Lured

See it if u can endure the barbarous torment by a gay hate group & the fallout for all involved in a powerful reminder that malevolence still exists.

Don't see it if you have a very low tolerance for torture, humiliation, hate speech, and graphic portrayals of violence. [But see my note below.]

Also Kudos to the creators and cast for this no-holds-barred depiction of a "ripped-from-the-headlines" story of a Russian hate group. This would not have been nearly as effective (and affecting) if they had held back in any way from the blunt, frank rendering of this heartbreaking, stirring story. All of the warnings about the violence, nudity, etc. shouldn't deter you from seeing this piece; they should only prepare you for what you are about to see. None of it is gratuitous or superfluous. This is an important and well-crafted (if imperfect) work.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like to experience a very well-constructed play that effectively dramatizes the unending futility of cycles of violence.

Don't see it if you do not have the stomach for extreme stage violence in an intimate space.

Also Let me say up front that the only reason I have not rated this well-written, well-played thriller more highly is that I am one of those people with a low threshold of tolerance when it comes to extreme violence in the theater. I think this play is highly effective: too effective for me to have been comfortable. I am sure that is the desired effect. And I have to say I never had the sense that playwright & director were trying to titillate or shock the audience for the sake of shock. They had a purpose & they served it effectively. The 3 scenes, the 2nd taking us slightly backwards in time, fit together beautifully & supplied several sly surprises. My 1 problem with the play is a personal one: violence sickens me.... Read more Read less

See it if you are not afraid to face real-world inhumanity that includes humiliation and torture in this play based on true Russian accounts:well-told

Don't see it if you do not like to view violence, nudity or humiliation of others: this is an up-close, horror of one atrocity of our tech time gone awry.

See it if A ring of Russian vigilantes bait "defectives" to terrorise them, then karma strikes. Confrontational mission drama to illuminate. Haunting.

Don't see it if In efforts to bring the verite, the overzealous actors leave marks. Depictions of sadism, violence, nudity, insertions, gore, slurs. Gen Adm

Also Unusual plot structure.

See it if You can stand up-close violence and want to see a horrific story beautifully told. Great insight into gay life in present day Russia.

Don't see it if Your tolerance level to depraved violence and full nudity is low. You’re not a fan of LGBT culture.

See it if Want to see a play where the bad people may not really be the bad people

Don't see it if You need your plays to be all tied up with a good conclusion

Also Based on the description and all the positive reviews I was very excited to see this. I was very disappointed by what I saw tonight. Play takes place in Russia. Obviously all of the characters would be speaking Russian but we were an English speaking audience so I understand why the play was in English. What I don’t understand is why the characters had to use a Russian accent? The accents were distracting and they came in and out and we’re not needed. Some of the action took place on the floor, the way the theater is designed it is very hard to see. The actor with the glasses is not needed at all. The entire third act he just stands there. I blame this blocking and the accents on the director. The most heartless character in the play was the female. But there was nothing physical done to her while the males all got physically beaten. Why? Was the writer worried about a male physically hurting a female, going to far? Obviously not based on the rest of the play... Read more Read less

See it if Though it treats an important topic, the play is a graphic depiction of the abuse of gays in Russia. Often difficult to watch. Heroic acting

Don't see it if your discomfort threshold is low. Raw violence with much verbal and sexual humiliation. Plot twists are somewhat confusing.

See it if entrapment & torture of gays in present day Russia & the steps taken by the victims in response is of concern. The cast is quite convincing.

Don't see it if you don't want to see graphic scenes involving torture, violence & nudity. Admittedly these are hard to watch but at the same time powerful.

See it if the harsh dark realities of LGBT rights (or lack their of) outside of 'our world' concerns you. Just a small taste of what you DON'T know.

Don't see it if 75min of (simulated) gratuitous violence, full-on nudity, humiliation & verbal abuse would make you squirm. Just GO. It's an important show.

Also Huge rarity to experience a show...

...(hopefully accompanied, so you can commiserate afterwards), where you can walk out of a theater having fully captured the plot, set-up, arc & (near) resolve, w/ZERO unanswered questions. We wanted to kiss the playwright & directors.

If this had been done half-assed & even remotely less intense, it would prob not have worked as well. Kudos to the production crew & cast for sticking to their guns.

Excellent ensemble, completely focused & committed. Even zombie-esque David Volino ("Yuri") would not break for 1 second. And NO ONE peeked @ the audience! The backstage after-show adrenaline decompress has to be a harsh task in itself.

Absolute stand-outs: Cali Gilman (strong-willed "Tatiana"), Marc Lombardo (vengeful/loving "Valentin"), & Kalen Hall ("Tatiana's" 'confused' goon boyfriend "Sergei").

In all fairness, major props to THE ENTIRE cast. We left the theater emotionally drained, & all we did was sit & watch THEM give it all up for US. Bravo!... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in shows based on real events and can handle brutal depictions of violence.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in minimalistic productions or are looking for something light, or don't want to hear about oppression of LGBTQ people

See it if you want to see how both the regressive right and a vigilante left can often mirror each other. You want to see individual personalities.

Don't see it if you want to leave the theater moved to wonder about your own standards of morality.

Also After reading Radrunninal's review and discussions with him last night about the accents I have concluded that my earlier submitted review was incorrect.

The accents used cover for Avella's script making excuses for the behavior of the gay bashing, persecuting hate group. "Tatiana" and her brother's experiences of child molestation and its consequences cannot be used to excuse attacks on others innocent of that behavior.

Both groups here are incorrectly humanized by Avella. through their failure to fully commit to their respective "missions". Both groups should be filled with individuals who blindly follow their respective leaders wherever they lead - here they are not.

In the past, I have disparaged "date rape" plays that forgave the rapist. Similarly here, there is no suitable justification for the hate group's behavior.... Read more Read less

See it if You're ready and able to deal with depictions of the disturbing escalating violence happening to the LGBT community in Russia and beyond.

Don't see it if Nudity, violence and/or LGBT issues disturb in any form, even done by a terrific, brave cast tackling a difficult script and material.

See it if If you like "based on 'true' story" events. It started out rough, an audience member left at the start of the 2nd scene; there were 3. It

Don't see it if Picked up later on and made sense. There was a decent usage of the Russian dialect, male nudity, violence, and crude language. It's a small

Also Set for a cast of 7- the men were easy on the eyes. Ambitious play; definitely not for everyone. It ended abruptly. It was a pretty long hour. I don't think I could've taken it much longer than that.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to learn about how gays are treated in Russia, can handle extreme violence, nudity and vulgar language. It's an intense experience.

Don't see it if you aren't interested in LGBT topics, can't tolerate extreme violence and vulgarity

Also This intense & extremely violent show handled well the topic of how gays are humiliated and tortured in Russia. It shed light on the fact that gay life isn't as accepted in some other countries as it in the US.
The program pointed out that there was violence in the show. We were warned as we entered the theater that the show had much violence; no intermission (It was like "Enter at your own risk."). Yet, several people got up and left in the middle of the show.-difficult to do in a such a small theater. They must have felt an extreme sense of urgency in order to walk past the front row patrons, at stage level, only 5-10 feet from the actors.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a glimpse into the real life terror of gay life in modern day Russia. The script is well done. Fantastic job by the cast!

Don't see it if You are not into very physical violence. The play is very hard to watch but it speaks volumes in its truth and message.

See it if you have an interest in man's inhumanity to man, you can deal with violence, you are interested in how hate begets hate

Don't see it if you want lighthearted entertainment, you are squeamish about violence and humiliation

See it if vivid writing, performance, and staging; gay themes, twisty plots, &brief male nudity are up your alley

Don't see it if simulated brutality believably staged and any of the above make you uncomfortable. Disinterest in well-developed characters disappoints.

See it if If you appreciate pretty good acting and naked men

Don't see it if You expect great or even good writing

See it if you want to see how the world is portrayed in Russia with regards to their horrible treatment of gays

Don't see it if you are offended by nudity, brutality, and disturbing images

See it if you enjoy Russian gays being tortured this is the play for you

Don't see it if you are upset by cruelty, torture and incomprehensibility

See it if very VIOLENT play about how the LGBT people are treated by the right wing nuts...Not for the faint of heart.

Don't see it if Violence, blood, nudity and cursing easily offends you.

See it if you like plays that give you insights to situations, you like intense theater, you are interested in LGBT topics

Don't see it if you don't like intense situations, graphic portrayals, nudity, or desire a larger production value

Also Lured is based on real events and shows what happens in Russia when a hate group attacks a gay man and the results from that man's friends.

The actors produce accurate accents and portray the intense situations with realism. The portrayals of all the characters are well-done.

The simple set works as the three scenes take place in the same room. A lot was done with little.

An important play about a relevant situation that is still going on in Russia.

This performance had a talkback with a former Russian professor who has been granted asylum here for this type of situation. Very insightful and informative.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see heavy drama involving Russian luring of gay men for the purpose of humiliation and torture.

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with gay violence, simulated rape, humiliation, and male nudity. Not for everyone, but important to tell.

Also Very graphic portrayals which will make some people squirm. I found it important and enlightening, a story that needs telling. But it is surely not for the faint of heart. Excellent performances all the way around.... Read more Read less

See it if you like serious political theater that is raw and unflinching.

Don't see it if You are ambivalent about homosexuality or homophobic.

See it if you dare witness lgbt hate crime theme w/ nudity up close in a small theater. The experience is intense & abdorbing - kudos to a great cast!

Don't see it if you dislike lgbt theme, violence, nudity & Russian inspired true events - all of which are essential aspects of this well staged 3-act play.