What I Should Have Said

Honest, real love story

"What I Should Have Said" speaks to the thoughts that play on repeat and the regrets of saying or not saying what you should have in the moment. Jeffrey is given the chance to get an emotional re-do in therapy and ultimately learns about what love truly is. Go see this touching love story before the end of Fringe!

Emotional

The beginning had fun intro about the actors and the play. They had all acted together in college and the emcee was the playwright. You could see the camaraderie. FUN

This was great!

This is a very apt, funny, touching, moving and relatable show that inspires a carpe diem approach to leading with love as you try to say what you should have said, and the inevitability of having to deal with "what I should have said." Very well acted in a couples therapist's office with progressively more complicated situations from the couple's past acted out. It reminded me of the show Shrinking - high praise all around. Try not to miss it or you'll say - "It's what I should have seen!"

No regret

David Hellstrom has written a play that could be about regret, but is really about redemption and forgiveness. Nobody leaves this play without thinking about the conversations that could have made a past relationship better. More importantly, we all think of the ways that we can invest in our current relationships, including with ourselves, that could make them richer. David's also reminded us to laugh along the way. Great show.

So much heart!

This play had humor, raw emotions, a beautiful story and so much heart! A message so many should hear whether you are married or with any relationship. So highly recommend seeing this!

Touching

A little stiff in the delivery, but excellent dialog, mostly well-acted, and it was very touching. I did not see where it was going and when it got there it pulled at my heartstrings.

tremendous accomplishment

The show captures the regret we feel when we don't express ourselves as we would like with our loved ones. No matter that we try, and that we are well intended. Such great individual performances by the cast, and a good ear for dialogue from the playwriter. Highly recommend you see it while you can.

Shifting with humor and love

A moving story that used humor, love, reality, and the truth that you can choose to be different in relationship and conversation in order for a person to be seen and heard in their own desired way. Best 1 hour that I spent watching great actors! Cheers to the talented writer and Director!

All that in 55 minutes

Truly amazing how the writer and actors deliver so much depth of story, emotions, and character development in only 55 minutes. You find yourself laughing and crying. Maybe even both at the same time! A message about love and relationships that we all need to hear. The best hour of theater that you will find. Anywhere.

Love languages and relationship super powers

This was a deceptively simple, emotionally powerful look at the conversations a married couple has had during their marriage, with the husband visiting a couples therapist by himself to see if he can go back and re-do some of the things he said and felt. It was a moving reminder of how love requires a certain sort of magical realism to make the past, the present, and the chance to move forward into new realities every day. Wonderfully acted.

Brilliant.

Excellent writing, excellent story. Relatable and powerful. MANY people in tears in the audience. “What I Should’ve Said” deserves a larger production.

Play

Very enjoyable, well written and performed show.

Heartfelt and Impactful Glimpse into real Love

A masterful immersion into navigating real life love and regret. The characters come to life in the opening lines and continue to pull you in until the last air kiss. The audience genuinely gets to laugh and cry and struggle during 55 minutes that seem to effortlessly glide by. Would love to see this group perform again soon!

A labor of love

When this show says that it is a love story- it means it in more ways than one. It tells a story about love, but it is also palpably built out of all of the love of the cast and crew. To be in the room to see this show is to be in the room where love happens, and it is more than worth a measly ticket price and an hour of your time. This show is funny, and well paced, but it is also vulnerable and deeply honest. There may always be things that we should have said, but maybe that is because there are people who love us enough to give us moments that we don’t think we’ve done enough to earn. I related to this show in so many different ways, but I think what I related to most of all was the love I am lucky enough to have.

A Must See for Anyone Who Has Ever Been in Love!

What I Should Have Said is fantastic! It is smart, thoughtful, funny, and full of wise observations on relationships . I might even say it’s a good therapy session. The actors are talented, charismatic and good-looking and the action never slows down—the time flew. What I hope for at the Fringe—talented artists creating something out of basically nothing—is there in spades. Great soundtrack, too. Playwright and Director David Hellstrom opens the show with just the right amount of wry humor, charm, and insightful commentary— that alone is worth the admission price. Don’t miss this outstanding theater experience!

I laughed, I cried, I ate my lollipop

Through a clever and well-balanced blend of humor and drama, we are treated to an oh-so-familiar reminder that our future selves, endowed with the power of hindsight, would often do things differently… and most often in the service of creating better moments for all involved or, at the very least, representing our truer selves. The set and the dialogue were intentionally kept simple and innocent to deliver the final message with the deserved aplomb. The ending will get you, I promise. On my way out, I got a heart-shaped lollipop from the crew and it deliciously summarized the entire experience. Thank you for the reminder to not leave a word unsaid or an emotion unexpressed.

What should I say?

We laughed. We cried. We remembered why we love live performances. Thank you 🙂

Beautiful lesson on life and love

I loved the message of this play. So thought provoking for anyone who is married or who thinks about their relationships with others. The actors did so wonderfully and made me laugh and cry in the same hour.

Beautiful writing, well delivered

Very thoughtful perspectives and sincere delivery. Character growth is authentic and moving. Highly recommend.

Great concept, stiff execution

The themes explored in this one-act are very moving and I liked the split staging and memory flashbacks. I did think all of the actors struggled with stiff line delivery, which was difficult for me to ignore.

Best writing! Worth seeing.

Amazing dialogue! Really great and fluid. Not many new plays either this playwrights abilities. Modern theatre is alive and this is the best example of this.

Real Emotion with Comedy and a Twist!

Smart writing and talented acting lands the importance of presence and engagement in a 55 minute package. Fun and impactful experience!

Funny, poignant, relatable

Bravo to this cast and crew! "What I Should Have Said" is a beautiful piece; incredibly well constructed as it flows seamlessly and cleverly between current and past/fantasy. I laughed (a lot), and cried, and it was all well-earned. The three actors had wonderful chemistry which lent itself well to the realistic setting and heartfelt nature of the story. And, if you are in a long-standing relationship, so much will resonate. It hit all the notes perfectly. I hope to see Peake Productions on the Fringe stage again!

beautifully emotional

really enjoyed this. I loved the way it went back and forth from what was said to what he wish he said. One minute cancer really struck a cord with four of us that lost a loved one to cancer. The actors were outstanding and the play was well written. what a great night out !

Beautiful

The message was clear, powerful, and necessary. Love is forever and our loved ones deserve to hear and feel that.

Don't miss this heartfelt love story!

There was such truth, humor, wit and heartbreak in this show. The relatable storytelling had much of the audience laughing and crying along with the characters. Powerful message, beautifully executed. Well done all around. Do not miss!!!

A beautiful story of true love

The show was outstanding! Written with such an ear for honesty and realism— I was lost in the conversations being had by the outstanding actors, and had a prime view to watch as the entire audience in front of me wiped away tears! Don’t miss this beautiful story!

Really Loved It !

This play had people laughing and tearing up in the same minute. It hit on truths about love and miscommunication (IMO it applies to all relationships, marriages, friendship, and messy in-betweens). Lots of deeply human moments ! Really glad we saw this one

Genuine!

I loved how this show explores such a range of a human experience — from fear to anger to malaise to grief — and with so many laughs too. Great premise, clever staging, and meaningful message. Plus, what a cool story of this theater company getting the gang back together!

A Poignant Highlight of the 2025 Fringe

It really built up toward a culmination that really hit the emotional nail on the head.

Worth seeing!

This was a great show--lots of laughs but with a meaningful plot that pulls at your heart. Well written and a delightful experience!

Heartwarming, funny and everything in between!

This play was such a beautiful portrayal of life, love and loss. The little moments of love and the coulda, woulda, shoulda nature of life and relationships. The characters of Jeff, Patty and the therapist had such great story arcs told through snapshots in time- the actors pulled you in with every bit of dialogue. The whole audience was laughing and weeping and wholly enthralled for the entire performance. So much heart was put into this production and it’s obvious in every fiber of this play

You'll be thinking about this play for long time

Everyone in our party of 6 gave great reviews for "What I Should Have Said." We appreciated the professionalism, thoughtful script and acting. I love leaving a show eager to talk about it with others and this fit the bill.

A Golden Hour

There is a lot to unpack in this short play. It is smart, funny and tender hearted. Very well done by all. I loved it!

So Relatable!

A supremely enjoyable way to spend an hour that touches upon relatable moments in one's life and allows time to review those moments and how they might have been different..or more rich...or more connected. Dialog that speaks to everyone and unspoken gestures that touch one's heart and mind in tender ways. Don't miss this amazing play!

AWESOME!

This was written so well and so beautifully. It was raw and real. The acting was superb by all three - Jeffrey, Patty and Benedict. Thank you David for writing this play for all of us to ponder. A must see.

Laughed, cried, and have been thinking ever since

I laughed, then cried, through this 55-minute therapy session. And in the 18 hours since its conclusion I cannot stop thinking of all the things I would have said, if only I had lead with love. This is a tender, moving love story, deeply relatable, and sprinkled with moments of humor. Great cast who seemed to be having fun, reconnecting over a shared on-stage history, while remaining true to the depth of the storyline. Miss this one and you’ll be hearing your inner voice saying, “what I should have seen . . .”

Relatable, Relevant and Beautiful

This play will stick with me forever! It opened up so much for my husband and I and we kept the conversation going long after the play was over! So much to relate to - both of us saying "That's what I do!" and "That's what you do!" Acknowledging our relationship styles and love languages and how we communicate or work through things together as they inevitably happen. So touching and beautiful! Really hit home! Todd, Patty and Jeff were so engaging and it was incredibly well acted! Everything from the set design (way to go Nancy!!) to the lights and tech (Dan Lori, you are amazing!) and the Production itself (You are an inspiration Susan!) were outstanding! Thank you David for writing such an inspiring message on love and relationships! Simply Amazing

Make it a short film!

Very endearing and real look at marriage and the moments that matter. As a married man of 24 years related to the humor, struggle, frustration and hope of the characters in this one act. I hope it goes on to bigger things!!! What happens in the Yert is what I want to know next? Still figuring out that superpower too!

Worth your time

Such an inspiring story in a short amount of time. The writing was incredible, to build characters, tell a story of the past and present in 60 minutes and capture connection and emotion the way this play does! It’s impressive. The actors did a phenomenal job immersing you in this beautiful written story. A hear clenching reminder to check in with your personal life and relationships and not allow yourself to look back and think “that’s what I should have said”. Thanks for this experience to the writer and performers!

Touching and genuine

The play was a heartfelt and thought-provoking view of marriage, and a story wherein everyone could see a little piece of themselves. Acting was rich and seamless. This crew of play writer and actors are friends who have known one another for a long time, and their chemistry was obvious. Bravo!!!

Touching and genuine

The play was a heartfelt and thought-provoking view of marriage, and a story wherein everyone could see a little piece of themselves. Acting was rich and seamless. This crew of play writer and actors are friends who have known one another for a long time, and their chemistry was obvious. Bravo!!!

Heartfelt and human

We all have talents to share with the world, sometimes those talents are shared, sometimes they are not or are kept to oneself. Sometimes they are put aside. So happy that what was put aside for sometime came together, invited us all in to this beautifully written and performed heartfelt production. David and company keep sharing your talents and this play with the world.

Wise, heartbreaking, loving

Go see this show. A distraught man shows up at a couple’s counselor’s office for counseling — alone. The counselor — not warm and fuzzy — is annoyed that the man has shown up without his wife, and he tries hard booting the man out. What follows is a cleverly constructed series of loving, heart-wrenching scenes shedding light on the man’s pain, giving the man a sort of “redo” of the events haunting him. Good theater can do more than merely entertain — it can teach us about ourselves. This wise, heartbreaking, loving show does just that.

Great compact show

This play draws you in from the start and keeps you there thanks to a strong story and talented actors. A complete story in a compact format full of humor and emotions. Easy access Uptown theater location with plenty of restaurants for before or after.

Real Life

This production was spot on. Life is a lot. Great writing to fit all this in less than an hour. Even the opening speech was amazing. The actors were mesmerizing in their roles. Laughter, tears, thought provoking material. A must see!!

Lovely Production

Excellent writing. The characters were so believable, because of the actors' portrayal's. I laughed, I cried, and I was immersed in the play. The humor pulled me into the characters personalities and surprised me with the divisive and sensitive relationships between all. Wonderful play, I hope David Hellstrom writes another and Peake Performance produces another.

Heartwarming

I was truly moved by the storyline and actors. It gave me time to pause and think about my relationships and what I could have and should say now. Thank you for this meaningful show that impacts anyone who sees it!

What I should have said

This play was excellent! A thoroughly thoughtful and introspective hour of entertainment

WOW! Such a moving experience.

This is a brilliant, moving story about love and regret and hope and healing. Jeffrey (Husband) delivered a range of emotions that had all of us hurting and crying alongside of him. Benedict (Therapist) was perfectly hilarious with his wit and cynicism, and yet his deep concern for Jeffrey kept the story on track. I was blown away by the quality of this production ... do try to see this before it ends.

Sensitive and surprise

This was very thoughtful portrayal of counseling with the mystique of the patient and the arrogance of the therapist, whomgradually find a common ground. The acting, script and story are top-notch.

Don't regret and say "What I Should Have Seen"

This play had such heart, humor, and a beautiful story. Great storytelling, excellent script. So many people in the audience laughing, tearing up, and relating to what was happening on stage. And it was clear the cast had great chemistry and comaraderie. Don't regret not seeing this beautiful production... and I think it deserves to be seen on even bigger stages!