The Rape of the Sabine Women, By Grace B. Matthias

See it if Believe in getting people to admit to something, they allegedly have done,and held accountable.

Don't see it if If you can't address the fact that a person had been raped,and nothing was done about it.

Also The actress that played Grace, was absolutely good in portraying the raped victim. All were good.... Read more Read less

See it if you hate women - you want to laugh about rape, you want to laugh about women being raped, especially a 15 year old who is written cluelessly

Don't see it if you are not ready to laugh at rape or you think characters should have dignity, not be written condescendingly as if women have no brains

Also I tried to go with an open mind - a man writing a rape play? okay, but this was so offensive and so off-putting from beginning to end, and intensely long, and even the men in the audience were groaning. It is supposed to be absurd, but it portrays real situations and real actual responses in all too real ways, so where is the humor in this? Bad taste, bad choice, and the artistic director apologizes for it on the first page of the program. In this world - this is not the play to see.

The author might have stuck to the only compelling part of the play which is the relationship between the gay football player and the straight one -- there is play in there somewhere, but it wasn't on stage tonight.

So many stereotypes, no framing, and hurtful, nasty comments, and why does this main character have to be so clueless and dumb? I did not expect it to be beyond the pale awful, but it got worse and worse by the minute with cheap jokes and tasteless victim-blaming just like real life! Why?... Read more Read less

See it if You want to get inside the head of our rape culture and see it refracted as into the cartoon nightmare that it is.

Don't see it if You're looking for something that isn't done in a highly-stylized manner.

Also "The Downtown Rape Play" is a genre that we've all seen before, one that guts you and leaves no room for your own introspection. Performed in every fringe festival, most of these focus on the horror of the experience, and the trauma that comes after it, in such a way that you can't interact with it past bearing witness to someone's suffering.

This is not like that. This play actively makes you look at the bizarre world the rape victim, and most women you know, see on a day-to-day basis. It focuses on the erasure of the experience of the victim, for convenience's sake, and how our culture and society rewards that erasure.

Rafaeli's direction heightens the funhouse-mirror effect of the writing. Every choice is laser-focused on this vision.

The result is not only keeps the play moving, but makes it a play that makes you think a bigger thought than "rape is bad." It makes you think about the world we all take part in, and how we can do better.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an original staging, a well developed, directed and acted play. A theme that could be taboo told in a fun yet respectful way

Don't see it if you're not willing to see a play about a rape told in an entertaining way, which for me was refreshing and more effective for reflection.

See it if You want to support new play development or you don't mind characters portrayed as caricatures who have zero emotional appeal

Don't see it if You are offended by badly developed characters, indulgent plot devices that don't satisfy or a sympathetic stance on a rapist.

See it if you are looking for an interesting take on rape culture that involves humor as well as moments of profoundness

Don't see it if you would be triggered by discussions of rape (literally the whole show) or nudity

Also This show was brilliantly cast and the staging was impeccable. I can understand how this show might not be someone's cup of tea, but I urge you to see it. I wish I could see it again!... Read more Read less

See it if You want an unusual take on this subject.

Don't see it if You want a cliched treatment

See it if You like edgy provocative plays that use humor to soften the exploration of uncomfortable issues

Don't see it if You are put off by the topic of rape

See it if you are interested in societal issues concerning rape

Don't see it if if you are not interested in exploring social issues

See it if you appreciate the use of satire to illuminate difficult subject matter. If you want to see an incredible ensemble with an even better lead.

Don't see it if you're highly sensitive to or triggered by depictions of rape, sexual assault, and victim blaming.

Also This show absolutely does not make fun of or laugh at rape or sexual assault. It uses humor to create caricatures of common responses to those who have been assaulted in order to prove how absurd and cruel those common responses are.

Susannah Perkins is absolutely stunning as the title character.

The script could use a ten minute trim.... Read more Read less

See it if Provocative well acted plays

Don't see it if Light hearted comedy

See it if You love cliché, strereotypes, all lost in a writting that try to send a message and be funny.. without succeeded in it

Don't see it if You hate actors playing teenagers by making them speak like if they were 6 years old

See it if you want to see a well acted and very topical play. The play will make you think, it took me a while to figure out how I felt about it.

Don't see it if the portrayal of a male rapist as a greater victim of rape culture than the woman he rapes will turn your stomach

Also There is some good stuff here, the metaphor of the world burning beneath the surface for thousands of years and Grace is going to become a fireman to put that fire out works well and is smart. Susannah Perkins delivers a phenomenal performance in the lead role, she is captivating. But some great performances and occasionally smart insights couldn't change the queasiness I felt leaving the theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in quirky writing with dark themes. The acting is excellent and the final message of the play was extremely moving.

Don't see it if you are sensitive to themes of sexual abuse and dislike the use of absurdism in a piece with dark subject matter.

See it if You have an interest in the topic as it explores it from all sides and has a strong growth for the main character, yet adds absurdist humor

Don't see it if Don't think comedy can mix with the topic, but the play does a good job at it

Also The play is now running around 1:50 so it seems like quite a bit has been cut.... Read more Read less

See it if Creative way to highlight a serious problem. Well acted and well written

Don't see it if If you are narrow minded

See it if You like non-linear storytelling and intense subject matter set in a high school.

Don't see it if Sexual assault is a trigger or if you're looking for a realistic and in depth portrayal of high school students.

See it if you are willing join in a crucial conversation about this chronic and horrendous issue. This story is approachable with comedic relief.

Don't see it if you are looking for a truly artful or original production. This story serves to raise awareness rather than raise a new perspective.

See it if you want to support a theater company that is brave enough to produce polarizing, controversial, risky new plays that challenge its audience

Don't see it if you don't understand that an absurdist, dark comedy about rape might make you feel uncomfortable at times.

See it if You care about women and changing things for the better... but also if you are just looking for inventive and captivating theatre

Don't see it if You want a simple living room play to tritely tell you how to think about an issue. This one paints all sides and well!

See it if Laughed out loud a few times, some of the actors were great! Good staging

Don't see it if You want to watch a thought-provoking or complicated play about rape

Also Actors were good! Just cliched writing with extremely broadly written characters with no coherent motivations or nuanced psychology. Left with no idea why the playwright wanted to write this or what he thought he was saying other than.. rape happens and is bad? Condescending in its obviousness, especially written by a man... Read more Read less

See it if you love great storytelling, care about dismantling rape culture, and want to see a fantastic production of a great play.

Don't see it if you have personal experience with rape and are concerned about being triggered.

See it if You are willing to be completely invested and thoughtful - this play is very deep. Must appreciate new ways of tackling age-old issues.

Don't see it if You want something easy and light

Also Excellent cast with an outstanding performance by Susannah Perkins as Grace. Worth seeing just to witness her performance. Also shout out for the costume design and set design - well done!... Read more Read less

See it if Ambitious topic, well presented with a touch of humor. Outstanding script and staging.

Don't see it if I would not miss it and plan to go again next week.