I Have Griefances

Funny and Heartfelt

What starts as a series of grudges and grievances from a Gen X childhood turns into a rant against the injustice of the universe and ultimately becomes a sincere tribute to a sister. Wells deftly weaves tales of comic books and Saturday morning cartoons with the story of his sister's cancer treatment. It made me laugh and also made me sad (in a good way). Worth hiring a babysitter.

Prepare for all the emotions

Came in , having seen Wells' show in 2023, expecting to laugh; "humor" covered about 70% of this show. Nostalgia, love, empathy and yes, grief, filled out the remaining 30%. But, with Wells' gift for story-telling, every other emotion blended in with the humor so seamlessly that the show felt more like you were just sitting around, talking with/listening to a friend who's been through the worst parts of life all at once; but, like friends so often do, the "good times" memories won out against the "bad times." Don't be afraid to bring a tissue or two with you to this one, but also remember that it's OK to laugh at what life throws at us.

Don't miss this one!

I Have Griefences is a Fringe 2025 gem—a blending belly-laugh comedy with tender sorrow. With deeply relatable sibling dynamics at its core, the show invites the audience into a shared space of loss, memory, and humor. Wells strike a rare balance: the comic timing is impeccable, but he never shies away from the raw, quiet ache of grief. What results is a performance that feels both cathartic and connective—one that lets you laugh loudly and maybe cry a little too.

Wells does it again

Wells takes us on a wild and amusing ride, full of snorting laughter, tender moments, and relatable family dynamics. This show skillfully builds elements of choking grief and undeniable humor into a beautiful mosaic you'll be thinking about for days. Just don't bring up the lampshade.

Grief Sucks! Cancer Sucks!

Wells presented such heartfelt, memorable, engaging grievances of his survival and coming to terms with the illness and loss of his family members. Every grief ties to other grief with affection aka humor. Thank you! Recommended!

Funny at Times

This was a monologue that will be funny for GenXers and anyone who’s lost a family member with whom they had a complicated relationship. The material was very personal and heartfelt. The delivery was powerful at times but, at other times it felt like Wells was standing in front of a classroom reading an essay from his notebook. I would have appreciated a bit more show. I imagine wells walking out with a card board box. Opening it and taking out a small lamp shade. Setting that on the stage. Then pulling out his teenage journal and telling us stories from it. At the end we learn the significance of the lamp shade.

Heartfelt and funny.

When it comes to solo performances, some create new worlds and new characters. Some share a story that makes us realize that no matter how different we are from one another, we all have similarities that make us human. This show is a great example of the latter.