Out of Order
Written and performed by Carl Holden | Directed by Skylar Fox
East Village Basement | 321 E 9th St, New York, NY 10003
June 27-July 23.
Photo Credit: Rebecca J. Michaelson
Down in a vividly colored basement—30 seats, red walls, an old-timey popcorn maker at center stage—Carl Holden invites us into his chaotic playground. The setup: an avenue-style playing space, a bowl of index cards filled with mysterious tasks, and a solo performer who bursts in like an athlete mid-warmup. He’s frenzied, ready to go, and pulling us in with him.
At first glance, it feels like an evening of unpredictable improvisation. But this is no free-for-all. Can improv be cohesive? Absolutely. Think Whose Line Is It Anyway?—structured, comedic, sincere. That’s what Holden delivers here.
As both writer and performer, Holden shapes a piece that is part theater, part experiment. Under the agile direction of Skylar Fox, the show maintains clarity while embracing unpredictability. Fox’ guiding hand helps ground the experience in rhythm, theatrical craft, and emotional integrity—each beat feels intentional, even when it pretends not to be.
Structurally, the play loosely follows the traditional dramatic arc:
Exposition: We’re introduced to Holden’s manic energy, the world of the red room, and the silent second performer. The rules are unclear—but that’s the point.
Rising Action: Each task pulled from the bowl intensifies the stakes. Audience interaction builds pressure, and Holden’s performance begins to crack open.
Climax: The inner monologue erupts. Chaos and vulnerability collide.
Falling Action: There’s a slow recalibration. Laughter mixes with empathy as patterns begin to surface.
Resolution: You will have to find out yourself.
The piece functions on many levels: social experiment, therapy session, stand-up set, community ritual. For any artist who has ever hit a creative wall, this will strike a nerve. When the thing you love no longer brings you joy—what then? You’re either in the abyss of despair or the height of the longing for enlightenment.
Visually, the piece is supported by thoughtful mixed media, particularly a lighting design that mirrors Holden’s emotional terrain.
And in the end—it’s fun. It’s vulnerable. It’s alive. It’s the kind of theater that reminds us why we gather in rooms like this: to witness someone else struggle, imagine, explode, and try again.
In a basement in the Village, this is exactly the kind of theater I live for: raw, inventive, sincere, and unforgettable. You’re in for a treat at the East Village Basement.
Click HERE for tickets.
Reviewed by Malini Singh McDonald.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on July 3. 2025. All rights reserved.