What I liked
Nicole Ohara walks a tightrope with her performance, oscillating between outward composure and inward unraveling. Benjamin J. Young plays three (technically four) characters, and each one feels distinct and fully lived in. Having the therapist’s internal thoughts be a dialogue between the two actors — helped by shifts in the lighting — made her internal struggle come alive in a wonderful way.
What I didn't like
If script revisions are planned for any future productions of this piece, I’d love slightly more detail about what triggered the therapist’s long string of sleepless nights. We eventually learn what she has been dwelling on, but I found myself wanting to know (slightly) more explicitly why they’ve been plaguing her recently.
While I applaud Young’s ability to so clearly differentiate between all of his characters, at times I struggled to understand his dialogue. Between the occasional lack of enunciation (and the air conditioning, which was necessary but quite loud), I sometimes missed what he was saying.
My overall impression
Sharp writing, excellent performances, and effective lighting and staging make Hold That Thought While I Scream well worth your time. In a medium like theatre, it can be a tall order to center a story around a character’s internal world while still keeping it fresh and engaging. This show succeeds on all fronts and then some.
