[[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Buen Camino written and performed by Susan Edsall, and an Official Selection of the SOLO STARS Series at the Zephyr Theatre.
Solo theatre shows often concern a myriad of transformations. But very few, I believe, are able to transform an audience. Yet Susan Edsall’s beautifully written and deeply moving Buen Camino I think has accomplished exactly that. Through the vivid, funny and at times heartbreaking story of an excruciating and intense time in her life, she magically transfers her own metamorphoses, from profoundly bereft widow to hopeful, determined and inspiring human, to us – the audience. Both the performer and the observers undoubtedly changed by art created out of tragedy.

Susan lost her husband very suddenly. Their life together was idyllic and she was utterly unprepared for a world without him. No matter how strong we believe ourselves to be, how clever, how resilient, how capable, a shock as deep as losing love can cleave a person in two. Susan was left incomplete and she found herself in a kind of vanishing…something radical had to change to shake her from this inevitable, gradual fading. The Buen Camino was just radical enough to pull her into somewhere else.

The Buen Camino is the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage trail and it follows the legendary steps of St. James. There are many routes, but the most famous of them is the Camino Frances which begins in Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, at the base of the Alps and continues into northern Spain and eventually to the Cathedral at Santiago de Compostela where the remains of St James are held. This long route is almost 800 km and takes about 35 days to complete. So as a first-time hiker, Susan naturally chose the hardest one. Why do anything in halves?
It’s not a challenging hike exactly. Not mountainous or harrowing. That’s not really the point of it. It’s a walk through beautiful ancient landscapes and exquisite villages and towns. The point is to get lost in the epic nature of the journey. To do nothing but walk and to let the world and your troubles fall away. To find your purpose. I have a couple of friends who have completed it. One on foot and one by bike. They both changed their lives almost entirely afterward. However, neither one could pinpoint exactly why. They simply had to finally be themselves they said. No more hiding in others’ expectations or getting smothered by mundane pretense. But then I think to take on such a definitive challenge by oneself must mean that you are already open and actively seeking profound change.

Susan was seeking. She purchased the correct backpack, shoes and clothing. She had a plan and part of that plan was to absolutely avoid the rainy season. So of course it rained unseasonably most of the time. But then perhaps it had to be that way for her. It had to push her specific limits. She also had to do it alone. Which some do and some do not. For her then it truly was a pilgrimage and as she takes us with her through every part of her journey of rediscovery she finds pieces of herself along the way. Fragments of her personality. Dark ones, light ones, painful ones and buoyant brilliant ones. Each of these pieces illuminates a need. Indicate a change or a quirk or in some cases a forgiveness. Susan always had a longing to perform and this show feels like the final destination of her own unique Buen Camino. From France to Spain and then on to L.A.
Writing this gorgeous and heartrending show about such a very raw and still tender part of her life is a kind of conjuring. She skillfully and with great love evokes this epic and very necessary expedition, giving every moment of this show meaning. She captivates the audience with her gentle, sweet, very funny and deeply earnest storytelling. Susan has made this wonderful and important play from her sadness and her heartbreak.
Art is a leveler. It is something that we all can do, rich or poor, together or alone. The art of theatre is unique in that it can make safe the sense that we can all grieve or grow together, in a still space for a moment or two and it is in the act of witnessing another person’s truth that we can find our own. If we are lucky enough to be guided there by someone as brilliant as Susan Edsall.
It’s been a tough week for L.A. We need some hope and some otherworldly transcendence. We need to immerse ourselves in someone else and their purpose for a while and fortunately enough for us Susan is bringing her remarkable play back to the Zephyr this weekend. Sunday at 8pm to be exact.Â
I urge you to attend and lose yourself in her beautiful storytelling for a couple of hours. It’s a gift of a show and I loved it. I sincerely think you will as well.
Buen Camino won an Encore Award and the performance is a fundraiser for LA Women’s Theater Festival.
Tickets:
https://zephyrtheatre.stagey.net/projects/11301?tab=tickets
When:
Sunday January 19 at 8pm
Where:
The Zephyr Theatre
7456 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood.