Mixed Personality Disorders

Mixed Personality Disorder – review by Pauline Adamek. *** This review first appeared in LA Weekly, Fringe - HFF 2012 *** Shaky home movie footage of a small town, as viewed from the passenger seat of a car, is projected before our narrator walks up to a music stand with his notes. Ominously hanging upstage is a straightjacket. At first David Michael Taylor’s reminiscences of growing up (and desperately trying to escape) an abusive homelife in dreary Moundsville, West Virginia reads like a speedily-delivered lecture dotted with stand-up comedy punchlines. Taylor’s comedic timing and confessional style becomes seductively compelling, eventually drawing you in with his wry, ironic observations and sparks of mild sarcasm. He ge... full review

Extremely simple in its staging, yet endlessly complex in the lives it explores, this play is one worth witnessing. Compassionate and honest, "Mixed Personality Disorders" offers an unflinching and frank portrait of a life lit by the fever of leaving, the necessary desire to escape that which we know in exchange for that which we truly desire. You may cringe and you may shake your head. You will laugh. You will be affected. This is the true story of a life. Warts and all, it is laid bare before us. See this play. It is a quiet, forthright examination of confusion, desire, ambition, love, family and other things that make us human.... full review

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this show.. One man and one amazing heart felt story. I was in awe of Mr Taylor's story-telling skills. Utterly engaging!!!! Both moving and funny and totally insightful. Highly recommend this show. ... full review

Taylor is an engaging storyteller -- and what stories he has to tell! By turns hilarious, tragic and moving, he and the show never wallow in self-pity or indulgence (rare for solo performance). I left wanting more -- how often can you say that about theatre in L.A.?... full review