Bushnell Review

As mentioned in my previous post I really enjoyed the piece we saw at the Bushnell. I especially enjoyed how it was a combination of art and history. In my opinion, what makes a play good is the story telling aspect of the narrative. The details of the story and what it centers around dictates the quality of the way it can be told to an audience. As an actress myself I enjoy watching pieces that have strong stories, such as 'Warriors Don't Cry'. The way the piece had multiple, intricate characters and a historically oriented plot allowed the piece to connect with audience. It connected with the audience because it related to our past and as Americans, very emotional parts of our history. The story is driven by its historical relevance to the audience. The way that the show is seen by the people watching it is influenced by the things we've learned since we were young in our American classrooms. This makes me question how the show would be viewed in another country or even by another American generation. It is interesting how a person's personal believes and experiences are so important when analyzing a piece as individuals with contrasting opinions. 

The show itself I believe was done very well, although there were a few distractions between the audience and the set. Personally, I was impressed with the actress's portrayal of all the characters but still a few times found myself struggling to stay engaged. While I was always eventually drawn back into the story, there were for sure low points where I could feel the tone of the room and the lack of engagement. All in all, I think the actress did a great job and obviously knew the show well. My only major critique was the microphone, I question why after four years of doing one piece the actress would not know the technical necessities, although she remained focused even beyond the mic problems which is impressive.