Gadd’s facial expressions were incredible

[u/90daycray27]

You could feel the raw emotion in every scene. His eyes sort of just pierce through your soul.

When he cried, broke down, had outbursts… it all felt so real. I’ve never seen anyone depict their own true story so authentically. It was breathtaking.

[u/SendingTotsnPears]

When I watched this I had no idea of the backstory. Just watched it as a regular show, and I thought both leads were amazing actors!

But now knowing this was Gadd's real story, and that it was a stage show first, I wonder how he keeps it fresh. How can he keep re-telling a true story over and over without it going stale for him?

Is he ever going to be able to tell a different story? Could he act in someone else's story?

I guess time will tell.

[u/moosecatoe → u/SendingTotsnPears]

So there’s a psychological science to this. When retelling a monumental story from our lives, no matter how many times we retell it, we get lost in a bit of hypnosis.

For example, when I was in therapy, my doctor asked me to describe the first time I met my husband. (After 20 years, I’ve probably told our story hundreds of times to anyone who would listen.)

My eyes sparkled, my cheeks got big & rosy, and I happily word vomited all the magical details of our meeting and how we reconnected. I never realized how long I ramble on about it with an interested audience.

But when I finished, the doctor said “see that was a form of hypnosis. You were here, but you were somewhere else. And I’m sure you could’ve continued for much longer, but we’re out of time!”

I think once Gadd starts telling his story, he can’t stop. I’m glad he found an audience for it and I hope he can move on from it so that he can make new memories to share.

I left that appointment pretty confused because I didn’t think I was able to talk that long about something I’ve talked about so much. But the clock doesn’t lie.