Critical Analysis: Rooter's Performance Rooted By Tim Miller

Tim Miller’s performance Rooted was emotional, raw, and opinionated. Miller performed alone on stage in a story telling that focused on events throughout. Each of the events he describes are connected, or rooted, together. Miller was the only actor in this performance and he provided a very compelling story about his trials and tribulations as a gay man trying to marry his partner in the United States.

I found Millers entire performance very powerful. What I found so powerful was how utterly open and vulnerable miller made himself to the audience. He was telling the stories of some of the most difficult and emotional times in his life. He was so honest and true to his emotions that the audience felt as though they were feeling and experiencing
Miller then told his friend that when they grow up they were going to be married and live in the house on their street with all of the garden gnomes. The little boy then quickly responded with “boys can’t marry boys.” They then got into a fight and millers friend insisted that he take back what he said about getting married. Miller refused, and then eventually gave in so that the little boy would stop beating him up. When Miller took back what he said, he did so with his fingers crossed behind his back. This means that he didn’t really take back what he said, so the take back was null and void. Myself and the audience all let out a chorus of laughter. We found this funny because we had all been in a similar position, arguing with our childhood friends and knowing that if you crossed your fingers behind your back you didn’t really mean what you said. I know my crossed fingers got quite a lot of use when I was nine and this story just made Miller all the more
He was so engaging throughout the performance, which surprised me because he was alone on the stage with nothing other than the lighting effects and three songs. He made himself the most interesting thing on the stage and that is something that I would hope to do as well. I also really admire him for being able to stand on a stage in front of so many strangers and be so open and vulnerable. He was able to bare his soul to the audience, knowing full well that he may be judged for who he was. That is why his performance was so compelling and