[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of “Re-Inventing Me,” written and co-directed by Esther Pearlman, starring Laurie Wardell, co-produced by Jessica Lyn Johnson, and co-produced and co-directed by Robin Quinn as shown as part of the Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest.
“Re-inventing Me” is a charming autobiographical journey through the life of Esther Pearlman. An artist, by way of a dance instructor, model, actor, mother, teacher, stand-up comic, writer and wife. This gently winding story about a funny, interesting woman seemingly unhindered by any lack of confidence or undeterred by the prospect of working hard or learning something entirely new. Esther has lived her life delighted by the possibilities all around her. Her art, her children, her utterly unfettered life, full of open doors and windows. What a beautiful attitude and a dream made possible.
This has not come as a revelation to her. No spiritual journey or angst-driven turn of events. Esther, it seems, is one of those very fortunate people who simply lives. I am sure she has had dark moments, after all, she is only human. But this play is not about that. It’s an unfolding narrative of her life, highlighting how she moved from one purpose to the next without regret, or longing or any failure. Only enjoying the ride and learning more about herself and the world as she goes.
Esther is an artist now and an author and it’s clear to see that she would have been neither had she not done everything else before. These days everyone is expected to get there quickly. To have one goal and stick to it. To have failure as a dark and ominous spectre to be avoided at all costs and certainly never spoken of in polite company. But the reality is failure is far more a part of everyday existence than success. So why should we judge that to be a negative thing at all? Perhaps that’s why we are all so wound up. Failure is just a lesson, more keenly felt than success perhaps, but just as valuable. Did Esther fail as a model because she only had one job after six months of classes? Of course not, she became more herself, more poised, more comfortable with her body, she found her style. Did she suffer because she was an extra and never a lead? Far from it. She had many wonderful and remarkable moments on sets and with actors she admired. She enjoyed every second of it all and her here is now all the better for it.
What we tell our children we should tell ourselves. If you try something and it doesn’t take, then move on and be happy that you had an opportunity to grow. We are so hard on ourselves aren’t we? So ready to judge and pinch and never forget. Phooey….
I loved this endearingly meandering and extremely poignant piece. I loved spending time with Esther and her family and her gorgeously and accidentally crafted life. Esther is an inspiration and her life has been lived to the fullest. Not by climbing mountains or building a rocket to the moon. Although I wouldn’t put it past her. But by living her own life as a kind of art form. Step by step and year by year she has become something and then slipped it off and become something else. With no regrets and no sense of shame and only the thrill of accomplishment and deepening understanding of what it is to be human.
“Re-inventing Me” is a quietly brilliant play. Laurie Wardell as Esther is captivating and achingly funny in a sweet underplayed and deadly way. I think she created her own Esther and I believed every word she said and every tilt of her head…wonderful.
It’s quite a thing to write a play about oneself and then not to play her. But Esther Pearlman seems to be the kind of person who does things exactly the way she wants to and by the end of this journey with her I am convinced that Esther knows best…
If you get the chance to see this lovely show, then take it.
In fact, you can watch it streaming on Whitefire Theatre’s Vimeo page:
Pour yourself a glass of wine and settle in for a treat!!
Also check out Esther’s book on her Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Looking-at-Bright-Side-Mostly/dp/1664149465/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1THJK6SRFEEI0&keywords=Looking+at+the+Bright+Side+Mostly&qid=1663433843&s=books&sprefix=looking+at+the+bright+side+mostlystripbooks124&sr=1-1