As Tracey Yarad approaches the stage, she sits, hits a singing bowl (traditionally used in Buddhism for meditation), closes her eyes and “oummmmmm” If I knew her story beforehand, I would understand her need to relax before telling it, because it is a jaw dropper.
This storytelling musical is the harrowing truth of a woman who learns to restart her life after her husband runs away with their teenage goddaughter, leaving her with a messy divorce she never thought was around the corner. Tracey Yarad tells her story, exposing her weaknesses (her husband) that troubled her for two decades in this storytelling, piano playing, photo-sliding show.
Tracey’s one-of-a-kind story is interesting enough on its own to grab the attention of fringe show seekers, but Tracy amplifies it; you feel the many emotions of her marriage through her music. Overall, her music is jazzy, but it changes to fit the tone of the situation, whether that be travelling the world as a musical duo, blissful married life, or the distrust in a relationship that is slowly brewing to the inevitable, it can all be felt in her soft voice, great “Aussie” humour or the battering of the ivory keys.
Tracey is a woman of many talents, which actually includes juggling, too. Her story is a scary one, but her growth from its ending is empowering. A woman mentally tortured for so long drops the materialism and superficiality that rooted itself into her marriage and finds freedom in the arts and a new life in New York City.
All These Pretty Things 16.20, Fingers Piano Bar at PBH’s Free Fringe, until August 15
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/all-these-pretty-things
