Reviews
For all media inquiries please contact:
Patricia Blaufuss, Public Relations Manager 203-227-5137 x 197 or pblaufuss@westportplayhouse.org
Review Quotes - Into the Woods
Hartford Courant
By Frank Rizzo
“...spellbinding... moves me immensely when the production is done right -- as it is done here under the sensitive, transformative and heightened theatrical direction of Mark Lamos... immensely entertaining... richly told tales with sass, silliness and heart...”
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
“5 out of 5 stars...marvelous...captures all of the complexity and unexpected twists and turns of the plot, while delivering all of the cleverness contained in Sondheim's witty and epic music and lyrics and Lapine's creative book... topped by a sense of renewal and hope that just may bring a tear or two to someone's eyes.”
HamletHub.com
By Trevor King
“...awe-inspiring… immensely talented cast…. soaring songs…artful staging…first-class entertainment in [your] own backyard!”
Elm City Newspapers
By Tom Holehan
“...solid revival...still seems so fresh and inventive...Enter these “Woods” with high expectations and be rewarded.”
MiddletownPress
By Bonnie Goldberg
“...celebrating the musical’s twenty-fifth anniversary with a splendid production... all the ingredients for a fulfilling and satisfying evening of theater.”
Susan Granger Entertainment Commentaries
By Susan Granger
“...powerful, potent and bewitching... Astutely conceived by Artistic Director Mark Lamos, the staging of this challenging musical sets a high standard as it opens the Playhouse’s 82nd season... don’t miss [it]...”
WestportPatch.com
By Karen Kovacs Dydzuhn
“...a hit... As promised, WCP delivered 'something worth talking about' with its season opener... Make no mistake: the Playhouse's production entertains as much as it challenges its audiences. I repeat: that is the signature of our hometown theater. Do not miss this show.”
Scarsdale News/Bedford Record-Review
By Linda Leavitt
“Mark Lamos’s direction is spot-on, the comic timing and singing perfect and every member of the cast is superb.”
TalkinBroadway
By Fred Sokol
“...energetic, catchy...infuses inventive and emotional touches... campy and delectable... tough to resist.”
BroadwayWorld.com
By Sherry Shameer Cohen
“...deft and delicious...an extraordinary experience.”
On CT and NY Theatre
By Marlene Gaylinn
“...very delightful... a wonderful opportunity to grab your whole family and enjoy a Broadway quality musical...”
WNHU
By Karen and Bob Isaacs
“...excellent... a wonderful opening to Westport Country Playhouse’s 2012 season.”
The Hour
By David A. Rosenberg
“...precise, intelligent concept...”.
Manchester Journal-Inquirer
By Jacques Lamarre
“...musical theatre enthusiasts are highly encouraged to head Into the Woods in Westport.”
DC Metro Theater Arts
By Amanda Gunther
“...spell-binding and comical... this is the show for you if you need a little happily ever after in your life.”
BroadwayWorld.com
By Jack L. B. Gohn
“...one of that handful of musicals that can truly be called profound...to me, this is Sondheim’s greatest musical...an impeccable production...”
Baltimore Sun
By Tim Smith
“...theatrical and comical qualities shining nicely...directed with a steady hand...”
Theatermania.com
By John Rowell
“...Lamos and his cast emerge as solid caretakers of this notoriously tricky musical... these Woods are alive with the sound of music, and remain lovely, dark and deep.”
DC Theatre Scene
By Jayne Blanchard
“...beautiful and liltingly fiendish...expertly balances the melodic and the mischievous...Highly Recommended.”
OUTSpoken
By Steve Charing
“..magical, entertaining...thoroughly enjoyable, wonderfully written, scored and performed musical.”
MD Theatre Guide
By Mark Beacy
“....whimsical costumes...playful performances...an enchanting set...”
Washington Post
By Peter Marks
“...the voices here are excellent and the diction still better: You hear every meticulously chosen Sondheim lyric.”
City Paper
By Andrea Appleton
“...thought-provoking... wry, knowing, and rife with sexual innuendo...a wonderful way to spend an evening..”
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Review Quotes - Twelfth Night, or What You Will
(Playing October 11 - November 5, 2011)
The New York Times
By Anita Gates
“...very pretty, very funny and very lilting...”
On Connecticut Theatre
By Marlene Gaylinn
“...don’t miss this highly original production of Twelfth Night. It will not disappoint.”
Scarsdale News
By Linda Leavitt
“...enchanting... The Bard’s spirit lives in this imaginative yet faithful performance!”
WNHU
By Karen and Bob Isaacs
“...glittering production...fast moving...you will like it...a great opportunity to introduce young people to Shakespeare.”
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
“...inventive, funny and unexpectedly touching...As is typical with Lamos' productions of Shakespeare, he employs a vibrant and diverse cast, which underscores Shakespeare's universal appeal.”
Hartford Courant
By Frank Rizzo
“...smart, funny and elegant production."
Newtown Bee
By Julie Stern
“...a great time...Personally I believe Twelfth Night is the happiest and most accessible of the Comedies...if you want to introduce him [Shakespeare] to your twelve-year-old, this is a fine way to go. But it’s also an enjoyable venture for adults on their own.”
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Review Quotes - Suddenly Last Summer
(Playing August 23 - September 10, 2011)
Behind the Curtain/Hartford Courant
By Frank Rizzo
“...gripping...expertly conceived and staged... a stunner...This is a must for any Williams fan; as good a production as one is likely to see of this challenging play.”
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
“...the clever, powerful work of one of America's greatest playwrights.”
Hersam-Acorn Newspapers
By Joanne Greco Rochman
“...grippingly rendered... this play is great theater...insightfully clear direction...stellar cast... suspenseful, enlightening, and thoroughly entertaining.”
Middletown Press
By Bonnie Goldberg
“As chilling as the frozen daiquiri drink... gripping...”
New York Times
By Anita Gates
“...Quintessential Williams themes... intense, atmospheric production...”
The Ridgelea Reports on Theatre
By Tom Nissley
“...absolutely beautiful production...”
WNHU
By Karen and Bob Isaacs
“...a totally arresting production... Director David Kennedy moves this one act play along with intensity. He is certainly helped by the terrific set, lighting, sound and costumes. AND the cast... we have seen other productions, but this production is the best we have ever seen. It really moved us.”
Newtown Bee
By Julie Stern
“If you like Tennessee Williams - and personally I think he is up there with the greatest American playwrights, Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller - then this is definitely worth seeing.”
New Haven Theater Jerk
By Christopher Arnott
“...the air of film noir... seeing it in this composed, modernistic, technically pristine yet lived-in production, I see how flexible and wondrous a script it is. It may be hard to swallow, but it goes down easy.”
Identidad Latina
By Bessy Reyna
“…nos ha brindado una gran producción teatral de esta obra…WCP nos abrió sus puertas para invitarnos a que entremos a ese mundo incomparable creado por él [Tennessee Williams].”
Karen Dydzuhn, Patron
“...brilliant...a powerful interpretation of this unbelievable playwright's work...wonderful theater experience.”
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Review Quotes - Lips Together, Teeth Apart
(Playing July 12 - 30, 2011)
The New York Times
By Anita Gates
“...a brilliant piece... he [Mark Lamos, director] and his cast collaborate to deliver four cogent, authentic performances.”
Waterbury Republican-American
By Joanne Rochman
“Absolutely too good to miss, the performances of Chris Henry Coffey, John Ellison Conlee, Jenn Gambatese, and Maggie Lacey are superior...picture perfect production.”
Rated 5 of 5 stars
TalkinBroadway.com
By Fred Sokol
“...composed with precision, wit and implication by the gifted Terrence McNally...thematically cogent...catchy and commanding...contemporary and pertinent...”
Westport News
By Geary Danihy
“...elegant, subtle, multi-layered...a serio-comic study...while heavy issues underlie the production, there is a great deal of surface hilarity in the form of witty repartee and quirky characterizations...”
Susan Granger Entertainment Commentaries
By Susan Granger
“Staging this intricate, four-person ensemble piece – with its tonal changes and melancholy transitions – is a major theatrical challenge which perceptive Artistic Director Mark Lamos meets brilliantly... compassionate insights into marriage, family, loss and love...”
WestportPatch.com
By Karen Dydzuhn
“...thought provoking and yet entertaining... not to be missed. It's funny, intriguing and nothing short of what sophisticated Westport audiences have come to expect at their own professional playhouse located in the downtown business district.”
Connecticut Arts Connection
By Lauren Yarger
“...humor, great character development... many-layered and well done here...”
Behind the Curtain
By Frank Rizzo
“...touches the heart... Oh, but it's very funny...he [Mark Lamos, director] shows great care, sensitivity and compassion in depicting people who are struggling with the unknown while trying to find the humanity in themselves.”
BroadwayWorld.com
By Sherry Shameer Cohen
“Is the play worth seeing? Absolutely.”
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
“...a revealing and intelligent revival...”
NYTheaterScene.com
By Irene Backalenick
“...Mark Lamos, with his unique vision, has staged the piece brilliantly...”
Middletown Press
By Bonnie Goldberg
“Mark Lamos directs this biting confrontation of emotions, all set to explode on the holiday, like a skilled ring-master.”
Ridgelea Reports
By Tom Nissley
“...the production is perfectly acted and directed (Mark Lamos), on a really beautiful set (Andrew Jackness)...Do I recommend it? Yes. It’s pretty likely to irritate you, but entertain, as well, and make you think.”
The Hour/Wilton Villager
By David A. Rosenberg
“...a lively revival... definitely worth attending...”
The Fairfield County Weekly
By Christopher Arnott
“...there’s a whole rich wash of theatrical grace and light over this version... a play not about how people look and how they live, but about how people think other people look and live.”
Elm City Newspapers
By Tom Holehan
“...a very moving drama leavened by McNally’s generous humor.”
New York Theater Buying Guide
By Ron Gross
“Our highest recommendation! An affecting, witty, trenchant portrayal of two couples summering and simmering emotionally... some wonderful comedy and social satire...”
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Review Quotes – The Circle
(Playing June 7 - June 25, 2011)
Behind the Curtain and Hartford Courant
By Frank Rizzo
“...splendid, stylish production, cast superbly and directed with impeccable taste, timing and tenderness by Nicholas Martin... pitch-perfect ensemble...Funny, smart and gorgeous, Westport's "The Circle" offers a splendid night out for wives, husbands and lovers. The 2011-12 season has just begun and already there's a show that I am Tweeting my friends as a must-see, if for no other reason than to witness such a marvelous ensemble cast of seasoned pros and younger finds. This production deserves a future life.”
BroadwayWorld.com
By Sherry Shameer Cohen
“...brings elegance and wit at WCP...well-paced direction...”
WNHU
By Karen and Bob Isaacs
“...a delight...You will love this production. Go see it.”
Susan Granger’s Entertainment Commentaries
By Susan Granger
“...a delightful drawing-room comedy of manners...witty, satiric, insightful observations about the status of women and their choices in life resonate today...deft direction...fresh and funny.”
TheaterMania.com
By Sandy MacDonald
“...a first-rate production...”
WMNR 88.1 Fine Arts Public Radio
By Rosalind Friedman
"...elegant, entertaining production...this exploration of marriage, infidelity, and love in all its machinations, is a revelation: fun but never trivial.”
Middletown Press
By Bonnie Goldberg
“...witty comedy of society... delightfully charming... Nicholas Martin directs this scintillating scandal of a comedy with aplomb.”
Norwalk Hour/Wilton Villager
By David A. Rosenberg
“...sharp wit... incisive and amusing.”
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
“...lively, vivid and funny...The Westport Country Playhouse is to be commended for selecting this early 20th century play.”
TalkinBroadway.com
By Fred Sokol
“...brisk, witty, and relevant... a very strong and adept ensemble... quite polished... vigorous and crisp... immediately engaging. Inviting and thoughtful...”
Newtown Bee
By Julie Stern
“...witty, ironic, and totally delightful... Westport has assembled a high-powered cast... truly entertaining, old fashioned theater of the best kind.”
Elm City Newspapers
By Tom Holehan
“...sophisticated writing that still resonates today...”
Scarsdale News
By Jackie Lupo
“...one of the best-crafted of all “weekend in the country” plays. ...top-notch, from the stellar cast, headed up by Marsha Mason and Paxton Whitehead, to the perfect pacing under the direction of Nicholas Martin, to simply beautiful production values.”
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Review Quotes – Beyond Therapy
(Playing April 26 - May 14, 2011)
The New York Times
By Anita Gates
"...enjoyably wacky season-opening production... it’s consistently funny in universal ways that don’t age."
Hartford Courant
By Frank Rizzo
"... fabulously nutty...There are many lines that you will be quoting later...Modern life is beyond the pale, beyond sanity, beyond therapy in this wickedly funny production... it's startling to be reminded that absurdist comedy still packs a liberating punch. "
Fairfield County Weekly
By Christopher Arnott
"...funny in the hands of such full-bodied, full-voiced comic actors."
Hartford Arts Examiner
By Andrew Beck
"David Kennedy...has staged the season opener with wit and skill, quickly and unapologetically establishing the play's absurdist nature and maintaining its raucous nature straight through the evening's final moments."
BroadwayWorld.com
By Sherry Shameer Cohen
“Durang's intent was not just to parody therapy and psychobabble or to tap into people's insecurities about relationships, but to channel the screwball comedies of the 1930s.”
Connecticut Arts Connection
By Lauren Yarger
“David Kennedy directs great performances across the board and keeps the pace quick to support Durang’s over-the-top sense of humor. The 90-minute performance with no intermission breezes by with a lot of laughter...”
Elm City Newspapers
By Tom Holehan
“...slick and funny...”
Hearst Media Services
By Irene Backalenick
“...well-staged, designed, and performed.”
Hersam-Acorn Newspapers
By Joanne G. Rochman
“...[a] surprise packed comedy with no intermission, but a lot of fun.”
Middletown Press
By Bonnie Goldberg
“[Durang’s] unique brand of humor is sweetly crazy and crazily sweet, with an emphasis on the unbalanced and out-of-kilter variety…you can’t help but laugh at the delightfully funny problems Durang creates in his comedy “Beyond Therapy,” enjoying a wonderful airing at Westport Country Playhouse...”
Newtown Bee
By Julie Stern
“...this is the warmest of Durang’s bitingly satirical comedies, and as such it is frequently produced in Blue States like Connecticut.”
On Connecticut Theatre
By Marlene Gaylinn
“Durang pokes fun at [psychiatry] as he questions who is nuttier the psychiatrists or their patients. The result is absolutely hilarious...told with such cleverness that you would have to sew your mouth shut to keep from laughing.”
Scarsdale News
By Linda Leavitt
... suspend disbelief at the door and prepare yourself for a rollicking ride through singles angst, ’80s style...screwball comedy meets theater of the absurd with a dash of bisexual confusion. Laughter is guaranteed in Westport’s spirited production.”
Susan Granger’s Entertainment Commentaries
By Susan Granger
“...director David Kennedy has assembled a superb cast with a playful sense of comedic timing, and his entire production team is outstanding.”
TalkinBroadway.com
By Fred Sokol
“...a delightfully wacky production... Durang's diverting and over-the-top comedy allows for catharsis for actors and those watching as dysfunction carries this 100-minute farce...amusing from its first moment.”
WestportNow.com
Ina Chadwick’s Insider Arts
By Ina Chadwick
“...It had me laughing out loud. I loved the rat tat tat one joke after the next script.”
WMNR 88.1 Fine Arts Public Radio
By Rosalind Friedman
“...the trick is to let yourself be drawn into the absurdity. Then, the laughs just fly.”
WNHU
By Karen and Bob Isaacs
“...a terrifically funny play... wild and wooly...outrageous comedy...”
January 4, 2011
A List of the Best of 2010
By Joanne Greco Rochman
