As the lights went down at the end of Threads, I could feel tears welling in my eyes. There was something that hit me, something personal about its messages that everything happens for a reason and that you can’t save everyone. Anyone who ran into me right after I left Academic Hall can testify that I was a little discombobulated. I was blown away.
Yes, it’s not perfect; the pacing can be a little fast and the jumping around can get confusing. By the end, honestly, I didn’t care. The emotion and the story were there, and that’s all that mattered to me. This is a diamond in the rough and I’m almost afraid of the power it would hold if it was cut into shape a bit more.
Threads, as the name implies, is a collection of vignettes from the life of Tonya Jone Miller’s mother, Donna Jean. It mainly focuses on her time as a teacher in Vietnam in 1968, but also touches on her family, relationships and passion for Asian culture in general. These are amazing stories that deserve to be told, and they’re heartbreaking, fascinating and funny in equal measure.
Tonya Jone Miller is a powerful, emotional performer. It’s evident that this is a personal narrative, and she tells the story just as if it happened to her. I laughed with her and cried with her, and judging by the sniffles I could hear from the audience around me, I wasn’t the only one.
Make it a part of your must-sees if you want to hear amazing stories about a woman who’s not afraid to live her life to the fullest. It’s simply amazing.
For full show times and how to buy tickets, visit ottawafringe.com
But that’s just my opinion, and I’d love to know what you think! What did you think of Tonya Jone Miller’s performance? Were you crying along with me? Join the discussion in the comments below.
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