Cecily by Gillian Plowman

I saw few shows at LA fringe over 2years and Cecily is my favorite. Even though it's a short story as it's part of fringe, story line has all the elements and how they put it together was enchanting. Great actors, great ensemble. Especially Esther Mira's performance was fantastic in portraying Cecily!!... full review

Here's a message to all fingers, please start your show on time. Late starts messes up the schedule for a person who wants to squeeze as many shows in one day as possible. With that said fringe is an opportunity to explore theater that wouldn't get the chance to exist. What I'm trying to say is please don't travel across the pond with regular theater that Americans can see anyways. I will say I admire the British accents, dialogue, and emotional connectedness from Dionne Neish as Sheila, DHL Sand as Ellen and Esther Mira as the title character Cecily. If realist theatre is your thing this is a go see. For those looking for fringey things, don't waste your time.... full review

I really enjoyed this show. I highly recommend it, all the actress were on point. Please go and support "Cecily"... full review

Great performances by all actors! Well written, interesting mix of family tension/perspective on issues for caretakers of the disabled, great structure. The flashbacks were the best part of the play, making me really feel the family's pain and loss for the stolen potential of their once bright, talented child (played with charisma and sincerity by Esther Mira). A difficult flow and structure to achieve, as the actors dipped in and out of flashbacks, reminding you of how memories can just overtake you unexpectedly. They pulled it off and really hit my heartstrings. A suspenseful and heartfelt show delivered with sweetness and talent. ... full review

I thoroughly enjoyed this show. Strong performances from all and a beautifully written British play. It is a very dark play but very gripping and entertaining. The whole performance only lasts 50 minutes so great if you've lots of shows to catch. The acting was superb but exceptional from Dionne Neish. Her character Shelia takes you on an emotional journey guiding you through a very broken and strained family trying to cope and repair. Dionne's performance was natural, real, in the moment, spoken from the heart and strong. dL Sams and Esther Mira's performances were also very good, strong and entertaining. Apart from Dionne's who is British, dL and Esther's British accents were slightly off though which in turn I felt took them out of th... full review

CECILY By Gillian Plowman * * Here’s a short review of a short (50 minues) play which, in spite of its brevity packs a big, emotional wallop. A young girl, physically and mentally disabled due to a motorcycle accident and given to violent outbursts, is tended by her mother and her aunt. The friction in the room is heavy and heart breaking and is voiced with brutal honesty by the two adult women. The story back-flashes to scenes showing the healthy, frivolous teenager of old and the performances are all excellent. What puts a major damper on this work, is that the three fine actresses bear absolutely no familial resemblance to one another. Furthermore, Esther Mira (Cecily) and dL Sams (Ellen), speak the King’s English with a distinct Brit... full review

What an exhilarating experience this Festival is for those of us who love theatre! Gillian Plowman’s “Cecily” makes us enter into the conflicted feelings pertaining to the needs in caring for a brain damaged young person. In back-flashes we get to know what the once vibrant teenager Cecily, played by an impressive Esther Mira, was before the motor accident that made her an invalid. The excellent Dionne Neish gives a heartfelt interpretation of what it might be like to care for a person you love, yet feel a resentment toward. As the sister, the aunt, the professional woman, dL Sams conveys the right attitude of the one who succeeded (escaped) to more or less independence, yet feels guilty. A heart rendering play I would like to see expanded... full review

Some very strong performances, particularly by the two sisters. Really engaging and heartbreaking story. And I bumped this review up to AMAZING because they offered some very tasty scones with a gluten free option! I'm all for audience bribery :) In seriousness, though, I found this show to be quite thought provoking.... full review

Great Acting!!!... full review

I had the pleasure of seeing Cecily, and I was thoroughly moved by not only the story, but the actresses involved. A heartbreaking and sensitive story of family, love, sacrifice and guilt, Cecily is both thought-provoking and haunting... a true slice-of-life story, albeit one of wrenching subject matter. Having been a caretaker in the past, the story really resonated with me and what it truly means to give over to another human being, of being self-less and, consequently, exhausted and hopeless at times. The actresses did a wonderful job of conveying all these emotions in tightly-wound circumstances. Bravo to this production! ... full review