“What George creates by encompassing not only the facts of Salinger's life, but of those affected by him, is brilliant…There is so much about this show that requires extreme recognition of detail and sticking to the facts while also just letting loose and allowing almost animalistic instincts to take over, all of which these actors understand…It is truly a wonderful, unique experience that brings theater to its finest element and will undoubtedly give us something worthwhile to think about."
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"Anisa George's solid direction and the tight-knit cast keep us fully engaged. Even a tangential discussion about the Hindu epic 'Bhagavad Gita' fits well into the overall structure, and mostly the play maintains a balance between the darkly comic and darkly violent. It only loses its footing when, towards the end, the examination of violence takes over completely, and we are paying more attention to the interloper Zev than we are to Salinger."
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"Absurdly compelling writing-wise, performance-wise, design-wise, and idea-wise…The aspect of the writing for which I commend George the most is her ability to create humanity in assassins, to show us depictions of real, sympathetic human beings…What is equally frustrating and exactly perfect about 'Holden' is that it does not try to simplify or bluntly state its point; it knows it is dealing with complicated ideas, and it seems almost to take pleasure in complicating them even more."
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"For a long time, I’ve been obsessed with J.D. Salinger...For someone like me, the exploration of the myth and the man in 'Holden' is compelling...On the rare occasion, the production loses its precise grounding...Make no mistake about it, this is a polished work, one undoubtedly other critics will deem 'relevant'...It is a familiar story to us, part of the document of American life, documented and seen so often, and yet so rarely truly confronted."
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"With Anisa George serving as the creator and director, 'Holden' was a mark of a singular vision. For the most part, her consistency in creating her world followed through but there were moments you wished a trimming or two would occur...As it stands now, the balance is off kilter causing the piece to be unintentionally slow moving, even during those bursts of excitement...The characters were well lived in. They moved independently of one another yet had a cohesive bond."
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"A fascinating if sometimes baffling exercise...Those first two-thirds are riveting...After that the action sags, the pacing loosens. It seems as if George & Co. weren’t sure how to bring things to a close...Still, if you have some tolerance for the avant-garde and the unexplained, 'Holden' will be well worth your time. The actors and creative team have put their heart, soul, and blood into a powerful imaginative portrait of the psyche of one of literature’s most fascinating characters. "
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"The cast is strong and deliver compelling performances with fantastic relationships. The humor is dark yet laser-sharp, physical timing is impeccable, and the specificity of intention is clear in the actors’ performances...The solid technique in both performance and design are undermined by the lack of specificity in the circumstances surrounding the killers’ captivity, leading one to lose connection with the moment at hand to ponder the greater logistics of the conceit."
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"The current remount of George & Co.’s critically-acclaimed 'Holden' is as relevant and unnerving now as it was then...The intense tragicomedy interweaves fact and fiction, fantasy and absurdity, in its exploration of the psychopathy of violence...Across the board, the characterizations are indelible. The outstanding cast and direction are supported by an effective design...We should all take heed of the timely messages inherent in 'Holden,' which are masterfully delivered by George & Co."
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