“The astonishment of 'Burning Doors' — conceived and staged by the troupe founders and artistic directors (in exile), Khalezin and Koliada — is its ability to translate political rage and impotence into an art of indirection that is often as complex as it is powerful...An open-ended portrait of both the sociology and psychology of the artist as rebel in Eastern Europe...‘Burning Doors’ is from the friction of artists as arsonists — in motion, at war and determined to scorch."
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"This is a smart, smoldering, physically brutal piece of theater...A slowly building, ultimately stunning exploration of the Russian regime’s oppression of artists. For American audiences, 'Burning Doors' is a kind of exposé. It’s also a demonstration of the artist’s inextinguishable freedom in the face of a kind of tyranny that most of us have no real means to comprehend...The show is a painful and purposeful test of its performers’ endurance."
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"The show is performed with high energy, though each story feels like a mixed bag of styles that aren't always cohesive. Still, the vitality of the subject matter shines through, especially now...Transitionally, it's a little difficult for the audience to figure out what's going on — the actors alternate various roles without much change in costumes and demeanor...The most essential piece of political theater New York has seen in a long, long time."
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"Keeping track of who is playing who and what each highly stylized moment is supposed to represent can be a bit confusing....If the people and issues referenced in 'Burning Doors' are not exactly familiar to Americans watching, there is still a great emotional impact to be felt just from the realization that, upon returning home, the brave artists participating in this piece can, at any time, be in the position of the tortured prisoners they play."
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“A theatrical collage that depicts political oppression in Russia...Its pacing periodically lags. It’s uneven in totality but there are quite compelling portions...Mr. Khalezin’s precise direction and Bridget Fiske and Maryia Sazonava’s vigorous choreography result in often arresting stage pictures...’Burning Doors’ is a fitfully effective work of agitprop for a noble cause that’s stimulating, though imperfectly realized.”
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"'Burning Doors' holds up a magnifying glass to reality and sheds a brutally honest yet sympathetic light on three radical artists who have been treated like terrorists...Although much of the violence is represented in an almost poetic way, the brutality of what takes place assaults your senses and transports you to the prison cells of the world: piss, sweat, and cinders from the burning doors, along with songs about freedom bursting from every corner."
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"This dazzling company not only acts, but also dances and performs astonishing acrobatic feats to dramatize the stories...The result is a series of vivid, arresting images that will haunt you...For the spoken dialogue, Khalezin has masterfully drawn Dostoevsky’s novels...Such displays of artistic heroism and perseverance are humbling for those of us who take our artistic freedoms for granted...BFT is an abiding inspiration for all who cherish those freedoms."
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"The play focuses on the mental, physical, and spiritual torture of prison and the various methods used to break one down...’Burning Doors’ is intense and profoundly physical alternative theatre...The performers are strong in mind, voice, and body...It is an extremely moving and relevant piece of theatre. It is not for the faint of heart...This work is important...A visceral and intellectual evening you will not forget."
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