| REVIEWS of "MUSTAPHA'S BRIDE" | |
 CHICAGO READER (Mary Shen Barnidge) 'Recommended': “In Michael Sokoloff's parable, which pays tribute to Jean Genet's prison-yard cosmos, two jailbirds seek to enslave a third by invoking the specter of Mustapha. Never seen during the play, he's the ruler of this brutal kingdom behind bars and a symbol of all the threats ever used by the ruthless to intimidate the weak... Intense physical performances--Sokoloff was renowned as a fight choreographer when he lived in Chicago several years ago--and the script's Dionysian imagery make the play much more than a sordid tale. This is a riveting study of the psychology of exploitation." WINDY CITY TIMES (Chicago) 'Critic's Pick': "Michael Sokoloff and the ensemble who gave us the erotic and ultraviolent 'YUBA CITY' are back again in this late-night homage to Jean Genet. Expect flesh, violence and sex in a Turkish prison." DES MOINES REGISTER (Jeffrey Bruner): "[MUSTAPHA'S BRIDE] delivers a solid pounding to audiences seeking a dramatically different theater experience... like being a boxer in a corner as the play's intensity whales on you until the final bell." CITY VIEW (Des Moines): "Writer-director Michael Sokoloff's highly violent, erotic and controversial play... "MUSTAPHA'S BRIDE" is 50 minutes of shocking, but never vulgar theater... The fight scenes were executed intensely and convincingly by the play's three actors - no small feat by any measure. And the play's rapid-fire sexual dialog and actions were delivered in a way that was, um, balls out, realistic and never crude - again, no small feat given the subject material. Those who are ready to explore theater at it's most candid, who aren't afraid to deal with controversial themes and ideas, should be ready to deal with Sokoloff's drama." KANSAS CITY STAR (Robert Trussell): "Another strong festival offering was "Mustapha's Bride," a three actor piece from the AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ENSEMBLE in Iowa City, Iowa. The impeccably performed play, rooted firmly in physical theater, depict three men in a prison cell. ..."Mustapha's Bride" is a vivid reminder that sometimes the best theater can be delivered by talented actors on a bare stage." MINNESOTA FRINGE FESTIVAL 2005 (Minneapolis) OFFICIAL BLOG (Caitlin Gilmet): "I loved this show... it's dark, violent, disturbing, exquisite. ...perfect for a Fringe show. [The] AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ENSEMBLE nailed Genet to the wall - they nailed the script's incredible sense of rage, but didn't miss it's darkly funny moments or it's deep eroticism. It was, as they say, a tour de force." AUDIENCE REVIEW (August Berkshire) 5 Stars: "Dark, disturbing, and dazzling." I was beginning to worry that the Fringe was becoming a venue for only light-hearted shows and comedies. Well, like a knife in the gut, this show will pin you to your seat and leave you squirming. It is disturbing and riveting and your Fringe experience will not be complete until you see it... AUDIENCE REVIEW (Jesse Taylor) 5 Stars: "A brilliant piece of work!" This is an important achievement. The actors found the dark forces in the play and made them their own. The horror of the transition from one reality to another came through carrying us with the morbid and erotic fascination with a reality that's almost impossible to imagine. This play brings us close to it. Fine work. |