What I liked
I liked . . . EVERYTHING! This was a terrific show full of heart and humor that struck a chord with me on both personal and artistic levels. I was inspired by how unafraid the playwright was to go deep into her personal life in a public forum and how committed the actors were to reenacting the incredibly intimate/funny/passionate/awkward moments. The writing was spot on—it felt honest and clever, but not in that “look how clever I am” pretentious kind of way. It was superbly subtle. Katelyn Schiller and Joshua Bross did a terrific job of portraying the simultaneous innocence and scandal of the scenes, which can’t have been easy, considering how close the audience was to the action. Schiller is a delight to watch, an explosion of bubbly energy, gregarious giggles, and utter gorgeousness (That hair! Those eyes!). She makes you feel welcome from the moment you enter the space in a way that says, “Don’t worry, I got you. Sit back and enjoy the ride.” For most of the show she is effervescent and positively adorable, but I would be remiss to imply that she is all fluff and charm—this girl can ACT and I was blown away by her ability to go from scene to scene seamlessly, embodying all necessary emotions with versatility and grace (and making those of us in the audience sympathize and/or empathize every step of the way). She plays this part extremely well and you’d be crazy to miss her. Joshua Bross does a great job of portraying ALL of the men our main character meets (and avoids, when it comes to that cursed penetration). He was funny in all the right places, without stealing focus from our heroine, and believably played the dozen or so characters in his charge with specificity and commitment. I also enjoyed how we (the audience) were a part of the show, without having to participate. Director Payden Ackerman did an excellent job of weaving the moments together, knowing when to include us and when to let us voyeuristically enjoy what was unfolding before us. I don’t know who came up with the projector idea, but that was great, and it was an excellent use of the space—the settings were all believable, in spite of the minimal set and props. The entire team did an incredible job. Bravo!
What I didn't like
I didn’t like not being able to see the action when they were low to the stage (I was in the third row, against the wall, and had just big enough heads in front of me that it my vision was blocked). :( I was sad to miss out but could usually maneuver myself enough to catch a glimpse of what was going on. Plus the show is so well-written that I laughed my butt off from the brilliant lines alone! I recommend snagging a seat in the front two rows or on the aisle whenever possible!
My overall impression
My overall impression is pretty well summed up above in the “likes” box. GO SEE THIS SHOW! It is a treat of the Fringe and I plan on seeing it again to see how it has evolved throughout the festival. SO SO GOOD!!!!!
