Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In the austere I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I COULD DIE, Mona Pirnot expresses love, life, and loss as she can

• By drediman
• February 28, 2024
• No Comments

Last night, I was able to catch up with Mona Pirnot’s one woman show I Love You So Much I Could Die, which is currently running Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in the East Village. In her deeply personal autobiographical show – which only has a running time of just over an hour – she recounts a distressing period in her life, which she juxtaposes with memories of her budding romantic relationship with her now husband, the adventurous playwright Lucas Hnath (who also directs).

In essence, Pirnot conveys her experiences in segments that alternate between song and storytelling. Don’t let the simple structure and work’s relatively brief running time fool you, however. In presentation, this hard-to-classify show pushes the boundaries of what constitutes performance. Firstly, Pirnot sits with her back facing the audience for the entire duration of the show, which immediately makes an impactful statement. Then there’s the text-to-voice technology she uses for her storytelling portions (the piece continues the work started by shows like Artificial Flavors and Prometheus Firebringer in examining the ways in which theater and A.I. can intersect). By creating a gulf between the audience and Pirnot’s inner turmoil, we’re left to imagine the extent of her trauma – an approach that yields disarmingly powerful results. Even the sweetness of her songs (performed with beguiling simplicity) – in jarring contrast to the robotic delivery of her stories – help mask the aching within this deeply sensitive soul.

Hnath’s staging continues his fascination with theatrical experimentation (evident in his recent output like Dana H. and A Simulacrum). Indeed, I Love You So Much I Could Die exudes an austere art installation quality (kudos in particular to Oona Curley’s haunting lighting design) that may scare away theatergoers with a more traditional palette . But those willing to tune into the subtleties of this strange little solo show will be rewarded with a potent and authentic depiction of love, life, and loss – as expressed as Pirnot can.

RECOMMENDED

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I COULD DIE
Off-Broadway, Play/Musical
New York Theatre Workshop
1 hour, 5 minutes (without an intermission)
Through March 9