Bob Abelman
Once upon a time, fairytales were a great source of pleasure,
poetry and principles for generations of young children. In recent decades, the Disneyfication of children’s stories has raised concerns that children
are getting no message at all or, worse, a blatantly commercial one. Playwright Martin
McDonagh’s “The Pillowman” offers a different take on the worse-case scenario –
one that is grimmer than Grimm and, in the hands of convergence-continuum,
thoroughly enthralling.
To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's CJN article here.
Roy Berko
“The Pillowman” is a disturbing script
which gets a mainly effective production at con-con. It is not a play for those who go to the theatre for
escapism, but it will be of interest to the type of theatre-goer that likes to
delve into the world of motivations, philosophical decisions, and the effects
of the actions of others on the psyche.
Mark Horning
This is one of those plays that you will either love
or hate depending on your point of view.
It is the epitome of dark comedy where you will find yourself laughing
at odd times then questioning yourself about your response. I found the work intriguing and well worth
the effort.
To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.Christine Howey
So,
does art owe a debt to society or should it just follow its own instincts,
wherever they lead? Should art be a humanizing force? Good questions. One way
to find answers is to see The Pillowman,
throw up in your mouth a little, then start thinking.
To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at Cleveland Scene
