What I liked
Marianne Simon is a gifted writer and engaging performer. She manages to perform very poetic turns of phrase in a very real and grounded way, which can be challenging.
My absolute favorite part was when she talks about grief as a monster. It is gut-wrenching. I’ve never been a widow, or even a wife. Hell, I can’t even relate to the concept of romantic love, as it as eluded me nearly all my life. But I can relate to grief – the hard, ugly, unrelenting grief. The grief that is a prison sentence in which no one will tell you how much time you have to serve.
There are some delightful saucy moments too, which popped in to the show in suprising moments and gave us some relief from the pain.
Incredibly moving piece of theatre.
What I didn't like
There were five widows to keep track of, and while Ms. Simon’s transitions were clear and well-done, it is still a lot to keep track of. There was one widow who makes only one appearance, while the others make more, and it made me wonder why have her? I enjoyed her particular story-line, but maybe reducing the number of characters would streamline the piece and allow the audience deeper emotional investment in the women we are watching.
My overall impression
A beautifully written and acted journey through the monster of grief.
