What I liked
Full disclaimer – I am often very skeptical of one-person shows that lean conversational. Such pieces can come across as lazy, unpolished, and self-indulgent. This show was none of the above. Our performer was so real, so natural, so connected to the material, and to those of us there to receive it that my usual biases were washed away. His story is sad at times, but so full of life, and the joy and meaning he found and is kind enough to share with us is truly something special.
What I didn't like
As with any one person show (and almost any fringe show) there could be a little more tightening and a little more polish. But such things are very minor pebbles in the path here, and I’d want to be cautious of nudging Michael too far in the direction of “performance” as he is such an effective storyteller.
My overall impression
A heartfelt sharing of a deeply personal story. Emotional without being manipulative, and lovely on many, many levels.
