Chrissy Meth ~ A Dance with the Devil and a Journey Back to Self

To see drug addiction portrayed in this way is really unusual – and important. We see the innocence, the intrigue, the various elements that lead to drug abuse. So often, the thrill and intoxication of drug use is either celebrated or brushed under the rug. This story pulls no punches on both that – and also the helplessness and spiral of addiction. …but, ultimately, the journey to self love and recovery – in a way that is unique and moving.

Her story is told with grace and with humor and with a sweet depth to her acting ability I have rarely seen. Chrystal is a warrior, although she is one whose heart openly bleeds. She is powerful in her resilience and proud of her journey and therefore who she has become. But what struck me most about her brilliant performance and heartfelt connection with her audience was her humility and her authenticity. Her words trip lightly from her, her emotion always propelling her narrative and yet there was no sense of syrupy, overly romanticized drama, no tinge of self indulgence. This is a story beautifully told and effortlessly articulated by a woman with tremendous talent and something important to say.

I love solo shows, but they are hard to get right, hard to balance, harder to perform. This is amongst the absolute best I have seen and I am thrilled Chrissy shared herself so poignantly with us. Bravo!!! Loved it!!

Crystal is comfortable in her body on-stage and she doesn’t hold back from diving into her playful, youthful imagination. I could watch her dance around onstage all day!

Crystal’s story and performance takes you on a powerful journey into her world of how she became addicted to crystal meth and ultimately what led her to leave it behind. It is beautifully and vulnerably told and simply her sharing her story, gives us all isight into a world that most people aren’t familiar with. And, most importantly, we get to see that there is a human being that simply just got lost for a moment, and we get to know and SEE that human even during her time as a so called “addict” (us humans love to label and categorize ourselves and others). Crystal gives it her all in this powerful one woman show, and her story is one that needs to be told. It inspires to compassion as well as showing us that we can overcome anything.

YOU CAN OVERCOME! This show is a testament to the power of GOD and human will to triumph over abandonment and one of the toughest addictions on the planet. You will also understand how essential family is, that it is where you make it. You will learn that familial bonds are established within the drug culture, where addicts feel loved, supported, and celebrated. You should leave with compassion as a response towards that relative or friend that struggles, not judgment. You will get a glimpse into how the cycle of rejection and lack of worth perpetuates itself in a vicious cycle, if it goes unchecked. Crystal is a courageous and outstanding storyteller, as well as a phenomenal actress. YOU MUST SEE THIS AND BRING A FRIEND!

A powerful and brutal look at addiction and the incredible courage and determination that it takes to break free and create a new life. It was so inspiring to see this gritty, true to life story so authentically told by a woman who has made it to the other side. Extraordinary courage and commitment and a real contribution to those who have dealt with the impact of addiction – either personally or with someone in their lives.

Many of the criticisms I've had about other solo shows were addressed in this performance. Crystal is not only a powerhouse of a performer (boy does she work hard for her money!) but she's also incredibly brave in telling her story so candidly - I'm presuming it's all true - and yet, simultaneously, managing to make it incredibly entertaining and informative.

I love the way she was able to seamlessly and swiftly switch from character to character, clearly delineating each person both physically and vocally, enabling her to effectively have conversations/dialogue rather than just monologues to the audience.

Her emotional range is incredible. When she effortlessly glides from playing the personification of Meth to a distressed hallucinating version of herself, screaming for help one second and then calmly and maliciously enjoying her own distress as the drug observes it's affect on her, I couldn't help but be in awe of her skills as an actress. I'm sorry she had to live through what she went through but boy oh boy has it made her an incredible actress. All the more so because it takes a lot to be that vulnerable on stage with your own personal story.

This was the first and only show I absolutely HAD to give a standing ovation for and it takes a LOT to get me to stand for an ovation!

There were a few things I would have changed if I'd directed this show, but Crystal is such a powerful and compelling performer that it more than made up for any of the things I would've changed. What a pity it's finished already, but if it gets a well-deserved encore, go and see it!I also liked the clearly genuine heartfelt gratitude at the end of the show, expressed regarding the privilege of having an audience's attention and the fact that she didn't waste a second of our time. A fascinating insight into a life I'm grateful I haven't had to live, but am in awe of the fact that she has not only triumphed over adversity but come out of the other side shining!

Her performance is vibrant, as she portrays a medley of people from her life story...

This show is recommended for its message that it is never too late to re-discover your self-worth.

What a powerful tour de force into the landscape of crumbling self esteem and destructive vices. Crystal Bush brings in a powerful performance with equal measures hilarity and horror as we witness her struggle with ways to suppress issues of abandonment and self love.

Crystal Bush is as mesmerizing as the drugs she personifies in the piece. An entertaining education that I am happy to have only witnessed and not experienced first hand. Crystal is a powerful and polished actress whose characterization are as good as they get. I think I just saw Best Solo Show of HFF19!