Can't believe I finally get to say this 😭
You'll have to excuse my delirium right now. Yesterday, I took a 9h bus ride to NYC, saw the play and then took the 9h bus back home!!! INSANITY I TELL YOU 🫣
I was struck by how much the comedy landed. The audience was picking up everything the actors were laying down. I laughed SO much. To me, Ayo was the one who garnered the most laughs and this is where she outshined her fellow cast members imho
The actors navigated well the delicate balance between making the audience burst into laughter and stunning them into silence
Don and Ayo really felt lived in as father and daughter. I can imagine seeing the play this far into the run helped. One moment between them left me devastated (it hit too close to home)
The acting was top-tier from EVERYONE! Ayo mimicking Don's twitches as her character Catherine is worried she's following in her father's footsteps was ingenious
It's a compelling and unique play about humanity, grief and mental health, a play that stays with you (especially the ending. Still thinking about it)
At the end of the day, I lost myself in the play and that's all I can ask for
Directiorial choices : I wanted them to let some of the quiet moments linger a little and allow the audience to sit with the revelations a while longer. Some transitions felt too quick. I think the dramatic beats could have benefited with a little room to breathe.
Race : the change to a black family was subtle. I would have liked them to push more and tackle it more head on. I know it's not in the text, but I feel like I didn't grasp all the adjustments. I would love to discuss this with a POC to get their take.
There was a cast talkback with Project Healthy Minds after the show. I took a few vids that I'll put in a separate post for anyone interested.
sorry for the poor pic quality 🫣
Let me preface this by saying I am unbelievably shy. So I'm proud of myself for even going to the stage door in the midst of a crowd and actually saying words to Ayo 😅. Im just gonna post a few anecdotes
Jose Cervantes (aka Angel) was there! I recognized him while waiting in line to get into the theatre but didn't want to bother him.
Once the cast discussion was over, I went to wait at the stage door. Jose and a friend were waiting behind the barrier just like the rest of us. Adrienne came out first. She signed and took pics. Ayo came out next to big cheers. She immediately spotted Jose and told him to come around 🥹
Ayo went over to hug him. They took a selfie. She was so sweet. I couldn't hear properly but she said something about him "pulling up" and not confirming it to her (maybe a surprise?)
There was such a sweet 20-something couple near me (a black woman and a white man). They asked to take a pic with Ayo because they are the real-life Sydcarmy. When I tell you I awwww'd so loudly 💗 Ayo just chuckled and said "of course". It was so adorable!
Now keep in mind I'm shaking as Ayo is getting closer. There were a lot of people. I was in the middle of the queue. I got my playbill signed and then asked for a selfie which she graciously accepted. Sorry no face reveal for my shy af ass. Enjoy my actual reaction in the form of my usual emoji. I can confirm she has the eyes of a doe!
Atp I couldnt even properly talk to her. I was too stunned and there were just too many people around. I didn't want to fawn in front of so many people lmao. I stepped back so others could get their autographs and pics. Ayo was making her way down the line and everyone was still waiting for Don and Jin. A few minutes later, the security guard announced the two men weren't coming out tonight. So the crowd really died down. Everyone who had gotten their playbills signed left. With a lot less people, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in minutes. It helped me gather my courage to talk to Ayo and tell her how much she means to me 🥹
I went to the end of the line to wait until she had signed for everyone. There was a teenage boy waiting with his cell out but no playbill in his hand. I got the impression he had been there a few times before. When Ayo saw him, her eyes lit up. She said "You came back?" and he answered "Yup! I came back". He talked to her and she really listened to him for a good two minutes. They laughed. He pointed towards his theatre group I think. They took a pic together. It was really heartwarming to witness. Don't know the full story there, but it was such a sweet interaction
Once he left, there were 4 girls and me waiting to talk to Ayo. Keep in mind, there's really almost no one left and I'm standing one foot from her. Her doe eyes were blinding me 🥹!!! Two of the girls had notebooks that they asked if she could sign. Once she signed, they left.
So we were three left atp. I told the girls to go ahead since I wasn't in a rush to leave. One of them asked a really interesting question. She asked Ayo if she would do another Broadway play. I piped in almost involuntarily and said "A musical?" Ayo laughed, looked at me and said I caught her riff during the talkback (she did a little harmony during the conversation with the cast). She said she would love to do another play, but maybe not on Broadway. She said it's hard to have a good work-life balance because the schedule is grueling (I'll post a video where she talks a little about this during the talkback). She alluded to the fact that she finds it hard to not be able to do other stuff like maybe having to say no to other opportunities (don't quote me on this). So maybe a shorter run or one-offs?
I then had a little moment to talk to Ayo. My legs were shaking bad (she was so close). I tend to smile when I'm nervous which is a lot of times... My jaw shakes and my voice quivers. I thanked her for her amazing portrayal of Sydney and for making my first english play a really memorable (and funny) experience. She said "oh? English?". I said "yep! First english play". I don't think I have an accent so maybe that's why that surprised her. I was going to elaborate, but then the two girls left wanted a pic so Ayo obliged. I didn't want to take up more of her time so I left after. I blanked on a lot of stuff I wanted to tell her like about the Bear, Bottoms and SNL, but tbh any more interaction and I would have expired on the spot 🫠 fuck my weak ass nervous system
Two things that really struck me about Ayo
She stayed until EVERY LAST FAN left. She stayed with us six lingering fans that wanted a bit of her time, and she graciously offered it to us by listening to us ramble. Seriously guys, there was only her, a security guard and a lady I didn't recognize. Ayo had just finished a 2h play plus a 30 minute talkback, but she still came out to sign and was the last one to leave! Forever grateful! 💜
This is the big one. By watching a few of her interactions and experiencing one, I think I've realized something about her. She tends to match the energy of the person she's talking to. If the person is boisterous and cracking jokes, she'll instantly give it right back and have fun. If the person is quiet and shy, she'll stay calm, nod, smile, look them straight in the eye with a warm gaze and just listen. She won't overwhelm them. That is a gift.
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