Love, Madness, and Somewhere in Between

Impetuous one-man show! ... full review

Childhood traumas fragment the personality of Jimmy in the solo show LOVE, MADNESS & SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN written & performed by James Cox directed by Trace Oakley. Some things are too broke to fix. Some wounds don’t heal. A flashlight will light up just enough of the darkness. Youth gives away to adulthood. The human shards age independently. As a barista racing to get through our morning duties Madness clamors for caffeine before opening. We laugh with the fragment become a successful stand-up comic. At the bottom of the toilet we look up at the face of the broken piece begging the liquor bottle to let go its hold. A child will keep secrets. Forgiveness is necessary. The priest on his death bed is so grateful for the visit. Can a dying... full review

An incredible journey of how one man overcame horrible life situations and found redemption. Very moving. And very real. It's definitely worth seeing; be prepared for some raw storytelling that doesn't hold back.... full review

Powerful, no holds barred drama that is not for the faint of heart. Jim strips off all his masks and speaks through the voices of his pain. "Alcohol was not my problem, living life without alcohol was the problem." Jim tells a powerful story of childhood abuse and trauma and also redemption and recovery. You may want to look away but you shouldn't.... full review

On the one hand, Love, Madness and Somewhere In Between deals with a subject of great power. James J. Cox explores a life which for big chunks of it counts as a train wreck--one in which he proved a fundamental victim trying his best (often very badly) to deal with a series of childhood traumas. He dives into a bottle of Jack Daniels for decades, struggling out of it at times only to fall back when confronted by yet another trauma (because life always hurts--otherwise how could it also feel good?). This makes for a solo play about a truly pure form of heroism. Because he emerges from the darkness, defeating the monsters of his memories and his own worst tendencies. No small feat. In many ways, a glorious achievement. But technically... full review

Though the play started out very confusing, it all came together at the end. James Cox was most powerful on stage when he slowed down physically and his voice quieted down. His story is heartbreaking but gives hope. Assistant Stage Manager Zahra did an excellent job supporting James on stage! If you can, see this play! I recommend it!... full review