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| Keath Hall, Justin Hosten, and Leonidas Karandreas Photo by Stephanie Cartwright |
highlights from local critics reviews - (click link at bottom of each review to read complete review)
Click here for more information on this production that runs through July 8
"Based on real people and events, and set at the dawn of the Civil War, Richard Strand's Ben Butler is a fictionalized play about a factual encounter that focuses on a runaway slave named Shepard Mallory who seeks his freedom from the Union Army general Benjamin Franklin Butler. As characters spar not with guns but with words, Strand's script is peppered with humor and fleshes out the intriguing characters to ensure there isn't anything dry about this history lesson. Don Bluth Front Row Theatre's Arizona premiere of Strand's very entertaining play is exceptional, with a crackerjack cast and sure-footed direction....Under Lee Cooley's clear and spirited yet also sensitive direction, the cast deliver sharp, realistic performances saturated with humanity. As Butler, Keath Hall is wonderful. ... When you have a playwright who knows how to write a good character, solid direction, and an actor like Hall, you end up with a man who is not only intriguing but also fascinating to watch....With witty dialogue that makes for a lively repartée, insightful encounters, and interesting characters, Ben Butler is a fascinating historical biographical drama about the Civil War and also a crowd-pleasing comedy treat." - Gil Benbrook, TalkinBroadway.com (click here to read the complete review)
"...A pivotal episode in the march to Emancipation... unearthed and recreated in Richard Strand’s compelling history play, BEN BUTLER....(Keath) Hall has immediate physical command of the stage. He excels in accentuating the nuances of Butler’s moods with a host of revealing expressions If there’s a Laurel to Butler’s hardy disposition, it is Lt. Kelly...perfectly captured by (Leonidas) Karandreas. This young actor is the comedic jewel of the play. Justin Hosten does admirably well in portraying Shepard Mallory’s intellect, tenacity, and desperation..a compelling piece of work, heightened by the astute direction of Lee Cooley...The innovation here is that he has also maximized the in-the-round to great effect, ensuring that the pacing and blocking remain brisk and engaging. The bottom line is that Cooley and his cast have rendered a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking theatrical experience."
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