is an exercise in speed and precision. The only thing I can think of that could be improved upon are those few beats where there was nothing onstage between the characters. But I also know it’s easy for someone to say “just go faster!” Actually, there were several changes where Jackie or Donovan were speaking off stage or their silhouette was present to “fill the void.” The silhouettes were specifically great for this. But, as a suggestion, I think if you had someone time (literally stopwatch) EVERY transition and then find ways to make the longer transitions SEEM shorter by filling the time, it would really help the pacing on those moments (e.g., more off stage dialogue, more silhouettes, giving the audience a focal point of something left on stage, sounds or music, etc.).
My overall impression
You know that feeling you get when you stumble across a show or movie or book or song that you had no idea was going to be so enjoyable? It’s that sensation of, “what is this and why didn’t I know about this earlier?” as your eyes and ears are glued to the performance. It’s the recommendation from a friend that resonates with you in a way that you feel the need to thank said friend every time you see them as you now can’t stop recommending this new obsession to everyone you know. “You haven’t seen it?! You have to see it!”
That is Jackie, Baby!
You, as the audience, are taken backstage to bear witness to the creative cyclone that is Jackie, a Vaudeville performer at a turning point in her career. As she is in the midst of what could be her last shot in the limelight, you meet the people close to her and begin to understand the nuance of who she is, both as a performer and as a person. Each character brings more understanding of not only where she is in her life but where she wishes she was…her passions, her fears, her loves and her regrets.
This is a show filled with humor and heart. It was a lovely journey, having the opportunity to peer through the window into the inner workings of an artist who doesn’t know what may come next. And as an audience member, without knowing what to expect from a show, this was a wonderful surprise that I cannot recommend highly enough.
“Have you seen it? No?! Well you have to see Jackie, Baby!”
