Dogs of Rwanda NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (33)
See it if You enjoy great storytelling. The subject can be quite dark and disturbing (genocide) he weaves a story you can get lost in-and learn from.
Don't see it if You’re looking for light and fluffy.
See it if you are interested in the long-term effects of traumatic violence.
Don't see it if you cannot bear to experience graphic descriptions of violence. Read more
See it if You appreciate one man story telling.
Don't see it if You don't like solo shows.
See it if You’d like to hear an engaging story of forgiveness that is set during the 100 day Rwandan genocide accompanied by the talking drum.
Don't see it if You don’t want to be reminded of a tragic event in African history.
See it if you are interested in the Rwanda genocide, morality issues and people, psychologically, dealing with guilt and it's consequences.
Don't see it if you expect intense feelings of horror and sympathy from dealing with the topic of an atrocity such as the Rwandan genocide.
See it if you enjoy story telling or book readings. It's really more like those than a play.
Don't see it if you're expecting interaction between characters
See it if you want to learn more about the Rwandan genocide through the eyes of an outsider
Don't see it if you don't enjoy solo shows, especially ones with audience interaction, or are distracted by onstage musicians.
See it if If you want to know how bad things can really get.
Don't see it if You have nightmares
Critic Reviews (12)
"Hodge's tendency to telegraph each emotional beat betrays the contrivance of the script. His attempts to summon white-hot anger mostly leave us cold as we see the wheels turning in his head...Unfortunately, all of the African characters discussed in 'Dogs of Rwanda' come across as thinly drawn sketches...His frequent digressions into his B-plot romance with Mary Jane are even more tiresome...It all leaves a false aftertaste that is very hard to wash down."
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"A solo show...Filled with terrors...Lewis' text is filled with fine details...Under the direction of Hill and Napolitano...Hodge holds us firmly in his grip...He is well-suited to the role of an innocent who has wandered into the heart of darkness...The production is striking and yet not too slick...There are gaps in the text that one would like to see filled...Maintains a viselike power -- it is a trip to hell and back, and it poses lingering questions about guilt and reconciliation."
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"David's chronicle is gripping, violent, and ultimately quite moving, and Hodge gives a riveting performance...There is something instinctively off putting about a white male character confronting the psychological torment of the Rwandan genocide...In the end, though, 'Dogs of Rwanda' shows that cultural scars are not limited by racial or national origins. We are all implicated in historical traumas by the narratives we hear and the stories we receive."
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"Hodge commandingly plays the American narrator...Though well-written...comes across as a contrived episode that restates that war is hell. Lewis' approach may be fresh but the subject matter isn't, and so even with the compelling performances and excellent presentation, the 70-minute show is an artistic draw...Succeeds on many crucial levels but one's enjoyment of it depends on if one is the in mood for a bleak theatrical travelogue without an imperative purpose."
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"Exquisite writing by Sean Christopher Lewis...David launches into a chilling account of the horrific events he witnessed...His account is somewhat suspect, the real mystery within the mystery of the play. As I cannot divulge the crux of this thriller, you’ll have to witness this remarkable journey for yourselves...It’s a remarkable evening all around, evocative and harrowing. Hill and Napolitano helmed this amazing evening with panache."
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"The narrative could be greatly improved with a better depiction of the geographical aspects of the story…'Dogs of Rwanda''s subject matter is intrinsically interesting but there's little of historical or political importance in it that…well-informed audiences don't already know. Its greatest value lies in the opportunity it provides for an exciting solo performance...Hodge…offers a strong, personable characterization of someone genuinely affected after having gone through such indelible trauma."
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"The one-man play offers an intense and unnerving look at man’s inhumanity to man, the lingering personal effects of unimaginable trauma, and ideas on how best to cope in the aftermath by embracing truth and forgiveness...A gripping direct-address monologue that employs us as witnesses to his story...'Dogs of Rwanda' isn’t easy to watch, but it’s impossible to turn away from the truth of what happened and the riveting production at Urban Stages."
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"Hodge as David is exceptional, and if not for his fantastically, raw performance 'Dogs of Rwanda' would not be an easy watch...Lewis gives Hodge a plentiful, vivid script that helps you understand why David, though a charming, friendly man, still feels like a wounded 16 year old...While 'Dogs of Rwanda' is a one-man show, Hodge is so vivacious and interpersonal that you feel God's Blessing is there telling him not to paint him as a Tutsi victim but an unwilling killer."
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