My overall impression
While I loved the actors and the performance, the truth is I was MOVED by the story, by the transformation in the two actors as they story progressed, and by the way the storyline was portrayed.
I have seen more than 50 plays this year, and this was one of the two most powerful pieces of Fringe 2012.
I could relate to everything that was happening, as I have had contact with mentally ill people in my life with a manic depressive/schizophrenic first wife. To watch Gary’s character describe his childhood, and his lack of understanding as to whether he was suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia or another form of mental illness was impossible to ignore, because it brought back so many memories.
Likewise, Rachel’s portrayal and transformation of the jaded clinician who was doing a job, only to become her patient’s “memory” was equally stunning. She is an incredible actress who took our breath away as she drew us into the story. We actually cared about these characters.
There was hardly a dry eye in the theater as the play ended and the full weight of what we had just seen hit us. It was obvious that the actors themselves were caught up and had a hard time returning to reality.
By far, one of the best shows I have ever seen. Kudos to actors Rachel Boller and Gary Rubenstein, to writers Paul Elliott and Ed Joswick and to Fierce Backbone for a superb production.
