There’s always advice to writers of “write what you know”. “When Skies Are Gray” was written by Ashley Steed after her mother’s death. This show is a recount of the days leading up to her mother’s passing and all of the things she had to deal with. You can see the love, admiration, and selflessness that Ashley gives to her mother, even when it seems her mother might not be her usual self....
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This show fucking wrecked me. Without exaggeration, it's the hardest piece of theatre I've ever seen. I don't usually write Fringe reviews for about twenty different reasons, but I felt like I had to for this one because it was so exceptional. Ashley is incredible and doesn't have a single false moment. The actress playing her mother is unreal. The whole conceit of the show was perfect to me. I'd be wary of seeing it if you've suffered a loss that's still raw or are currently going through one; I cried like a MOTHERFUCKER from about two minutes in til the end, and I don't even fall into one these categories. Loved it. Absolutely devastating. The end....
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Absolutely stunning. Ashley has created a profound piece of art, and I felt honored to witness and partake in this journey. Couldn't recommend it more. ...
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A brilliant show that manages to pull you into your heart center even if you don’t want to go there.
I don’t want to give too much away but prepare to experience what dying and losing a parent is really like; and it’s not like in TV.
As a therapist who has worked with a lot of grief: this play is cathartic and very important and a rare gem: to have the space to really let ourselves connect with these primal feelings of loss that our society runs away from, denies, hides or drowns in alcohol & drugs.
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