What I liked
The show was essentially a series of thematically-linked stories and all were entertaining as well as very different from one another. And it’s a surprisingly funny show given the heavy subject matter. I also liked that many of the stories were told in rhyming verse. Those stories in particular highlighted the impressive delivery skills of the performer – I don’t know how he was able to remember all those words, let alone perform them so well. The ending section was particularly powerful. The performer clearly put his all into both the writing and the performing – it’s a physically and emotionally demanding piece.
What I didn't like
If I had a suggestion it would just be to make the whole thing be in rhyming verse, as I found those parts to be the most affecting sections of the show
My overall impression
An emotional, well-crafted piece about how the performer has persevered and remained defiant despite the many terrible ways racism has affected his life. It felt like a microcosm of the African-American experience (I mean, I’m white so I’m not the best judge but I believe that was the intent). When it was over, I really did feel like I’d been on an odyssey.
