By Ben Watson
Porch Performance: A Solo Show, written and performed by Utah native, Seattle-based actor Hailey Henderson, a streaming digital work at The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival, invites the viewer to share a tasty beverage and friendly chat. Set on the uncontrived location of Henderson’s front porch, the seemingly unscripted introduction draws us in, and as we pull up a virtual chair, we are hooked. Henderson’s storytelling chops are clearly evident as she sets place and time, telling us about her apartment near a bar and sunflowers and we are off. However, like all good horror stories, there are elements when taken in retrospect, foreshadow the darker side of her perhaps autobiographical tale. Henderson’s eponymous main character comes alive and becomes sympathetic in this Westminster College/University of Washington MFA trained actor’s hands.
Sunflowers and subjective safety become the metaphorical framework for the narrative, which runs nearly 60 minutes but feels tightly paced and never loses momentum. Henderson weaves vocal inflection and character enunciation into the handful of characters, including her mother, her ex-boyfriend, and the darker, more sinister foil. I’ll let the viewer take this journey on their own and enjoy the ride, but be forewarned that there are themes here which are certainly problematic in our society at large today. Additionally, some small snippets of language would likely garner this a PG-13 rating, but it is a Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival show, so properly warned are you. Porch Performance is an effective use of virtual meeting and streaming media that has come to the forefront in the COVID-19 era of life. What hasn’t changed via this experiment is the importance of story. Henderson elegantly and enjoyably navigates both the story and the delivery media in helping us to find insight to the nature of toxic and abusive relationships. The success of this piece left me with a desire to experience more of this very talented, brave actor/writer’s work. In all, a great, but serious way to enjoy an hour of captivating theater.
Audiences will have one more opportunity to view the show, Thursday, August 6th at 5:30 pm MT. The show streams on The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival main website via a Zoom link, and requires RSVP. Porch Performance: A Solo Show is free, although there is a “pay what you can” suggested donation via Venmo to @HaileyHenderson0706. Don’t miss this well-crafted example of the storyteller’s art.
The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival Presents Porch Performance: A Solo Show by Hailey Henderson.
Streaming at https://www.greatsaltlakefringe.org/attend August 6, 2020, 5:30pm MT – RSVP required
Tickets: Free, but suggested donation via Venmo: @HaileyHenderson0706
Salt Lake Fringe Festival Facebook Page
Porch Performance: A Solo Show Facebook Event
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