What I liked
The premise, as a whole, was compelling; an intimate space occupied by musicians and a dancer, with a noose hanging in the back. Anabella’s energy and investment in the performance, as she oscillated between various characters and psychological states, was strongly felt by the audience. The mixture of humor (gallows and otherwise) with earnest depictions of misery felt deeply personal – I appreciated Anabella’s willingness to share her vulnerability, particularly as we were informed that the show’s proceeds would be dedicated to assisting local suicide prevention efforts. A lot of heart and empathy in this show!
What I didn't like
While I really like the idea of an extremely confined dance space in-theory, I feel like Anabella’s physicality and ability as a dancer might be better served with a slightly larger space. However, it was still compelling to see what she was able to do with the space she had, and there was something about the closeness of everyone in the room that might be lost in a larger venue.
My overall impression
A compelling and heartfelt experiment with music, dance, and narrative, Anabella’s portrayal of a woman managing trauma and suicide (accompanied by an excellent ensemble of musicians), was filled with a joy for being alive and a sadness for the potential of self-inflicted death.
