"The sex farce has all but disappeared from the contemporary stage, and those of you mourning its demise may want to check out 'Permission...' The play never digs deeply into the psyches of its characters, remaining content to exploit its gimmick for raucous, mildly raunchy comedy...Once the provocative conceit has been established, Mr. Askins doesn’t find any particularly revealing ideas to explore, letting the naughty novelty do most of the work. "
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"'Permission' doesn’t quite come together; the exposition often seems explanatory, and the second act doesn’t generate the momentum to put across the frantic, farcical finale. With a run time of just 100 minutes, including intermission, the play doesn’t feel full enough. With a bit more padding, it could land stronger blows."
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"The cast’s padded undergarments are indeed worthy of notice. Or at least they are more worthy of notice than the rest of the play, which in trying to bridge incompatible genres — you’ll forgive my saying — falls between the cracks...Perhaps further work on the play will prove that a better union can be achieved, but until then it may be advisable for the playwright — for his own good, of course — to invest in a pair of Shaper Panties."
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"A knockabout farce (so to speak) in which things get out of hand with dizzying and delicious speed...Mr. Askins makes the mistake of closing with a what-it’s-all-about scene in which he tells you what he meant. I wish he’d now try his hand at a classic door-slamming farce in which he trusts the play to tell its own tale. This is, however, a quibble: 'Permission' confirms that he is a major talent in the making."
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"This scattershot show is undercooked and undisciplined...Askins peppers his script with references to CrossFit and kale. While up-to-the-minute, the script is also sloppy...Worse, the main theme is quickly abandoned when the spanking goes from a religious rite to merely being about sex kinks. Eric’s eager secretary is an obvious, and useless, plot device."
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"In the end, there’s not quite enough fun to be had from this Christian version of marital S&M, and strange to say, all the spankings (expertly choreographed and quite realistic, let it be said) become repetitive and pointless. What this comedy really could use are a few scenes in whatever church preaches this insanity."
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"Under the fast-paced direction of Alex Timbers, the ensemble delivers amusing performances...But despite their best efforts, 'Permission' doesn't live up to its potential. Those looking for real laughs from the subject matter would be advised instead to check out the website christiandomesticdiscipline.com which outlines its tenets with a seriousness that makes them all the more absurd."
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"Spanking and Christianity combine for unexpected laughs in 'Permission,' another explosive comedy from Robert Askins. Here, Eric and Cynthia are rescued by Christian Domestic Discipline — a real phenomenon that gives a whole new meaning to the expression 'Bible Belt'... 'Permission' lacks the tightly wound ferocity of 'Hand to God,' it’s still the funniest show of the spring, boosted by an excellent cast.”
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