Tom Nemec has to walk a very thin tightrope to make A Cat in a Box an effective and enjoyable play. Most autobiographical solo plays quickly degenerate into describing a “woe is me” life and asking the audience for empathy and sympathy. The result of that approach is the audience quickly disconnects. Although, Nemec play is a “woe’s is me play”, he avoids all of the flaws of the genre that makes those plays generally cringeworthy.

Nemec has the gift of an incredibly talented stage presence which keeps the audience engaged. He also has wonderful assistance provided by director Jim Menderinos who has Nemac use the entire stage and never stand for more than a couple of seconds in the center of the set.

But what really provides the rocket fuel for A Cat in a Box is that Nemec has actually reached firm conclusions with regard to what his relationships with his family needed to be to protect his mental health and actively implemented those conclusions. While most authors of these types of plays are unable to decisively divorce their dysfunctional family members, Nemec is at peace with hating his abusive, alcoholic father and physically abusive mother as well as the siblings with whom he never established a positive relationship. Those conclusions are constructive and reaffirming for audience members almost all of whom relate to at least part of his story.