Theater Review: ‘I of the Storm’

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing an original work by RJ Bartholomew, I of the Storm, dynamically performed by Richard Hoehler and directed by Janice L. Goldberg.

The performance space had an industrial warehouse feel to it and featured a “Black Box” like layout. The set consisted of a serene minimalist collection of three cloud-patterned panels, each suspended in midair, and two dark-colored milk crates, accompanied by a meager scattering of props. Audience seating was up close and personal, giving an intimate feel to the performance.

Inside the airy, almost bare set, Richard Hoehler played a homeless yet endearing, but not quite there, grandfather figure, who occasionally drops pearls of wisdom on anyone who will listen. The rhythmic Dr. Seuss like monologue kept the audience entranced the whole way through. The audience followed the plight of Hoehler’s everyman character as he recounted his fall from grace as a high-powered social elitist to a white-collar felon and finally to an ignored homeless poet. Carrying on in a light-hearted rant with the occasional song and dance, our homeless poet highlighted the absurdity of the petty things plaguing our minds in everyday modern life — from our lack of satisfaction to our obsession of each new tech toy.

The show at first comes across as a simple caution to “stop and smell the roses.” But it spirals down into something very real as the serious hypocrisies of our culture are brought to light; the truth of which will leave a frog in your throat. I of the Storm is a jewel of a one-man show, a social commentary that strikes a note on every social controversy. This is a delightful tale of a man’s journey to embracing what truly matters that will gently nudge you toward a powerful message and realization about the turmoil in our world.

I of the Storm runs through October 29th at the Gym at Judson. Tickets are available both online and at the door. If you’re looking to experience our current world sans the rose-colored glasses, this may be the show for you.