The Book That Won't Close: Confessions of a Love Addict

From the moment that TL struts commandingly on stage, this play does not seem to be about doubt.

It becomes a never ending effort at inclusion in a world that offers you to just choose either purple or green, straight or bent, listening well or reading sign language. The character TL evolves is compelled to find where she belongs in a community that does not have enough preference boxes to check. The book that does not close is a page turner. Turning the page to discover whether it is addiction to community or hunger for connection.

TL uses her body and voice to embody a plethora of characters that guide, sadden, and love her life as a page turner. This is brilliant like good costuming is to a film.

I left the theatre a bit exhausted as I lived 12 years of typesetting in tens of minutes. It bears seeing twice. Words are well crafted. Remarkable work. Kudos to Jessica Lynn Johnson for being on board for navigation this book to publication. I do not doubt that you will be reading between the lines of your own book pages.

Go see it!

Absolutely breathtaking. The performance and the story together takes you on a journey you could not ever experience any other way. It's like watching the Best choreographed dance ever. The pure true Rawness can not be matched. TL is stunning, beautiful, talented, and herself a True Open Book. TL takes you on a journey into her world as a live addict and her deaf world in such a way, you yourself feel like you were there. A show you can see again and again and still not get enough of

TL’s show Confessions of a love addict: the book that won’t close is a tour de force. TL‘s execution is pristine, taking us on a journey through the use of her body, voice, and singing that leaves us touched moved and inspired. I laughed and cried. It is so deeply personal a story and authentically Raw that it’s almost a delicious discomfort sitting in the audience so close witnessing it. Like being a voyeur. This is not to be Missed. And you will rarely see so honest and vulnerable an admission in the theater today. It is both taboo and titillating. Heartbreaking and inspiring. See it!!!

Some plays/performances make me laugh, others make me think, a few stun with technical skill and passion, some do indeed make me weep.

The Book That Won't Close does all of the above and more.

TL Forsberg's solo show about her love addiction lays bare a lot of often painful truths. Others, to be fair, run the gamut to hilarious and back (the business with her ASL interpreter is groundbreaking and was worthy of applause in its own right). But when someone in deep pain reveals that, then explores the reasons why--and there are so very many reasons--expect some tears. Forsberg's story peels back a deep sense of confused identity (she is, like most who identify as Deaf, hard of hearing--a fact that which renders her a target for all kinds of small and not-so-small abuse from nearly every direction), as well as a generational tradition of women loathing themselves. An alcoholic father naturally did not help, nor a mother who refused to speak about her daughter's disability. This brief synopsis does little to convey the depth and spectrum of what Forsberg gives us.

In the end I was awestruck. Not least because of the power and skill of the show, but the rawness of what Fosberg shared. She even introduces us to some of the voices we all have in our soul, in her case this includes an analyst and a nightmare version of her child self. As we met all these characters, including her various past boyfriends and a few others, the more I did more than simply empathize with this person on stage bleeding her soul for all to see and (ironically) hear, I recognized her.

That is when I wept. And I wept again as we emerged into who she has become today. Not perfect, but healed to some degree, and healing still to some degree. Also, accepting herself as who she is, including the sharp corners and rough patches.

First things first. Set your phone or iWatch to vibrate periodically to remind you to B R E A T H E ! TL's performance is captivating. She takes you on this wild ride of her life and how her inner child-our inner children are running the show. And with TL having an already complicated life being of the hearing and deaf world-life has not been boring for this exquisite warrior. A Rockstar-she has a beautiful voice. A dancer-she is powerfully expressive with her body. And if you've been a love-addict like I once was, hold on to your Kleenex for chapter, no-contact.

What a powerhouse performance! TL takes you through the chapters of her life as if each is a part of the book that tries to explain how she got to where she is from moment-to-moment. Packed with extremely expressive facials and constantly emotional body movement, TL's life experience as a "hard of hearing" person living in a fluid no man's land of diversity packs a punch that will shake you to your soul. And kudos to her uncredited ASL interpreter whose entertaining presence often becomes an important part of the show's humor! Along with her incredible physicality, the show's lighting and projection design enhanced the emotional impact of the show. The sound quality during the virtual presentation was a bit muffled and fuzzy, often making it difficult to understand what TL was saying. But her physicality always spoke volumes.

It is empowering to observe TL struggle with her demons and in what can, and often does, turn into a bitter reminiscence, instead gifts us with a cathartic act of acceptance and forgiveness. Brava TL for your courage and your honesty, and for allowing us to participate in your redemptive healing process.

From the moment TL walls on stage she is captivating. She tells her life story with such skill and talent that you cannot take your eyes off her. Not only will your heart be touched but you Will get an rare peek at the social nuances of the deaf and ASL world. Fascinating!

The show is directed by the amazing Jessica Lynn Johnson. It employs music, dance, visual projections and an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Bob Lo Paro. It is sometimes abstract, and moves so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. The language is rough: definitely not for children. But it is immensely entertaining and acutely thought provoking. T.L. is a gifted singer/songwriter.

Show with a lot of heart. Easy to care about TL and the struggles she’s had. Held my interest throughout. Informative and entertaining.

I highly recommend this show. TL takes us on a whirlwind ride of dark comedy as she vulnerably reveals her recovery process. She covers topics of parental/childhood wounds, dysfunctional dependency in relationships, and challenges as a deaf person who passes in the hearing world. The show is both entertaining and cathartic.

The story, the characters, the physicality, the way the artist owns her experiences while calling out hypocrisy is all so beautifully realized. I left feeling like I’d just ridden a wonderful rollercoaster.

...TL emotes her words and actions in a very animated fashion, never slowing down unless the story calls for a milder pace.

Forsberg’s characters, her graceful, dance-like movements underline her vulnerability and underscore how as a virtuoso conducts a symphony, she conducts the audience through this exquisite journey of her life of addiction, sorrow and healing the little girl within...

This is the show not to be missed! TL Forsberg, is a hypenate in showbiz: actor, director, writer, singer, but most importantly, a successful human, hybrid that came out of the other end of a horrific journey, wiser, smarter and lending much needed love and unity to the world at-large!

TL's performance in this show is absolutely breathtaking, courageous, and larger than life. Her story is inspiring and important for the world to hear. Brilliantly reenacting the relationships between her family, friends and lovers, this play brings awareness to issues surrounding love, toxic relationships, and the importance of self-healing. TL takes you on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of her life, making you feel as if you are living it all over again with her. This play is a must-see!

The show is a roller coaster of emotions. There is a nugget of wisdom tucked away in every moment of this brilliant tale of recovery and self discovery.

The best solo performance I’ve ever seen. Incredible acting and extremely captivating story. A deeply relevant topic of love addiction, sexuality and healing for these times.

Audience members are granted to privilege of stepping into TL Forsberg's soul for this one woman show, eventually getting swallowed up by her raw vulnerability and will leave with both of sense of completion and wanting more time inside the womb of her creation.

I found TL F. To be EXTREMELY talented in so many ways & angles of artfully and precisely expressing herself and her very important life message on stage in her one woman's play last night - on top of being quite uniquely real, authentic and raw as can be, at the same time of being truthfully deep and entertaining! I highly recommend following her and her future events! Bravo TL xoxo