Fringe Review

Madi White’s one-woman show “The Free State,” is a deeply personal journey of self-discovery that resonates far beyond its rural Kansas setting. From the moment she appears, White commands the stage with a disarming presence that feels refreshingly genuine, and her undeniable charm serves as the perfect entry point for audiences who might initially feel distant from her specific experiences. White’s storytelling radiates with a beautifully innocent quality that is the perfect vehicle for navigating the complex intersections of sexuality, religious upbringing, and reproductive rights that form the backbone of her narrative. White possesses that rare ability to make the personal universal, and her comedic timing provides necessary relief from the heavy topics throughout.

Madi is undoubtedly a gifted storyteller and her journey as True is aided by several technical elements. Fun lighting choices add some levity and laughs, while the prop that symbolizes her grandmother is particularly effective in its sentimentality. Other props like the box of memories and especially the guitar, feel under-utilized. After the strong musical moment near the end of the performance, I couldn’t help but want more! The long mid-western goodbye, while funny and appropriate, felt like a missed opportunity to close the show with a stronger button.

White’s intimate portrayal of growing up queer in rural Kansas is a great achievement in authentic storytelling that strikes the delicate balance between vulnerability and artistic craftsmanship. This one is required Fringe viewing, not only for queer audiences but anyone that has ever felt like a mistake.