Written by Michael Weller
Directed by Jo Bonney
Synopsis: Two Iraqi War veterans -- badly mutilated but as fiercely patriotic as ever -- make their way home from a military hospital in Germany. Their marauding adventure across America takes them to Crawford, Texas, where they meet up with their Commander-in-Chief and offer a surefire solution to all his problems.
NEW YORK TIMES:
"Bold in its conception and admirable (at least in theory) in its focus on seriously wounded war veterans, “Beast” mixes tones and styles uneasily as the soldier at its center is gradually revealed to be a sort of avenging spirit caught between life and death. "
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK POST:
"Director Jo Bonney has provided an impressively intense and imaginative staging, but this "Beast" could have used more bite. "
Read the whole review HERE.
THEATERMANIA:
"The play will appeal mainly to audience members critical of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq. However, Weller's characterization of Cato and Voych is layered and thought-provoking. They are men who served their country willingly and want that service to be recognized. Voych tells GW that he and mutilated soldiers like him are the President's legacy, and despite the fantastical circumstances that Weller has contrived, this core idea still has a powerful resonance."
Read the whole review HERE.
VARIETY:
"But frankly, "Beast" may not be worth the trouble. Weller is not all that interested in soldiers as people; the play's subject matter demands some kind of respectful examination of militant patriotism, but we never get that."
Read the whole review HERE.
NYTHEATRE.COM:
"So ultimately Beast is disappointingly flawed, but its first act is so essential and brave, and so well-crafted a modern-day horror story, that I think it tips the balance in favor of my suggesting that you see the play for yourself and decide what you think about it all. "
Read the whole review HERE.
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