THE DANIELS
REVIEW.

It Goes Without Saying by Bill Bowers

PhysFest NYC

A picture is worth a thousand words, and there are some that never leave your mind, that circle and circle like rodents searching for a way out and leaving marks behind.

A child who remembers how his grandfather played with him by stealing his nose. A child who has the moon as an accomplice, following him everywhere as he tries to catch it with his fingers. An adult who repeats these games and closes the cycles of childhood. A mother’s silence being your first great lessons in mime. Exclusivity, praise, and secrecy as accomplices of abuse. These are some of the pearls this rich and succulent journey leaves us.

When you attend a mime performance, what you generally expect least is to encounter spoken stories, yet in this case it was quite the opposite. After a brilliant and playful entrance that showcases his exquisite skills in the art of dramatic corporeal mime, Bill, our performer, verbally confirms his craft: “Yes, I am a mime.”

From there, he begins to tell us his story, from his childhood in Montana, through his weird and funny jobs, great achievements and most intimate and emotional breakdowns, to his present moment. We are confronted with a display of eloquent honesty, delivered in delightful English, where tone, pronunciation, and tempo resonated with the audience and fully captured our attention, carrying us along this emotional roller coaster. Along the way, he teaches us about gentle, calm love, love for oneself, love for one’s craft, and respect for one’s own decisions, creating a knowing smile that captivates and fills the air with optimism.

How can you go through such a heavy journey and come out of it lightly packed, with a free soul and the desire to keep dreaming and playing? These are sensations that only a great artist can convey.

Thank you, master. Seeing your work was a profound lesson in life.

For more information visit Bill's website: https://www.bill-bowers.com

We are giving this 4 out 5 D's

Tickets / more information ↗

Filed underOff-Off-Broadway4 D's

Share this review

WhatsAppFacebookX

Send to a friend, share with your audience, or save the link for later.

Keep exploring

Related reviews

Your Queen Presents: Petrus

Bold, quirky, and unapologetically theatrical, Your Queen Presents: Petrus delivers a delightfully surreal performance that blends camp, comedy, and clever commentary. Overflowing with charisma and edgy creativity, the show plays with identity, power, and spectacle in ways that are as surprising as they are memorable. A uniquely vibrant work-in-progress for adventurous theatre lovers!

The Adventures of Beastie

The Adventures of Beastie invites us into a playful cycle of waking dreams, where imagination runs free until judgment interrupts the fun. Through games, journeys, and childlike wonder, Beastie turns a room of adults into fearless participants. It’s a joyful, empathetic celebration of creativity, vulnerability, and the radical act of playing without shame.

Arias with a Twist

Still running

Arias with a Twist at HERE Arts Center is a dazzling mix of puppetry, drag, comedy, and music that fully immerses the audience in its eccentric world. Joey Arias commands the intimate space with energetic performances and clever staging, bringing dynamic scale shifts and bold humor. This extravagant, lovingly crafted show celebrates the art of performance with both wild joy and touching moments.

More from the archive →

Reviews in your inbox

Get our weekly email with the latest theater and performing arts reviews.