Leslie Murphy, writer and performer of Sincerely, answered some quick questions for @SeeItOrSkipItLA!
1. They say that you find out who your true friends are when you hit rock bottom. I would posit that you also find out who you truly are when you hit rock bottom. Would you agree or disagree?
A: Absolutely. My entire show is about just that! I went through a pretty rough time for a couple years there and I had honestly gotten to a point that I truly believed that not everyone was cut out to be a “happy person.” I think, in fact, that I was attempting to cope with the various struggles I was facing by telling myself that happy was no great thing, and that there was really nothing to be done if you were one of the unhappys in life. Even now, I certainly don’t subscribe to the whole “you have to be super thrilled about your life every second or else there’s something wrong with you” school. But I will say that throughout my dark times (the sads, as I call them in the show), I think I was forced to come toe to toe with my worst self, learn to understand her, and then learn how to work with her to get us both to the other side.
2. You say that this isn’t a show about finding happiness. Do you think that happiness is something that can be found?
A: It’s funny, there is a great Ted Talk about just that! This idea of natural vs synthetic (or self-created) happiness, and how both are equally as rewarding as far as the brain is concerned, but most people just assume that the natural happiness is the only one they want. As a result, a lot of people wait around for happiness, happy accidents (or what have you), to find them, instead of really taking the time to cultivate and manufacture happiness in themselves. As for me, I was never one to spend a lot of energy on all the new agey, be positive, meditate your way to a better you kind of thing. But I do believe it’s up to everyone to make the most of his or her time on this earth, and if you can find a way to enjoy that time somehow, even better. My show doesn’t really offer any kind of answers as far as how or where to find happiness, because I’m not sure I believe that’s something anyone can tell you how to do. But I’d like to think that we can all at least get a little closer to the truths in ourselves if we let ourselves be just as we are, and make every attempt to support and understand the worst parts as much as we do our shiny bits.
3. What about your show makes it perfect for the Fringe?
A: It’s got a little bit of a lot of things going on, but it’s also pretty abstract in a lot of ways. I loved the idea of being able to tell this story this way, because I think there are things you can get away with on stage that you can’t on film. The fringe is also such a community of artists and weirdos (and I count myself as one!), and a lot of my show centers around finding strength and comfort in the community of strangers and writing.
4. What do you hope the audience walks away with after your show?
A: Yikes! I hope they get some good laughs, and maybe a little self-reflection, but most of all, I’d hope anyone coming to see this show would find something in my experience that is relatable for them in their own lives. The things that happened to me may not have happened to you, or maybe you’ve faced even worse! But at the end of the day, I’d love people to walk out feeling a little less burdened by whatever they’re carrying.
5. What show, other than yours, are you most excited to see at the Fringe?
A: So so many shows! I’m looking forward to seeing as many other solo shows as I can for sure! “Stupid Songs,” because I have wonderfully talented friends in that, and the Four Clowns Show, because I’ve heard great things about them from fringes past. But I’ll go to any and everything I can fit into my hours because when do you have so many crazy artsy people all in one place for three weeks, all putting out hard work and love?!
Intrigued? You can see Sincerely, on these days:
Theater Asylum – Elephant Studio
June 7, 8:30pm
June 14, 1:00pm
June 19, 8:30pm,
June 26, 10:00pm
June 27, 2:30pm
Okay fine, you can have a discount too!
June 7th preview – Pay What You Can!
Or reach out to Leslie via Twitter or Instagram for a half-off code to any of the shows!
For ticketing click here.
*As a special thank-you to all Fringers following my coverage, please enjoy 15% off purchases at In Heels Productions throughout the month of June. Use code HFF15 at checkout!