What I liked
My favorite part was the second half of the show, where I felt like I was dreaming or having a nightmare with the protagonist. I was inside his head, living in the contradiction between his love for God and his love for himself. The insight Josiah offered about this contradiction is heartbreaking and uplifting. I was so moved by this idea. I not only understood it, I felt it. From a more technical standpoint, I loved the multiple characters he embodied in very well crafted transitions. I felt very safe in his hands as a storyteller.
What I didn't like
Just a technical thought. I would offer that it would make a great difference to be more precise as to when the “room lights” or the “light above the audience” are turned on and off. In my experience, the play felt much more powerful when they were off and I found myself continuously distracted by them being on during most of the show. I know this is deliberate because the audience is such a big part of the show, but could be interesting to be more surgical with what moments they are on and off.
My overall impression
The show is incredibly well crafted. Both extremely funny and poignant. Beautiful, moving, powerful are also words that I would use to describe it. Josiah is an extremely gifted artist (both as a performer and writer) who is generous and not afraid to share the most intimate, darkest thoughts with the audience in a very eloquent and compelling way. That is where the power of his work lies, in the complete commitment to his art and the ability to make you engage, understand, and question your own relationship to God and to yourself. A great work from a very special artist that brings back the essence of what theater is supposed to be.
