TONY FRANKELstage and cinemacertified reviewerJune 21, 2017
Less a play than an examination of Lincoln's assassination by the man who killed him. Unfortunately, facts and figures fly at us but little sticks, and Stephen Spiegel (as Booth) needs better direction than that from script writer Lloyd Schwartz. Spiegel travels a lot while spewing out over 80 minutes of dialogue; I wish he would just plant himself more often (I think he's working too hard). The play is simply too much info with little emotional connection....
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BOB LEGGETTindie voice blogcertified reviewerJune 25, 2017
An interesting journey through the mind of a killer. See our full review at Indie Voice Blog...
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Stephen Spielgel gives a charming, energetic, wonderful performance as JWB! Owning the stage and setting the scene for Sic Semper Tyrranus, Spiegel exudes a "Tom Cruise does theatre" magnetism! Bravo!...
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This is a really must see show... One of the best of the fringe...a really talented actor disappearing so completely within a role that even without makeup, you, as an audience, know you're in the presence of the truth of John Wilkes Booth, ...
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Wow. I feel like I saw the real John Wilkes Booth somehow show up to talk about his life instead of just having watched a play. As portrayed, Booth alternates between being a frightening, racist, Lincoln-hating assassin to being a charismatic, humorous, charming, egotistical actor who loves to brag about himself and regale his audience with stories about his extraordinary life. Actor Stephen Spiegel portrays Booth and effortlessly brings him to life as a complete and complex person. There is a lot of history packed into this show and it is not at the expense of good character development. I was engrossed. The play moves along quite quickly and never lags, seeming much shorter than 80 minutes. I highly recommend this show....
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Stephen Spiegel truly breathes life into the character of John Wilkes Booth! He humanizes this real-life villain, unafraid of depicting him as a man possessing charm, wit, and charisma. He also vividly illustrates Booth's serious character flaws and doesn't whitewash his treacherousness in assassinating Abraham Lincoln. A fantastic and transcendent performance! Entertaining, fearless and compelling! You'll walk out of the theater believing you somehow wandered into a time machine and actually met and became acquainted with this historical figure! Bravo!...
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