Will the Real Me Please Stand Up?

As you step into the theater, the sight of Alex Ryan lying on the floor, bound to the spot where a corpse would rest, immediately captures your attention. The show commences with her skillfully filming a self-tape using her phone—an engaging opening that deeply resonates with the majority of the audience. What initially appears as unrelated moments gradually interweaves, inviting us on a profound exploration of Alex's identity, family dynamics, experiences of loss, grief, and the lingering pains of her childhood. Remarkably, amidst the poignant themes, the performance maintains a delightful and enjoyable tone, granting us glimpses into the depths of Alex's soul. Alex's remarkable ability to effortlessly switch between voices is truly asto... full review

Alex Ryan delivers a performance that is filled with nuance, love, and heartbreak. This piece will have you thinking long after the show ends. I cannot wait to watch this show again. ... full review

Alex Ryan, on a journey to discover the "real" her, has created a piece that is quick, funny, and entertaining--while, at the same time, both instructive and deeply moving. As she invites us into the intimate world of her troubled birth family, she demonstrates with ease and light-heartedness the "not-so-funny" phenomenon of a developing young personality being fractured into people-pleasing facets as a survival mechanism. Then (although not without warning), she shares with us the sharp and imperishable pain of sudden tragedy, providing us (or reminding us of) basic insight into grief; both for the grieving and for those who are "grief-adjacent"(my term, not hers). Sound difficult to make funny? It is--and she has pulled it of with thoughtf... full review

Alex’s performance was inspiring. The courage and bravery it took to share her story was admirable. The seamless blend of comedy and tragedy kept me engaged the whole time. Highly recommend.... full review

A breathtakingly brilliant, vulnerable, and beautiful deep dive into the psyche of a child to adult in the midst of a turbulent family. It touches on the mental turmoil of the family scapegoat, the gut-wrenching guilt that comes with loss, and every messed up circumstance in between that comes with the territory. Alexandra’s performance perfectly brought everything to life with the perfect mix of comedy, emotion, and overall LIFE. 10/10 would 100% recommend! Wish I could watch it twice. ... full review

Deeply touching (and woefully understandable) story told with empathy, humor, and heart. Terrific performance, great writing, and wonderful direction. Underneath all of the “Alex” personas is a powerful being who it is a pleasure to witness. ... full review

Wow! What a show! Right from the get-go, just looking at the stage set, I was intrigue and excited. I was not prepared! Alexandra hits you in the face right from the start. She's bold and energetic and full of life. And what I love is that this is the perfect set-up for what's about to happen. We watch her show us so much of who she is in the first 5 minutes, that the rest of the play becomes this beautiful journey of discovery and enlightenment. It's just wonderful. The writing is what takes hold of you the most. Alexandra brilliantly flows between her three selves like their old hats she's putting on. And we get such a sense of what she dealt with throughout her life that we are swept away by her honesty and vulnerability. And ... full review

An incredibly real story that was performed beautifully!... full review

Loved it! Entertaining from beginning to end! Very imaginative and creative. ... full review

Funny and moving, soul baring and emotional. ... full review