Cleaved
…I can’t put it down. It’s warm, honest, brilliant.
Jan Harkin, Melbourne
Honestly you’ve touched every emotion and feeling in my heart.
Magdalini Lazarro, Melbourne
I can’t put into words how much I enjoyed your book! I loved the writing style – cosy, personal, inclusive. I only read memoirs/biographies these days and yours is way way up there… keep up the fabulous work!
Sheralyn Iljcesen, South Australia
I have just finished reading your book. Beautifully written… I loved the ending. It was a story of forgiveness. Of course I am crying as I write this note. My heart has been deeply touched by your story
Eileen Dielesen, Perth, Western Australia
I practically inhaled your book – I found it such a fascinating story, beautifully written. Thank you to you and Juliana for sharing so generously and openly.
Jane Haley, Hobart, Tasmania
An extraordinary story, vividly told, Cafarella shows exemplary grace and resilience as she faces down obstacles to forge a path towards empathy and reconciliation.
Angela Savage, author Mother of Pearl
An intriguing family story – read it in two days. I couldn’t put it down…will resonate with anyone living with lymphoedema.
Susanne Ellis, Occupational Therapist, Hand, Lymphoedema and Wound Clinics, Bendigo Health
I just finished it. I’m in bits. Such a beautiful story. Forgiveness, the connections, devoid of sentimentality, yet the humanity – the flawed humans – have touched me. Thank you for a great read!
Susie Penrice Tyrie, Singapore
Well, I devoured CLEAVED
last Thursday night and was totally engrossed by your story. You rendered your tough early life with beautiful detail and without descending into self pity. I was certainly holding out for your happy ending, which did come – but not without doing all the work that all trauma survivors have to do to come out the other side with an integrated life. …I would be very happy to recommend CLEAVED to friends and colleagues, many of whom are members of book clubs.
Theresa Dickinsen, Canberra
A candid, well-written, compelling read, laced with humour.
Hazel Edwards OAM, Author of Writing a Non-Boring Family History and Patron of The Society of Women Writers (Victoria)
I finished reading CLEAVED last night, while the wind roared through a thousand trees, ice hit at my window like a hundred knives, and I couldn’t sleep. Something changed in me and I want to thank you… I am still ‘in the movie’ of your book in my head and there seems too much to say about it in this email. It was transformative… I’m so happy to have met you and to have read your brilliant work. You are more than an inspiration. You are a guide.
Katherine Seppings, Harcourt
Jane, I have just finished ‘CLEAVED’. Oh my goodness, what an emotional roller coaster. I feel like I have done about 20 repeat rides on the Big Dipper at Luna Park. One of your other readers commented on how many of your experiences resonated with her. I feel exactly the same way… I thoroughly enjoyed your book and look forward to re reading it.
Jeannette Johnstone, Castlemaine
…a courageous search for a truth that reads like a compelling mystery
Angela Ryan, South Melbourne
The World Health Organization estimates that up to 250 million people worldwide live with the incurable, disfiguring, progressive, and little-known disease called lymphedema. In Jane Cafarella’s new memoir, CLEAVED, the veil of secrecy surrounding lymphedema is stripped away as we meet a young girl in Australia living with an undiagnosed deformity. Ms. Cafarella weaves a stirring and universal coming-of-age story where the audience gets a rare glimpse of the impact of living with a disability while traversing the many roads on life’s journey.
William Repicci, CEO of the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (USA), the leading global organisation for lymphatic research and advocacy
Read what reviewers for the international book review service Readers’ Favourite have to say about CLEAVED
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/cleaved
e-baby
e-baby is an utterly beautiful play…When an audience is effortlessly made to think, laugh and cry, a slice of the human experience is shared – what more could you ask for?
Emily Richardson, Upstaged Reviews
http://www.upstagedreviews.com/reviews/e-baby
…a highly entertaining and provocative play…
Angela Savage – Melbourne Author and Critic
…two solidly written characters, the inbuilt tension provided by a ticking gestational clock, and by Nellie’s streak of wry humour.
– Jason Blake, Sydney Morning Herald
at times raw and harrowing, and the emotional highs and lows continue right to the end… I left with tears in my eyes.
– Juanita Philips, Stage Whispers
Heartbreaking, joyous and painfully honest
– FairyPowered Productions, London
…a provocative, informative and moving piece – – ReviewsGate, London
“Jane Cafarella, you would have been very proud tonight. Pamela Schermann, Becky Hands-Wicks and Kat Rogers did an amazing job and the audience loved the play. We laughed and cried and I would like to see it have a future life here. We will talk soon!
– Sarah Berger, Founder and Artistic Director, The So and So Arts Club, London.
The combination of drama and humour is magnificent.
Oriol Tarrason, director, Les Antonietes Teatre, Barcelona.
d-baby
I’ve never heard such an overwhelmingly positive reaction at a reading. The audience – 20 people – just loved the play, and there were many questions afterwards about when a production will be mounted.
– Anne Cordiner, Actor/Drector, former Board Member Tasmanian Theatre Company, after the Hobart reading
…wonderfully rich characters and an intriguing story of our times.
Nadia Tass, director, e-baby The Ensemble Theatre, Sydney, 2016
engrossing, moving, thought-provoking… the writing is consistently fine.
Peter Fitzpatrick, writer and Honorary Professor of Performing Arts at Monash University, and founder and Artistic Director of Melbourne Music Theatre
… another triumph. The rehearsed reading was brilliant!
Angela Savage, author and critic
I read a lot of scripts, but this one is musical.
–Laura Schuster, actor an teacher, Singapore American School
Supersnout
The audience raved, especially about Supersnout, and that damned dog hogged all the limelight.
– Tanya Stewart, Toodyay Theatre Company, WA
If your company’s short of funds, you can just auction that role off! A punchy and even raunchy start to our festival.
– Adjudicator, Lighthorn Festival of One Act Plays, Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Everyone enjoyed it and thought it funny and quirky.
– Annie Begg (Director, Quids in Theatre)
Uked! – The first play-along ukulele musical
A MUST SEE! Take your uke join in ,sing or smile along A GREAT NIGHT…Laughed a lot.
– Michelle Robie, Castlemaine
If you only get to indulge in one ukulele fantasy this year, make sure it’s this one. A great night out!
– Kim Burns, Bendigo
Rebecca is brilliant as Karla and Pete does an equally amazing job performing nearly everyone else! Please do yourself a favour and go see this show.
– Kaye Nankervis, Eaglehawk
Karla is brilliant!…Anyone whose ever been 50 will completely understand.
– Neil Adam, Newlyn.
It was one of the mosts memorable night I’ve had. You’re missing out on life if you don’t go!
– Glenice Liston, Heallesville
Saw this yesterday. Super script. Really fun to join in playing or just singalong. Get along and get Uked!
– Cate Mercer – Hawk&Dove, Castlemaine
Are you going to tour this? Please say yes!
– Jacqui Cosgrove, Sydney
Love you to come down to the peninsula please.
– Val Rowe
An experience not to be missed!
– Bev Tozer, Castlemaine
I’m completely compelled by it!
– Bev Hope, Guildford
It was fantastic and such a great laugh too. We also loved having the chance to participate, because we’ve been ‘Uked!’ too!
– Melanie Jacobson, yarra ukers
We are still raving!! …We were absolutely ‘Uked’. Thanks!
– Cathy and Bob Edwards, Bundyukes and WhittleCukes.
What a total delight UKED! was, at every level. Bravo, Jane.
Peter Bryne, Guildford