My overall impression
There were some very effective storytelling moments in Hanjo that created a dream-like reality on stage. The struggle between Jitsuko and Yoshio as they were tethered together and, at the same time, the history of Hanako’s relationship with both of them being played out was one of those strong moments. The combination of Jitsuko’s movement as the puppeteer, and Hanko as the puppet, along with the music supporting the action all came together wonderfully and it deepened my perception of all the characters and the pain that they were struggling to free themselves from.
Left To Tell was a beautiful and gripping experience. From the beginning, there was a chilly balance between Imaculee’s warm welcome into her life in Rwanda, and the horrors of the genocide the two killers beside her bragged about; and what worked with the killers was that the bravado in their justification was underscored by a pain and regret that rang true to the complexities of the human condition. There was a lovely connection between Imacculee and her brother Damascene that had me and everyone else in the audience erupt with laughter and it was clear they were having just as much fun as we were. The moments where Imaculee was isolated by the light as the bathroom, but surrounded by the tauntings of Sembeba and the viscious arguments between father and son, Mr. Murinzi and Sembeba, were powerful as I could see the fear slowly climbing up through her and out of her as the scene kept building.
