Lou

“Rice's language is exquisite, and the intelligent banter...is endlessly satisfying. Listening to these super-human intellects argue their positions on gender, sex, and god was riveting…The entire ensemble is magnificent…The structure of the play is a bit messy, which makes the chronology of events a bit confusing…The play allows us to become acquainted with a fascinating and brilliant character, but only vaguely leaves us with a sense of her accomplishments and legacy.” Full Review

"It's difficult to tell if this particular all-female cast isn't quite up to the task of portraying these difficult and complex men or if it is the idea of unisex casting that is the issue, but this cast of actresses, try as they might, don't breath enough life into Haley Rice's play." Full Review

"Kate Moore Heaney directs the all-female cast of six with fiery Mieko Gavia in the title role. To put it bluntly, ladies kick ass...Although the play tends to be sentimental and even melodramatic when it comes to Lou’s relationship with men, it has its fair share of truly empowering moments and some good laughs...'Lou' reclaims history by looking back through the female perspective yet avoids loud political statement, and this is the beauty of it." Full Review

"'Lou' incorporates its philosophical elements and its biographical exposition with a consistently deft hand and always in the service of telling Salomé’s personal story...Perhaps unexpectedly, 'Lou' is also very funny, thanks in no small part to excellent performances by the cast...'Lou' is a wonderfully entertaining production about a singular figure. It offers a well-crafted, engaging study of a woman who could captivate Nietzsche and call out Freud’s repression." Full Review

"A powerful and intellectual piece...The shining achievement of this play is Haley Rice’s successful balance of content and accessibility...The arc of the play is clear and smooth; the wit is quick and nothing is superfluous. Heaney’s directing excels in demonstrating equality and power without the use of forceful position...The talented actresses capture the minute nuances of each character...Mieko Gavia is a force to reckon with." Full Review

"Mieko Gavia's performance of Lou is powerful, brutally intellectual yet almost pathologically afraid of sensuality...The completely game cast investigates different aspects of male privilege, and how even the best intentions are shadowed by this power imbalance...Like many biography plays, the text sometimes suffers from an effort to fit in too many events...'Lou' is a welcome meditation on the true nature of art, philosophy, and the never-ending battle of the sexes." Full Review

"The intent is admirable, although the scenic design offers a more insightful look into the pioneering Lou than the play...Rice's play offers a harsh portrayal of a complex individual that emphasizes her strident, stubborn, selfish nature without showing the softer side...The audience never sees this magnetic allure and that absence hurts our understanding of Lou...Ultimately, while Rice's play paints a historical time period worth visiting...she fails to provide insight into her character." Full Review