Empanada Loca NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (15)
See it if Rubin-Vega is spectacular. Mark is a consummate storyteller. Totally absorbing. Dark story with very funny undertones.
Don't see it if you don't like the story of Sweeney Todd or that kind of horror.
See it if Aaron Mark has concocted a thoroughly entertaining & horrifying edge or your seat thriller. Masterfully performed by Rubin-Vega.
Don't see it if If you dislike the story of Sweeney Todd, this might not be your cup of tea.
See it if you want to be transported--by powerful words and top-notch acting--to an intense, unfamiliar world. Vega is fantastic, as is the material.
Don't see it if you are easily unnerved. This play is very dark. Mostly about character and setting, there are themes about love and loss and survival.
See it if you like an engrossing, one-person show, or are a fan of Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Don't see it if you're not into using your imagination.
See it if you want to see an AMAZING performance by Daphne Rubin-Vega in a very well-written solo show.
Don't see it if you want to see a show that sends you home thinking--it's basically a spooky story (a very well done spooky story, but not much to unpack).
See it if Dark, gripping, raw. Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Don't see it if Afraid of truth in dark places.
See it if You love amazing acting - a true tour-de-force performance from Ms Rubin-Vega
Don't see it if You don't like one-person shows or didn't like Sweeney Todd
See it if Empanada Loca is a well written, directed and acted real life horror story with a twist at the end.
Don't see it if If you can't listen to bloody creepy events.
Critic Reviews (16)
"Rubin-Vega seems to take on an almost feral quality that had me shivering all the way home. She gives a performance that’s as quietly mesmerizing as it is unsettling...Mr. Mark brings his characters alive in dialogue that bristles with vivid description, but writers are rarely the best directors of their work. Although he draws a marvelous performance from Ms. Rubin-Vega, 'Empanada' would be far more effective with some significant trimming."
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"This spine-tingling and stomach-churning monologue is inspired by legend (Sweeney Todd), stars a Tony-nominated Broadway vet (Daphne Rubin-Vega) and slyly plays on NYC-specific fears, such as nefarious subway dwellers, class tensions and mystery meat...Mark's dialogue is unnervingly authentic, and Rubin-Vega masterfully delineates each character by shifting her accent and posture."
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"We can't tear ourselves away from her utterly transfixing story...Despite sounding innocuously like somewhere to have brunch in Hell's Kitchen, 'Empanada Loca' is a real hair-raiser. Anyone looking for a good fright won't want to miss it, but beware: This show is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach."
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"Daphne Rubin-Vega is completely captivating in a solo performance that requires her to sit perfectly still for most of its 100 minutes, looking straight out at the audience as she tells her weird and wonderful tale...With a kicker of a finish, 'Empanada Loca' is a terrifically creepy tale, with Daphne Rubin-Vega a macabre delight."
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"If you're looking for a bedtime story guaranteed to keep you up far into the night, 'Empanada Loca' is the show for you. Aaron Mark's one-person drama is inspired by the legend of 'Sweeney Todd,' and it more than delivers on the famed story's grisly premise...There's a fifty-fifty chance that you'll leave the theater seriously contemplating turning vegan."
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"Rubin-Vega dazzles from her first moments on stage...'Empanada Loca' is the exhilarating haunt you’ve been looking for. Good luck getting any sleep after viewing this exceptionally creepy piece of theater!"
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"It's to the credit of both Mark's enticing writing and Rubin-Vega's engaging portrayal that the show remains incredibly exciting throughout…Rubin-Vega is a captivating performer and it's a treat to watch her delve into Dolores and all her quirks in such an intimate venue…'Empanada Loca' is a delicious treat, and perfect for the season. Mark and team have created a production from which you can't hardly look away. Not that you'd want to anyway."
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"Leaving the theater at the end of 'Empanada Loca,' one feels emotionally drained. The experience of sitting in the dark theater (a very immersive scenic, sound and lighting presentation) listening to Rubin-Vega tell Dolores’ story is so alarmingly authentic that it takes quite some time to shake off the false notion that this horrible story really took place."
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