Jaguar Bennett said...
This is a show that you must see. Mia Paschal communicates directly with her audience, effortlessly expresses an incredible range of emotions, exploring every aspect of her character. In an eyeblink, she moves from weeping despair to fiery defiance, from the depths of defeat to who gives a f*** insouciance. She's awesome. See it now.
kien lim said...
Stunningly powerful. Mia has touched my soul.
Sheri McClure-Baker said...
I had the pleasure of attending the opening performance of this show and I was amazed. I had read the comments on the website, but didn't really know what to expect. Mia Paschal did a fantastic job in both the creation and execution of her performance. At first, I felt a little like I was attending a Shakespearean play - I knew the words, but struggled to understand the meanings. However, as the show progressed her poetic language and multiple personas began to create a poignant and humorous mosaic of her life experiences. It was clear that this artist had spent a lot of time participating in self reflection to really understand who she is and what she needs and I only hope to be able to channel my own emotions through my own art forms in as successful a manner as Ms. Paschal did. A definite must see at the Rogue.
Joy said...
This is an absolutely riveting experience. I can't say enough about the absolutely seamless way this story is told through various voices, all by one woman.
I found myself alternately identifying with and marveling incredulously at the moods and emotions that carried me through this hour.
There are so many wonderful things to see at the Rogue... but this is definitely in my top three recommendations, without question. We are lucky to have the chance to see it here. LUCKY, I tell you.
pc munoz said...
This show is serious business. Shot through with intense personal confession and executed with pitch-perfect precision.....Mia Paschal's performance is a beautiful, wondrous thing. DON'T MISS THIS SHOW!
559rell said...
Brilliant! This performance evidences that falling upon greatness through a wide range of personal experience and post-experience examination CAN cause you to create and deliver a MASTERPIECE...If you're still sane enough to portray it ;-) Mia does it and it's a must see!!!
(PS: It's very intelligent. Trust me ;-)
jade ed girl said...
Wow, this grabbed me and kept me riveted. A very soulful, emotional journey. Beautifully written and extremely moving, this piece had me sitting with tears streaming down my face.
This was a fabulous show...
Christine said...
Mia Paschal is beautiful from the inside out, from the writer to the performer, even each character whether dreadfully flawed or not is beautiful and complete.
She reveals to us a painful past, allowing tangled voices inside to be freed, each taking turns to speak blatantly and honestly in their own unique voice and temperament, making her show so powerful and dynamic. She gives speech and life even to inanimate objects that can hurt her, and that’s talent, my dears.
Catch her shows if you can. She has two left, here at the Rogue. She’s not to be missed and neither is her story.
Barbara said...
Devastatingly honest and beautiful.
Out of the Void said...
-Mia's show ("This Lily Was (fontana)" is probably one of the most intense, well done, and electrifying performances that this town has (or will see) in a long time, (I think she nailed best female solo performance for SF Fringe in 2006.) I have not heard another performer nor viewer not come away stunned. (Jarah, seriously? if you missed this you'd be making a mistake.)
Liesl Garner said...
"You beautiful breath of fresh air - you amazing powerhouse on stage - you crisp, clean cut straight to my heart with your tales - you vibrant reverberating soul...
With your performance, you melted me, broke me, dashed me, and then, when I was a puddle of tears on the floor, you danced across the surface, walking on water, flying away free, embroidered yet unfettered. I looked up to see you swirling on vapors of applause and knew you would be well, knew that your art could save you, that as much as I wanted to scoop you up and kiss you and make it all better - you already had done that - you already stood powerful to kiss your own sorrows and sing of your rise from the ashes. Truly, we are in the presence of greatness!"
and Liesl also said...
First, there was the striking character of Mia Paschal - on stage at Full Circle Brewery - in a crowded, festive room, where people were having a hard time staying contained - their excitement over the beginning of the Rogue Festival pounding little exclamation points into the air until it buzzed and vibrated.
Mia, still and sure, her stature as a performer making her seem ten feet tall in the silence before she spoke. The voice that followed - the tearing of the air, the power, the pounding in our chests as we reverberated her fury, her poise, her angst, and her smolder. The hush in the audience as we waited, hearts pounding, for every word she would utter, every pause in her speech, every look that shot through us. That was what first grabbed me; her fifteen minutes at Full Circle and I knew I had to have more.
Seeing the full show was transforming. To see inside this woman's heart - to hear the voices that have shaped her or torn her to pieces, the beauty breaking through from inside her, the rage thrust upon her from outside, the tiny child who survived and grew to dominate a stage with her presence, to fill the space of her own devotion. This Lily Was - This Lily Is - This Lily Always Will Be a Power of Reckoning. Bravo, Beautiful Embroidered, Lovely Girl!!
From the Fresno Bee:
Fresno Bee Rogue Top Five Picks
Fresno Bee review