What I liked
The controlled chaos of the structure, paper everywhere, the almost ad hoc “discovery” of each story, the deliberately simple props, costumes and stage tech, all worked to focus our attention on the women and the stories. And the ensemble performances were so together, and the soloists so strong. A great show.
What I didn't like
I would have loved to see a little more in the vein of Sorrow is a means to an end, the layered voices added and subtracted over time, and of course the signing as choreography. That piece was so good, a little more styled that way would have been wonderful.
My overall impression
“Sorrow is a means to an end” is possibly one of the most breathtakingly beautiful moments I have ever witnessed on stage. But this comment could apply much of this show. Poignant and celebratory by turns, this is a show about exposure and reclamation. These women explore painful stories, turning over the rocks of common understanding to reveal the steady drumbeat of ugliness that flows through history and literature. Although it’s hard they carry each other forward and revel in each exposure in the hope that that one will not cause future harm.
