Engaging

I went to this show on a whim and I'm so glad I did-- Engaging, emotional, deep with moments of light-heartedness sprinkled throughout. Highly recommend!

Vulnerable, disarming and beautiful

I was intrigued by the premise of this show, how do you tell a story (your story) about traumatic brain injury (TMI), by yourself. Hard and challenging topic to put on a stage. Lethan's story, as he tells us at some point, is not unique, but the way he tells it, jumping through time, weaving in other people's experiences with TMI, reflecting now as an adult on his younger self. He is so honest, courageous, vulnerable, charming, and precise, that you can't help but to marvel at the tale, the performance, and life, how fragile it is, and at the second chances we are given. Lethan, thank you for sharing your story with us, thank you for being brave.

Piercing reality, sleepy delivery

Having now seen plenty of solo shows this fringe, I'm ready to name this the best among them. The story told is compelling at its heart and the performer's openness did a lot to prop the door for all attendees, inviting us into a raw and revealing space where we could huddle close and share in private storytelling both tragic and frequently humorous. I felt connected to his story, admiring his confidence and naturalism as a storyteller. This execution did temper the tone though, resulting in a tempo that resembles a plateau and can create some difficulty maintaining focus. I got lost a couple of times, but felt by the end that his story was still the most lasting I have heard from a solo act this year.

Alert: local Fringe audience and artists

Creativity 5; Production Value 5; Interest (subjective) 5 Our longest-traveling Fringe producer/artist (from Shanghai), Trifecta Fringe "winner", and masterful performer played to a nearly empty theater on Sunday. It was embarrassing and we have time to remedy that right now (three more performances in this last week). Lethan's one man show is what Fringe can be: educational, emotional, appropriately funny. Oh, and did I mention the masterful acting? He plays four very different TBI survivers and several more of his friends and family. Are you are staying away because you think this might be a downer? Think again. Welcome to Minneapolis, Lethan, we are glad you are here.

Captivating Storytelling

Lethan shares his own story and the stories of other brain injury survivors in a wonderfully unique round table of characters. He embodies these characters so well and gives you insights into the pain, loss, AND hope of recovery. This is a captivating piece that holds your attention for the full hour. (Also - as a fellow TBI survivor, this show made me feel SEEN and valid - highly recommend if you've been through trauma or brain injury!)

An intimate, well-crafted, human journey

Lethan is a great storyteller, and in this work he's telling a story that is his and so many others' (including some of my loved ones) and so very needed. His humor, empathy, vulnerability, and care in sharing the stories he does are refreshing and ultimately a joy to bear witness to.

Beautiful and devastating

As someone who has experienced brain trauma, this show had me weeping because I felt so seen. Lethan does a beautiful job sharing the stories of brain trauma recovery that's nuanced and honest. If you know someone who has experienced brain trauma, these stories may help you see their recovery in a different light, and I highly recommend seeing this show.

Engaging, Personal, Unique

A memoir about memory, in a way. I found Lethan's use of space to be very engaging; making the largest impact when weaving in and out of embodying one of the shows interviewees, a memory of a past event, or the narrator. entertaining and heartfelt to the core while also being informative. Go give the performance a watch.

Great intimate show

Lethan makes this show an intimate & engaging experience like you’re sitting in his home and hearing his story of recovering from his massive, traumatic accident that caused his brain injury & his memories of his immediate recovery, along with what his friends & family experienced & others stories. Well worth seeing & supporting this out-of-town (all the way from Beijing) artist. Add it to your schedules.

Phenomenal

We have a saying in the brain injury world, " if you've seen one brain injury, you've seen one brain injury." Lethan Candish brings that truism to the stage in a unique hour of storytelling /soul-bearing/ documentary theater. Incorporating interviews with brain injury survivors, family members, and friends, Lethan weaves together a tapestry of brain injury's impact on those closest to him and his community at large. Along the way, he shares the stories of other survivors as their experiences sometimes mirror and sometimes contradict his own. At the end of the show he deliberately comes to no grand conclusion, because brain injury doesn't operate that way. It's a story of faith, love, loss, anger, humiliation, and lots and lots of necessary laughter. And a solid penis joke. Solid.

Go see it!

Well done solo show - easy to follow even with many different characters. Moving, funny, and impressive character development. A great show!

Must See . . .

With a smartly written script, simple and clever staging, and a nuanced performance that kept me engaged, this was a solid, perfect example of a one-person show which I found entertaining and deeply inspiring. Mr. Candlish adeptly steps into multiple characters fluidly, and brings the audience into his world with a mix of humble charm and professorial gravitas. His parents also gave him an odd first name, which resonates with me for some reason.

Engaging, insightful, and important

"Who Am I, Anyway?" is an illuminating story of one man's struggle to reintroduce himself to his brain, that's, very suddenly, very different. He also shares others' stories too, so the audience gets a broader view of how disparate injuries, healing, and individuals can be. In a show that easily could have become morose and self-indulgent, instead there is openness and even humor. Without having to actually compare experiences, this show may allow us all to find some reassurance and acceptance with our ever-changing selves. I came away pondering new ways to relate to my own aging and neurodivergent, albeit non-injured, brain.

Powerful and Personal Collage

This show does what only good theatre can do. Lethan's one-man piece and performance evokes deep reflection on the audiences's perception of self, grief, and healing. Who Am I, Again? stands out because of the deeply personal story of the writer/performer and others he'd encountered on their own journey after a traumatic brain injury. Funny, fast-moving, and educational, the piece is thoroughly successful in advocating for a community in need of support.

A personal journal well told

Lethan takes us on his personal journey of survival. He also brings to life his fellow survivors Tony, Larry, and Sarah. Though this particular production would benefit from a little editing, I felt genuinely moved. This is really worth a look.