REVIEWS
“Crossing the Veil and Coming Back to Life is a wonderful exploration of the depth and meaning of near-death experiences. Six deep experiences are retold in the first-person voice and masterfully interwoven and crafted like the facets of a jewel. These experiences give us insights into our true selves and the reason we are here on Earth -- to learn to love and to do our part to turn Earth into a planet of love. This production really speaks to the heart.” “Watching "Crossing the Veil and Coming Back to Life" was life changing for me. The intimate staging drew me deeply into the astonishing and powerful stories of these five people, all distinct and different but all describing such similar near-death experiences. Having seen this play, I find my perspective on life and death has widened and deepened. I hope that many, many people get to see this play.”
“This was an amazing experience. The way that each actor told their story was so powerful. I just got lost in it and each actor became their character so completely that I had to remind myself at the end that they weren't describing their own experiences! Thank you for a very special experience!”
“The acting was convincing, and the stories powerful, moving me to tears at one point. Skillfully constructed, the play enabled the characters to respond to each other's stories by remarking on their similarities and differences. I found a deep sense of gratitude and peaceful reassurance swelling up in me as these stories unfolded. The play was, for me, an invaluable reminder of the importance of maintaining a perspective beyond daily concerns, and cherishing our chance to respect and love each other, even amidst dire circumstances.”
“I found the play to be an intimate and impactful experience that has stayed with me for days. I was drawn in and engaged throughout by the talented actors who embodied their characters with vulnerability and authenticity. Deeply moving!"
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Here is a poetic response from an audience member
who saw our performance at The Harvard Divinity School,
April 2025
CROSSING THE VAIL AND COMING BACK AGAIN
Susan Hebard, Boston IANDS Group, (International Association of Nar Death Studies) April 25, 2025
The actors were seated among the audience
Like a wave rising and falling
The actors stood one at a time
Faced the audience for a short monologue
Then sat down again among the audience
Like a wave appearing then disappearing
​
Musical interludes
Provided by two talented musicians
Gave us time to absorb the impact
Of each monologue
​
The monologues were like poetry
Each word essential
Riveting
The audience silent
Concentrating on what felt like
A personal conversation
With an NDEr
The first round of monologues
What brought about the NDE
The second round
What they experienced during the NDE
​
Then the actors came together
On stage
And sat in chairs
Facing the audience
Becoming a sharing group
Telling us all
What happened when
They returned from their NDE
Like an IANDS sharing group
We got to experience their moments
Of sharing
Like we were a part
Of the sharing group
Ourselves
Audience Actors
We became one
Absorbed into the moment
Of realization
Of knowing
We all are part of the experience
Listening to each other is how we heal
And it's all about love.
A final song summed it all up
Then a warm farewell
Brought actors and audience
Together
Forever changed.
AUDIENCE
RESPONSES
