Death and Coffee

Each person will take away something completely different from this conversation over coffee (or tea, hot cocoa—your pick) with Annie. You could walk out of this with tears streaming down your face; it might be dry. You might find solace or reaffirmation. You could be expecting more. You might expect less. Quite truthfully, this will be a polarizing performance for many. Personally... it’s sort of sent my mind down a rabbit hole and I’ve caught myself pondering the themes several times after setting down my mug. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm... I like anything that spins the wheels in my head. This did.... full review

As another reviewer noted, this is likely to be a polarizing performance. I am very happy to see the positive response that others had to the show, however, I did not experience the same emotional connection to the material that they did. I don't want to be dismissive to Annie Lesser's loss, and I admire her attempt to grapple with the death of her grandfather through such an intimate experience with an audience member, but the show did not resonate with me or cause me to reflect on my own close relationships or experiences with death (which is clearly the intent). ... full review

I loved that, even in a short amount of time, what I took away from this show was that life goes by too fast, and it's okay to stop, breathe, and enjoy precious moments in life. And in the 15 minutes I was in the experience, I totally forgot about all my stresses, cares, and worries and realized there's more to life than panicking/freaking out--I do agree that some people will get more out of this experience than others, but going in with a clear mind will help the experience even more!... full review

Sometimes the shows that seem the simplest are the most complex. A cup of coffee (or tea or vegan hot cocoa) and a conversation. On the surface, that seems pretty simplistic, but what follows are emotional ups and downs. This isn’t a Fringe show, this is a conversation you’re having with a friend. This is your friend wanting to open up and let out things that are on her mind. This is the type of thing we all need to do, but rarely get to.... full review

This is performance at its most stripped down, intimate and human. While Death and Coffee may be a bit rough around the edges and I suspect will resonate with some a lot more than others, it offers a remarkable perspective on processing loss and making sense of not-so-simple relationships.... full review

“Death and Coffee” is actually about life. It’s about finding the truths of the people we know. Some very close to us, like friends and family. Some who are strangers, extras in our personal stories. The play asks us to be open to the possibility that what we perceive to be the motives, agendas and emotions that others have could be mistaken. And our misconceptions could be robbing us of more honest and richer relationships. That all this is accomplished in such a simple, seemingly straightforward production, with only one (very gifted) playwright/actor, is truly amazing. ... full review

This was my first foray in to on-on-one immersive theater, and I wasn't sure to expect. I heard vague stories from previous years that Annie's piece were very intense, but this one said it was PG, so I was up for anything. The show was very simple. A conversation over coffee or tea. I was a bit nervous and spent way too much time choosing a mug, (Sorry!) But when we got to sitting down and got in to the story it was really magical. A wonderful story about family, love, disappointment, and the feeling of being an outsider. I really identified with what she was saying. It moved me deeply. I'm relatively a shy introvert around people who I have never met. Annie made me feel very comfortable, and the bravery to be that intimate with her s... full review

This brief show feels completely authentic and manages the pitch-perfect tone of a friendly (but very serious) chat. Not truly a play, not truly a monologue… what is Death and Coffee? A confessional, perhaps? With a brief running time, it feels like a quick, grabbed conversation with someone you know on your way to something else. Relaxed and rushed at the same time, somehow. ... full review

Annie provides a lovely story about loss and memory that made me feel a gamut of emotions, and even though she was doing almost all the talking, she really made me feel listened to and drew me into her world.... full review

See It LA ...This piece is beautifully cathartic without causing the audience to feel like a therapist. Lesser didn’t force any emotion nor added any dramatics to merely evoke emotion from the audience - it was simply a conversation that is guided by Lesser’s story. Lesser’s exploration of loss and memories leaves the audience to ponder their own life, but more importantly the lives of those around them... For the full review visit SeeItorSkipItLA.com or click on the “original article” link. ... full review