←Recommendations of Fixed

The atmosphere is instantly dangerous. He's a big, heavily tattooed man with a darkness that both weighs on and exudes from him. By contrast, she's petite, sunny, and potentially trapped. You're immediately worried for her safety, praying for situational irony. Very quickly, you're concerned for them both. The irony arrives but it's not what you prayed for. What follows is a gentle vivisection of souls.

There's pain – sharp and frequent, leaving an permanent mark. A map of who they've been. Cathro ingeniously has them stare into a literal abyss as we look on, indelibly moved.

Profound and stirring.

A sweet, sad little gem of a two hander, Cathro's FIXED has some lovely points to make about the difficulties of connection, and how the armor we build up around ourselves to protect ourselves from our personal pain has a habit of wounding others in ways we never expect. A terrific duet for two actors that finds music in unexpected places.

There are two incredibly strong, compelling, and specific characters at the center of this story, and their secrets and idiosyncrasies will keep you glued to every word of this intimate and compelling script. I love how the dialogue slowly, delicately reveals what these two diametrically opposed souls have in common and the ways they are obviously and irrevocably alike. The piece would be incredibly simple to produce but would certainly leave audiences talking. I especially appreciate that the script doesn't give all the secrets away, leaving you to fill in the gaps yourself. A really lovely, deeply felt piece.

"Fixed" is a layered, tense, and emotional two-hander that takes its time to develop its central pair, their struggles, and their pasts. Each character -- the tattoo artist and his at-times too eager client -- transcend their types and gradually have the intimate parts of themselves exposed, literally and figuratively. DC Cathro demonstrates his range as a dramatic writer and joins together two people who couldn't be more different in a one-act that will have audiences rapt with anticipation and empathy for these two wounded souls. Excellent work!

Two complex, compelling and deeply damaged souls collide in this intense and riveting two-hander. The revelation of what lies under each of their spiky exteriors is presented in fresh and nuanced ways. It is a great relief when Marrk is finally able to begin the process of inking Christy and gratifying to have shared their journey to that point.

A tattoo can serve many purposes; a reminder, a memorial, a warning, a scar. They’re part of the face we show the world, and the image we project—but appearances can lie. Cathro’s well-paced one-act throws together two people whose surfaces belie their more complex interior lives. FIXED’s cancer survivor isn’t a martyr enlightened by her trauma, but a spiky, impulsive, sardonically funny mess. Her counterpart’s intimidating aura camouflages his gentle, grief-ridden soul determined to atone for a shameful past (which the playwright artfully alludes to rather than spells out). A wholly original character study.

These two damaged souls -- for that is what they truly are -- are not so different than their exteriors and their pasts would have us believe. In this riveting two-hander, DC Cathro gives us a setting and situation that counts on the audience holding certain fixed beliefs about the characters, and then reveals their truths. They each find something in themselves and make a connection. The most impressive element is that there is such a powerful moment told in the most honest and brutal -- in a good way -- moments.

LOVED seeing this read with Tiny_Theatre! DC CATHRO is a true master of human connections. The layers of this moment are rich and deep - a raw interaction that goes beyond the process.

DC Cathro's use of imagery is pure poetry-natural and gritty. This piece is clear, simple and profoundly human. Love this. Bravo, DC for its inclusion at the Valdez Conference in Alaska!

Two characters so completely different in their appearance and the way they speak, but each dealing with their own trauma. DC Cathro brings these two together in an unusual setting as Marrk prepares to offer his unique tattoo service to Christy. In the course of the play, each character’s “damage” is exposed. But can they simply be covered over with ink? It’s the stuff beneath the surface that makes these characters and this play so extraordinary. You can catch an outstanding reading of FIXED by visiting Tiny Theatre on Facebook.