What I liked
Passionately performed with an absolute command of the stage.
The jet-black humor / pathos, with at times heartbreaking empathy, that I absolutely loved.
The set was also great. ESPECIALLY how the flashing floor lights were used in that scene. It was so moving. I teared up.
What I didn't like
Two things:
1: Pick an ending. This is my biggest note. There were at least 3 (possibly 4) endings. The first (potential) one, which dovetailed nicely into the top of the show, I was about to get up, but something about his body language signaled NOPE. Then there were 3 other potential endings. It reminded me of watching the first Lord of the Rings movie, which had multiple endings, and I remember sitting in the theater with my friends going…“is it over? Should we leave”? All 3 (possibly 4) endings worked. Please pick one.
2: Gia / Gena. One (Gia?) was his partner dying of cancer, the other (Gena?) was a member of the theater troupe who left for (spoiler redacted..and that was OMG Gut Punch out of the blue).
The one dying of cancer (Gia?) was fine and clear in her storyline.
But Gena, the (OMFWTF Gut Punch spoiler redacted?) Was she slumming Upside the whole time for fun? Or was she a long-game plant sent Upside every once in a while to ingratiate herself in a group to find entertainment for the bored folks Down Below? I feel there were crumbs about her story I almost sort of picked up on, but not quite. That could just be Me, tho.
My overall impression
This is a bravely glorious In These Times extrapolation and excoriation of what we as a society and planet are facing in the future in part due to unbridled capitalism. This is a very layered show – sledgehammer in one hand, gentle empathy in the other.
