What I liked
I loved the endearing conversations between “Master Joseph” and “Miss Magnolia” Through humorous dialogue we become intimate with the . . .well, intimacy they are forced to share. At many points I forgot I was only watching one person as the artifice of theatre fades quickly with Joe’s acting prowress. Hutchinson has a way of creating a sense of place and atmosphere around him with nothing more than a table, a fan and a glass. Flying a kite at the beach, I was there. In a karaoke bar, I was there. With a magical ending that moved me to tears, Miss Magnolia puts us in touch with our longing for our lives to have meaning and the knowing that where we mean the most is through the eyes of others.
What I didn't like
n/a
My overall impression
I LOVED this show! Smart! Moving! Surprising! So much more than you think it’s going to be. Miss Magnolia will make you wonder if this is the story of a possession, or a deeply personal revelation of the self – or both? From the first moment that Miss Magnolia starts to introduce herself, I was transfixed. What is happening here? Why is she in the body of a gay man vacationing in Provincetown? What ensues is as funny as you’d think (you try hooking up with a debutante watching your every move) but more deep than you’d expect. Hutchinson lays wonderfully hidden Easter eggs throughout the writing, layering the play with subtle meaning that makes you hang on every word.
