←Recommendations of THE CAGE WHICH HOLDS A HEART

Beautiful, rich characters - their voices are so distinct and resonant from the very top of the piece. The metaphor of the piece unfolds carefully, with a deliberate thoughtfulness and commitment I appreciated. And terrific pacing - the tension between the two is compelling at the top and I stayed invested throughout.

This exploration of grief is multifaceted and will leaves audience to ponder how they too have kept themselves from feeling what's only natural.

Ms Cross tells you more about character in a few words of scenic description than most writers do in an act and a half.

Part surrealism, part steam-punk fantasy, "The Cage Which Holds A Heart" makes a reality out of a metaphor about keeping your feelings "inside." At once both tender and dark, it reaches an almost liberating tone as one of our protagonists finally breaks free of their past.

A wonderful script, a fantastic read.

A powerful metaphor or an actual cage that holds a heart? This beautiful gem of a play explores the fantasies that consume us when we are in pain. The very notion of “keeping it together” or keeping a broken heart whole through copious amounts of pressure just add to the familiar tragedy that this play exposes so well. Cross is a masterful playwright with an incredible talent for endearing you to her characters and their plights quickly and totally.

Simultaneously gritty and surreal, Cross has fashioned a captivating piece of working class expressionism that plays like the love child of Kafka and Odets. The circumstances pit a women with no boundaries - conversational or personal - against a man who is all divisions and restrictions. The contraption provides costume designers and prop wranglers a fascinating challenge. The writing is so atmospheric, you can smell the mustiness of the apartment. Gabriel's secrets are especially fascinating and heartfelt, and one can't help but hope he ultimately finds grace.

MONICA CROSS writes so well. Two co-workers, who really don’t know much about each other, discover grief can be hard to handle. The younger worker has been put in a predicament and the older worker has offered some help. “The Cage Which Holds A Heart” is a recognition of how some painful events are extremely hard to overcome, yet there is hope we can eventually move on. I was captivated by this play, as I am sure audiences will be.

It's hard to put your feelings out there, it's even harder when you've created a contraption to keep them in. THE CAGE WHICH HOLDS A HEART shows us what it's like when you've lost someone and have to figure out how to cope, because sometimes you just gotta share that hurt. In a medium where actors are not physically close, Cross has created a play that beings people together. A great play, with some creative opportunities for sound designers!

Once again, Cross reaches into the well of classic literature to wrought a modern fable with eternal themes. This brief radio (or even Zoom?) play swiftly introduces two meaningful characters and cuts straight to how they can best help each other. It’s a touching tale of how to cope with loss, and I highly recommend it.