What I liked
The actor who plays Cody Tiger is excellent especially when he sings the song he wrote, as is Ruth whose grounded energy and vulnerable strength really carried the story through, even though at times her accent was a bit inconsistent (but being from the south, I realize I’m a bit hard to please). The actress who played Maybelline was also quite good, she played a younger role without being cloying (which is quite hard) and really embodied an innocent excitement with grace.
What I didn't like
I often could not understand what Wooten was saying as he was speaking both very quickly and with an extremely thick accent. The tone of the character seemed inconsistent with that of the rest of the play.
My overall impression
This Way Yonder is a really beautiful story about complex family dynamics, independence, and growing pains set in a very specific time and place insomuch as this story could not have taken place anywhere else. The writing is reminiscent of a more humor-driven Tennessee Williams, and the cast’s preparation really showed in monologue after monologue, hitting each nuanced note with care. Not to mention the chemistry between the cast was easy and believable, and the direction was seamless. Highly recommended.
