A Thousand Words

C. Neil Parsons—The Rachel Browne Theatre

This very moving performance by C. Neil Parsons is also a very personal one. It weaves together stories and pictures from his father’s time serving in Vietnam with some of his own stories of injury and trauma that he has experienced, with an interpretive dance and musical performance on trombone after each story.

A lot of thought has gone into the structure, he has taken the phrase “a picture is worth one thousand words” and broken down his own stories so the sum of all their words adds up to that number. The combination of the two sets of stories with the artistic interpretation arranged into separate chapters was really well done. The photographs from his father also provide a unique look into life as a soldier.

A fascinating look at the effects of trauma and how it can shape your life.

Murray Hunter