PERFECT LOVE
it must be out there somewhere
written and performed by Linda Manning
a modern coming of age story exploring love, lust, betrayal and brutality
May 6th at 8pm, May 8th at 2pm, May 14th at 8pm (live stream also available), May 17th at 8pm, May 22nd at 2pm
"Linda Manning proves mighty onstage in Perfect Love.... A 70s something female was seeking a type of perfection, beyond the feminine mystique where a young woman could hope not to be devalued or ignored or thrown away. Linda Manning wants to interrogate this type of perfection. She repeats sequence by sequence, slowly developing consciousness beyond an unsightly room. The truth of her teens is nothing like a beautiful confusion. Yet, her desire to find form and create beauty is constantly present." TheaterPizzazz.com
"We live in a time when women STILL cannot speak many truths without being morally, personally, socially bludgeoned, but if you are seeking inspiration to not only “speak” the truth, but “live” the truth … You MUST see this show." WIN Writers Innovative Network
"We live in a time when women STILL cannot speak many truths without being morally, personally, socially bludgeoned, but if you are seeking inspiration to not only “speak” the truth, but “live” the truth … You MUST see this show." WIN Writers Innovative Network
Dixon Place - April 2019
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Why does a woman with a loving husband and two kids suddenly find herself unbearably anxious, unable to sleep, and her only comfort an old poster of Robert Redford? directed by Gretchen Cryer with original music by Jono Hill Linda speaks out about her past, her evolution from a rootless girl surrounded by predatory, abusive men to a reckless woman on the hunt for perfect love with every dangerous man she meets.
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What people are saying:
"I was completely immersed!!"
"Wonderful writing and beautifully performed. When you screamed 'Mom,' I froze!"
"I loved the shifts between young you, adolescent you, and grown up you."
"Very powerful. And so honest. Really amazing!"
"You knocked me flat and lifted me back up!!!"
Content Warning: sexual assault
Check out Linda's articles on The Dramatists Guild blog about her show:
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How does a young girl, young woman, get the idea in her head that such a thing exists: perfect love? What risks does she take to find it ... And why does it take decades to tell the truth about what happened ... 
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Review from TheaterPizzazz.com
"Linda Manning proves mighty onstage in Perfect Love.... A 70s something female was seeking a type of perfection, beyond the feminine mystique where a young woman could hope not to be devalued or ignored or thrown away. Linda Manning wants to interrogate this type of perfection. She repeats sequence by sequence, slowly developing consciousness beyond an unsightly room. The truth of her teens is nothing like a beautiful confusion. Yet, her desire to find form and create beauty is constantly present."
Review from Maureen Payne-Hahner, WIN Writers Innovative Network NYC/London
"This world is full with brave and honest performances, but not quite like this.
It was the sheer force of her work, her truth-telling, her deep dive into the known --
and not knowing how she might resurface that made us feel
all the things we needed to feel."
Review from TheatreReview.NYC
"Nothing is off limits here ...
She relishes in the telling of her tale. Her words are courageous and
her performance is revelatory and joyous to watch."
"Linda Manning proves mighty onstage in Perfect Love.... A 70s something female was seeking a type of perfection, beyond the feminine mystique where a young woman could hope not to be devalued or ignored or thrown away. Linda Manning wants to interrogate this type of perfection. She repeats sequence by sequence, slowly developing consciousness beyond an unsightly room. The truth of her teens is nothing like a beautiful confusion. Yet, her desire to find form and create beauty is constantly present."
Review from Maureen Payne-Hahner, WIN Writers Innovative Network NYC/London
"This world is full with brave and honest performances, but not quite like this.
It was the sheer force of her work, her truth-telling, her deep dive into the known --
and not knowing how she might resurface that made us feel
all the things we needed to feel."
Review from TheatreReview.NYC
"Nothing is off limits here ...
She relishes in the telling of her tale. Her words are courageous and
her performance is revelatory and joyous to watch."
Follow Linda:
- Linda began developing Perfect Love in Gretchen Cryer's Solo Show workshop at The Dramatists Guild Institute in 2017.
- Perfect Love debuted at the United Solo Festival in NYC in September, 2018 to a sold out house.
- DixonPlace.org presented the show in April, 2019 -- another sold out performance.
- Poor Mouth Theatre Company presented Perfect Love in November, 2019 - three sold out shows.
"Linda Manning’s Perfect Love is seamlessly told and beautifully performed. The truth laid bare without a single false moment. A triumph of the human spirit and a riveting night of theatre. My only regret is that we didn’t do more shows because we sold out every night and could have sold many more."
Don Creedon - Artistic Director of Poor Mouth Theatre Company
