Review: A Gut-wrenching Tale
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
After reading Paula M. Stinson's two act play, The Mixtape, I can truly say that I am stunned by the way she is able to spin this incredible tale of drug addiction, abuse, and a woman trying to cope with her past into something transformative and quick-witted enough to keep me turning to the last page.Polly, the first of only two characters, is broken and destroyed in more ways that the reader can possibly imagine. Drug addiction is just the beginning. A hard life does not even begin to describe what she goes through, but luckily, she has the second character, Frank, as a therapist. This man is crafted with one part Bodhisattva, one part Sigmund Freud, and a sprinkle of other-worldly wisdom wrapped up in a character that reads more like a moral dilemma than a psychiatric evaluation.Truthfully, I can’t say enough good things about Stinson’s use of dialogue to create a well rounded story and believable characters. While Polly’s internal plight can at times seem disjointed, almost like a lively memoir, Frank pulls us back to reality and acts as the frame for the picture that Polly paints. Further, all of the musicals artists and songs are ones that I like. There’s even a song by Fear, an all-time favorite of mine!I would suggest this play to anyone who has a bit of extra time for a quick, evocative read that tugs at the heartstrings but also knows when to make you smile. I am looking forward to seeing more plays from this playwright!