Writer: Emmet Hamilton-Reynolds
Director: John O’Hare
An interesting concept, Hold me Away from the Sun, is essentially a mental health crisis on stage. 17 year old poetry lover Joe, is filled with anxiety, struggling with his identity and uses his fictional big sister, Jane, as a coping mechanism. When he sleeps, he sees Jane. She is his confidante and advisor. She is there every night in his dreams to help him reconcile the events of the day and to rescue him when he needs it.
There is very little plot and some of what is there is unrealistic, particularly the portrayal of 9 year old Joe. We instead get an in depth look at the mental health of the main character Joe (Emmet Hamilton-Reynolds) while he tries to reconcile his identity with himself, society, and religion. There were elements of the play that felt redundant. Jane, played by Isabella Sjööns, sings at various points which does not add anything to her character or the plot and although you can see what the interpretive dance scene is trying to achieve, it is just as ludicrous. It is also obvious within the first few minutes what the twist is going to be and so there is no shock when it happens. Throughout we hear examples of Joe’s poetry, along with some mainstream pieces of poetry. These are mostly well woven into the fabric of the play, however, they also take up an unnecessary amount of the overall dialogue.
The set by Chrysi Chativasileiou perfectly portrays the bedroom of a teenage boy, while also reflecting the anxious mind of the main character. Littered with balls of paper and with walls covered in posters and poems, the set is a visual spectacle in and of itself.
Although the play could be better executed, the highlight was the performance by the leading man, Emmet Hamilton-Reynolds. Expertly portraying anxiety one moment and reciting Shakespearean sonnets with passion the next, this actor is definitely one to watch.
Running Until May 3rd 2025.
