A Life Told with Honesty, Warmth and Quiet Grace
⭐⭐⭐⭐
What's it about?
The Smile of Her is an intimate autobiographical one-woman play that traces the life of Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Christine Lahti from childhood through adulthood. Told mostly chronologically, it explores family, identity and the experiences that shaped her, weaving together personal memories with moments of wider cultural significance. Performed by Christine Lahti and a child playing young Chrissie, the production creates the feeling of sitting across from someone sharing the story of their life.
What we loved
The greatest strength of the production is its honesty. Rather than searching for heightened drama or sentimentality, Lahti quietly invites us into her memories through a relaxed, personal and conversational style. Lahti’s performance is reflective rather than overtly emotional and that understated approach proves surprisingly compelling.
The young actor playing child Chrissie (Jesamine-Bleu Gibbs at this performance) is a delight. Full of personality, warmth and childhood energy, she brings a wonderful contrast to the more reflective adult narrator.
The production embraces simplicity. The set consists primarily of a white couch wrapped in protective plastic. Multimedia is used sparingly but effectively, with family photographs and archive footage—including Chrissie's Golden Globe Award win—projected onto a large screen. Because these moments are carefully chosen rather than overused, they punctuate the narrative beautifully and add authenticity without overshadowing the performances.
Although the play recounts stories from a very different time, it becomes very apparent that sadly it is also not such a different time.
Anything we'd change?
The piece maintains its intentionally reflective style, prioritising conversation and recollection over heightened dramatic moments which may not appeal to everyone.
Who would enjoy it?
Personal, autobiographical stories and fans of Christine Lahti.
Who created it?
The Smile of Her is written and performed by Christine Lahti, directed by Mêlisa Annis, with Sarah Beaton's set and costume design, David Gregory's sound design, Matt Haskins' lighting and Matt Powell's projection design.
Verdict
The Smile of Her is an engaging and heartfelt autobiographical portrait that demonstrates the power of simple storytelling. Strong performances, thoughtful use of multimedia and an intimate conversational style create a production that quietly draws you in and holds your attention throughout. It doesn't seek to overwhelm with emotion; instead, it offers an honest reflection on a life lived.