Some lovely things have been said about us:

TAMING OF THE SHREW

-Listed in the NY Times

• BEST I'VE EVER SEEN!!!, June 23, 2007
  Reviewer: holly_barr
  
  You must see this show for a mere $18 before it closes 7/1/07. Do this because your whole life will be completely worth it...even puberty and pimples...if you do. I am generally a shrew myself and have NEVER EVER written a favorable review but this show is truly extraordinary. The Shakespearean verbiage was so adroit I found myself straining to detect the blackened teeth and leftover pox marks that would support my theory that they'd simply time-machined the cast in from the 16th Century. But the words of the bard were almost incidental in the face of fully resurrecting the long lost art of completely communicating a story through the truly eloquent and extraordinarily clever physical language of vaudeville. The Dr. Seus-ish simpering servant alone, prancing about to keep the parasol over his master's quickly moving head, made Swan Lake look as elegant and resourceful as someone lugging garbage cans to the curb. The casting and costumes, not Shakespearean yet miraculously in sync with the tale, combined to attain comic excesses heretofore only possible in the classic era of Looney Tunes. What an experience! Please (and I know no one in the cast or crew) don't miss it.

-NY Times June 23, 2007

THE WINTER'S TALE

• The Hipgnosis Theater Company has embraced the challenge of putting it all together in a lively manner at The Gallery Theater by utilizing the faithful as well as innovative direction of John Castro, original music composed by Luke Mitchell-presented with the aid of three additional musicians, and a wonderfully dedicated cast (including sixth-grader Guthrie Brunk-London).
  
  - by Fred McKinnon

• An additionally interesting aspect of this production is how the director and designers utilize this large space, The Gallery Theater, with the help of just a few set pieces, lots of rose petal- shaped colored paper, white curtains, a storied-platform, moveable seats and imaginative staging to create the different worlds and moods of the play.

-ONOFFOFF.COM
November 9, 2006

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

• “an attentive audience was transported to Vienna where Hipgnosis’ Theatre Company’s production of Measure for Measure was performed with style, intelligence and most importantly, emotional honesty.”

• “an ensemble of gifted actors succeeded in bringing Shakespeare’s tragicomedy to life”

• “Director, John Castro, is to be commended for his handling of this extraordinary classic. His understanding and respect for the play and the players is evident throughout the production, and hopefully, Hipgnosis Theatre Company will continue to thrive”

• “All in all, Measure for Measure is an evening of New York theatre that should run much longer than three weekends”

--THEATERSCENE.NET
06/29/2006

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

• “The performers are confident and facile in their Elizabethan tongue, and well-versed in the bawdy brutality of the Bard”

--THE VILLAGER
Volume 76, Number 5

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

• “Hipgnosis's take on Shakespeare's examination of the crossroads of law and morality provides entertainment and insight, each in good measure.”

• “Director John Castro's decision to stage the play in the round provides the audience with an intimate look at the characters' ethical dilemmas, aided by Steeve's additional contribution as lighting designer”

--OFFOFFONLINE.COM
June 15, 2006

And here are some quotes about some of our members:

THE WINTER'S TALE

"Among the numerous fine performances of which there are far too many to mention here, several--particularly for their dramatic importance to the play-stand out for me: Sarah Sokolovic as the accused queen brought me close to tears; John Kevin Jones' intensity as Leontes rendered him a man to be appalled by and later to pity; Sara Barker's Paulina with her passionate loyalty to the Queen and her persistent audaciousness to the king; and Rachel Tiemann as Emilia in her whirlwind explanation of what had happened sixteen years previous."

-www.onoffoff.com
November 9, 2006

"Director, John Castro and his gifted actors have taken on a difficult, complex, and understandably rarely performed play, and met the challenge with a bare bones approach that works because of its human authenticity."

"Mr. Jones captures the raving Leontes with deep and savage understanding as he all too humanly goes about destroying his family in a true tour de force performance."

"Mr. Rozzell gives yet another fine, eloquent performance as Polixenes, genuinely perplexed by his childhood friend’s insane behavior."

"It is Ms. Sokolovic’s Hermione that truly breaks every heart as she begs for her life in the scene of her judgment. Her effect on the hushed audience was palpable in a performance given with consummate dignity and open hearted intimacy."

"...led by Autolycus,(Demetrios Bonaros) who gives a marvelous and multi-faceted performance as he sings, dances, plays piano, and picks pockets. Mr. Bonaros’ unique talents are an asset to Hipgnosis’ ensemble, as are those of Dorcas (Kate Dulcich), and Mopsa (Elizabeth Mirarchi), and Emilia (Rachel Tiemann)."

"But, it is obviously John Castro’s vision and ability to enroll his actors into that vision that is the cornerstone of the accessability one feels at a Hipgnosis Theatre Company presentation."

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

“Ms. Bailey and Mr. Look are at the top of their game as they play the scene. Both of these actors find every nuance in their characters as we see that not everyone is all bad or all good. Their performances are flawless, as the deal is struck.”

“Mr. Bonaros gives an agile and acrobatic performance as the bumbling cop”

“Lucio (Julian A. Rozzell Jr.) is excellent”

“John Kevin Jones as the executioner is hilarious”

“Barnardine (Wayne Alon Scott) continually drunk, refuses to face his executioner. Mr. Scott, in this smaller role continues to be an impressive presence on the stage”

“Most notable is the original music composed and performed on upright solo bass, by Luke Mitchell”

--THEATERSCENE.NET
06/29/2006

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

“most aspects of the show work admirably and provide considerable entertainment for a modest ticket price”

“Justin Steeve radiates a leading man's charisma as Claudio”

“Doubly cast John Kevin Jones is equally impressive as the fastidious lord Escalus and the absurdly abhorrent executioner Abhorson”

“Julian A. Rozzell Jr. delights as the shady, ethically challenged Lucio”

“Elizabeth Mirarchi, as the nun Francisca, demonstrates a comedic flair in her facial expressions and body language despite limited speaking lines”

“The purity and emotiveness of Sarah Sokolovic's singing voice made me wish that the Bard had further indulged his musical fancy with the character of Mariana”

“composer and bassist Luke Mitchell provides, by himself, a gut-grabbing live soundtrack”

--OFFOFFONLINE.COM
June 15, 2006

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

“In her pitch-perfect performance, Bailey, a classically trained voice teacher, embodies Isabella with a tortured severity”

“Providing comic relief in the face of dark truths, Elbow [Demetrios Bonaros] joins Lucio (Julian Rozzell, Jr.) the town gossip, and Pompey (Francis Kelly) in hilarious shenanigans [..] The sheer physicality of their performances enlivens a story that focuses on the lengths people will go to imprison the baser desires of the body”

--THE VILLAGER
Volume 76, Number 5