āWhy is she telling us this? Thatās one of those critical questions that unfailingly sound grumpy and pedagogical, yet I never did figure out the answer. I donāt think Ms. Baron did eitherā¦This is a cold production, and maybe thatās intentionalā¦But I kept wondering how much more sense Ginniferās meandering confidences might make if we were huddled close in a more intimate room. Seemingly foiled by the remove, Ms. Reeder races through the text.ā
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āWith a topic so timely, it's a shame that this one-act solo play lacks a sufficiently compelling plot and the dramatic heft to contribute to a serious discussion of one of the most dire problems facing our society todayā¦Reeder gives a wonderfully nuanced performanceā¦This, unfortunately, is not enough to lift the play out of the doldrums of Baron's slowly paced plottingā¦Like a sputtering engine, the story doesn't leap into gear until the revelatory ending.āā
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āBaron's script is full of striking observationsā¦The weakness of āWhen It's Youāāand it's a pretty big oneāis that the pleasures it offers are largely those of fine prose...We follow Ginnifer's progress toward a bleak sort-of realization with avid interest, but the climax that Baron supplies simply isn't as dramatic as it should be...I was never bored watching 'When It's You,' but I also kept thinking it would make an even more powerful novella.ā
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āReeder powerfully performs this 70-minute solo playā¦Baron very skillfully imparts all of the pieces of information in precise increments...The result is an engrossing depiction of Ginnifer, as well as a measured but clear support of gun controlā¦The writing though is so accomplished that it could succeed just as a theatrical portrait without that plot point or any political agenda. Itās also a fine vehicle for an excellent actress and it has that with Reederā¦'Totally absorbing.ā
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"Reeder is a skilled performer. She is so well rehearsed that she sounds totally spontaneous. She gives her character infinite texture and subtle nuance. But this is not enough to keep the play from becoming a victim of its confessional nature...It's certainly a pleasure watching Reeder ply her trade. But one wishes she were dealing with better raw material."
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"Baronās engaging if tepid drama...As directed by Jonathan Silverstein, Reeder's delivery is deliberate but casual. We believe her. But for all her candor and a sprinkling of embarrassing factoids, thereās no aha! moment: no meaningful revelation or flash of insight. Her tale of Jason peaks in a burst of carnage; her own story is flat...Ginniferās character is well-writ and well-played, but she doesnāt learn or grow or catch us off-guard. She ends the play pretty much where she started."
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āAn intriguing premise, but ultimately, the playās purpose feels as tangled and unclear as the āball of yarnā metaphor Ginnifer invokes when attempting to untangle her own lifeā¦Ana Reederās performance, directed by Jonathan Silverstein, lends the play more nuance. Playing up the guilt and grief felt by Ginnifer, Reeder builds a convincing flow between the many topics she covers. She lends weight to the playās most introspective moments.ā
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"Reeder does an impressive job circling around this subject, mixing in all the other questions, denials, and curiosities that are running scattered around her brain...At times the story, directed by Jonathan Silverstein, could use more drama or try to engage us on a deeper level, but this is also part of the story...Iām not sure if this story didnāt fall a bit short in general, missing a chance to really dig down into something powerful."
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