The Trial of the Catonsville Nine

See it if You are a jury in 1968 hearing the impassioned words of war objectors. Powerful issues made personal. Excellent staging w/great ending.

Don't see it if You wouldn't enjoy an artistic nonfiction re-enactment. You are not interested in Vietnam War issues, even though relevant to today.

See it if You enjoy plays based on history. You want a portrait of the Vietnam War protests. You like immersive staging. You enjoy political dramas.

Don't see it if You want characters that are more realistic & less archetype. You want a political play that shows both sides of an issue.

Also While I appreciate the company presenting this story, the writing is of a talk at the audience style, so I didn't connect w/the various characters on-stage. Points for ambition, though it didn't work for me.... Read more Read less

See it if story of 9 Vietnam protesters interests you. Script is from actual trial transcripts. 3 actors portray many characters.

Don't see it if you want a "routine" play with a full cast and linear storytelling. You don't like in-the-round productions.

Also This is one of the most creative and well-fitting stagings I've experienced. As soon as you enter the stage - church pews forming an in-the-round square - you are transported to 1968. Lighting, sound and staging are all extremely effective. The actors did a perfect job of projecting and we never had problems hearing them.

3 amazing actors play multiple roles. Some have commented that this is confusing. I didn't have a problem. Mannerisms, accents, dialogue and such made it pretty obvious when character shifts occurred.

The show does lag a bit in the middle, but the ending is - WOW! The theatre was overwarm - I blame this on the building heating as it was a chilly nite.... Read more Read less

See it if You remember the years when the Vietnam war draft was front & center for all young men. Passions ran high. Reliving those times was hard.

Don't see it if You don't care to remember which side of the anti-war movement you were supporting. Still not clear if protests changed anything.

See it if you enjoy verbatim or political theatre. Great cast, great direction, great set design, great lighting & sound design.

Don't see it if you are expecting a traditional prod.

See it if you want an extraordinary night of amazingly still relevant theater

Don't see it if you’re looking for s musical

See it if You are interested in human rights and historic documentation, excellent acting, sound, lighting, staging, presented in an immersive setting

Don't see it if The script was rather confusing, you get the gist but the story is not clear, you have to do your research before coming to see the play.

See it if You want to learn a bit about US History while being entertained

Don't see it if US History bores you

See it if You are interested in the trial or just want to learn a piece of history.

Don't see it if If you are looking for standard theater.

See it if You are or aren't familiar with this true-life tale of political heroism, and if you are a fan of environmental, site-specific theatre.

Don't see it if You like conventional settings for a story to take place in.

Also I went into this production knowing nothing about the story. I am so happy that I got to experience it through the lens of this incredibly well crafted new adaptation of this play.

The BRILLIANT design team creates theatre magic with the set, lights, and sound. It is a feast for the senses.

The team of acting artists leading this 3 person play does a great job turning into multiple different characters seamlessly, the amount of information is a bit overwhelming to adjust to. But once the device of the piece sinks in, it is a riveting take on a trail where you as an audience sit in pews on the stage of the theatre in what feels like the intimacy of an abandoned office.

If you love environmental, intimate theatre, go see this play, it is reason enough alone to enjoy this excellent production.

The final moment's of the play is a jaw-dropping visualization of the overriding sentiment of the play. A story of people who are now mainly ghosts. Getting to speak their truth.

Bravo!... Read more Read less

See it if You like theater that is off the beaten path. Strong performances. Appreciate a story that is not purely linear.

Don't see it if You want to relax and be entertained. This is an exciting piece of theater, well staged. But it’s intense.

See it if You want to learn about true events surrounding the Vietnam war

Don't see it if You want to be entertained through music or dance

See it if you like an intimate experience and a wonderful ambiance alongside great acting

Don't see it if you dislike trial plays or want something with extravagance

See it if You're interested in the history of our land and society.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy a history lesson, regardless of the top quality of its delivery.

See it if You are interested in political, historical plays that take a risk with unusual staging. --this focuses on the Vietnam War period.

Don't see it if You don't like a lot of talking with not much plot. Also-- be warned there's a lot of smoke

See it if you like politically charged, docu-style theatre.

Don't see it if you prefer more of a traditional play or especially if you only dig the fluffy musicals.

Also While there really isn't much of an argument that an audience faces, it's a good and valuable reminder of the 60s anti-war climate and the lengths that the title group went to in their pre-and post-sentence lives in pursuit of addressing conflicts sans violence. Solidly performed and inventively directed.... Read more Read less

See it if you like history plays

Don't see it if a little one-note

See it if You like history and retelling of an event from one perspective, limited set design.

Don't see it if You don’t like history from one perspective and limited set design.

See it if If you like history plays that comment on current events by analogy. If you lived through the culture wars and protests of the 1960s.

Don't see it if If you want a big production rather than an intimate experience. If you're sensitive to potential overacting or cults of personality.

See it if You love a compelling docudrama about a nearly forgotten anti-war protest that is both inspiring and chilling in its relevancy to now.

Don't see it if You supported the Vietnam War.

See it if You like cleverly staged political dramas with a very timely feel. Interesting sort of round robin casting with 3 actors playing all roles.

Don't see it if You want a lot of action. This is almost entirely monologues.

Also This sort of took its time getting there but was well worth it. Also, the lighting was worth noting. Lots of attention to detail. Excellent work. Powerful and emotional.... Read more Read less

See it if If you want good acting and staging. This show had good lighting as well.

Don't see it if If you want a story that starts with Vietnam, goes to Guatemala, then Africa, and onto other countries. Writer tries to be resonant ,

Also But is down right subversive.

See it if Theater In the round done expertly. Great acting by David Huynh and Eunice Wong. Approx. 70 seats make one a part of the show. see also

Don't see it if One has to adjust to the 3 actors playing all of the roles, the 9 accused and the lawyers and judges.Only 90 minutes. See also

Also Daniel Berrigan lives again, Fascinating play. Take a tour of Abron Arts Center, Transport Group is unique in ts presentations (This may be the 6th work of theirs that we have seen) Amazing how we forget this major trial. Use of lighting so good.At one point. you feel the heat of the presentation. Also great Light in use for the ending. A powerful work of theater. On Grand Street toward Essex a great bagel place and another super donut place (South side of Grand.. Sound used perfectly The 3rd actor sometimes does not adapt to a "ROUND" performance... Read more Read less

See it if Cummings' immersive rethink of Berrigan's docu-drama works more often than not due to terrific cast of Asian actors - nice directorial touch

Don't see it if Cast of three play all parts - 9 or 10? & leads to some confusion/loss of focus Pace can slow due to dry material but passion remains high

See it if examination of recent but fading history for what it might tell us today seems to you a worthy endeavor.

Don't see it if you want a traditional play, or history bores you.

Also Jack Cummings’ bracing reimagining of “The Trial of the Catonsville Nine,” a neat Vietnam War era agitprop play, drawn from transcripts of a trial of 9 defendants in a notorious antiwar action, tries to correct history. The original judge was determined to try the defendants’ burning of draft records not the US conduct in the war. Here Cummings’ dynamic staging, reducing the cast to 3 Asian-American actors who take all roles in the middle of a dusty archive that is sometimes invaded by big sound & lighting effects, holds up for our examination specimens from the trial transcript & news items from the times & since to put on trial the very conduct the judge tried so hard to keep out of the proceedings. The result is probative, clear-headed, a little chilly, not fully dramatic but welcome in an era marred by casual white supremacy. We’re not allowed to forget what can happen when 1 race dehumanizes another & slow-motion extermination becomes not only thinkable but systematically doable.... Read more Read less