Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep

Gravity Theatre—RRC Polytech

Secrets. We all have them. Those secrets can affect our lives, whether they’re the ones we keep or the ones that are revealed to us over time. This is the area that Joanna Rannelli mines in her one-woman show: the secrets (“the private parts” of herself) that she held on to, and how they informed her life and relationships with her mother. Candid and engaging, Joanna held the audience in thrall with her honest dialogue, even shedding a tear or two herself. This is a fantastic show that will have the crowd reflecting on their untold stories.

Karl Eckstrand

From Fringe 2023

Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep

Gravity Theatre—The Studio at Le Théâtre Cercle Molière

Johanna Ranelli is a completely capable, charming actor; especially cute when she plays herself as a child. This show is like a good essay. She states the premise, provides good evidence (storyline) and sums up her point well in the conclusion.

However, I feel a tightening of the script would benefit the play and the audience. There is too much repetition. We only need to be told once that she pooped the bed at 7 years old; not over and over. She has a beautiful, moving story that could be more effectively told in less time, as I, and others I talked to, felt it dragging at points. There are no flaws in her performance. I would love to see her in future endeavours.

Lisa Campbell

From Fringe 2023

Gravity Theatre

Private Parts: The Secrets We Keep—The Studio at Le Théâtre Cercle Molière

“Both comedy and drama but be prepared for tears”- Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel

“Joanna takes personal themes of love and belonging and bravely shares with great poignancy, revealing great strength”- Lisa Randall, Orlando Fringe

“Superbly acted and so well written, you’ll end up feeling all the feels by the time you leave, and it’s almost impossible to not have a part of this show affect you profoundly in some capacity or another.”- Eric Wenstrom, Orlando Fringe