"This well-performed, thoughtful drama about a family haunted by a tragedy explores the intricacies of intimacy and the difficulty of moving on...Fischer, as Bonnie, is able to connect with the emotional gravity of the character, and it’s impressive...As much as 'Petie' is about this tragic situation, it is about how these people in this particular place deal with this tragic situation, and it opens the work to new avenues of empathy. For a play with this many virtues, that’s a great thing."
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"It sinks under a contrived plot and a mediocre script...With cookie-cutter characterizations and broad, stereotypical references to small-town life, there is little opportunity to empathize with the plight of this family. Nonetheless, there is marvelous acting...Should this cast find material worthy of their abilities, we’ll all be better for it. For now, they are trapped in a boat that fails to sail."
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"A touching, heavy piece about overcoming loss and estrangement...Banta’s organic direction draws us into these characters’ lives with the simple movement of everyday life. Fischer has not written a single superfluous word or action into 'Petie,' which makes the course of the piece clear. The actors deliver a realistic performance with the exception of a few unbelievable moments...A heartrending performance of a complex story that gives life to and is complemented by the theatrical design."
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"The production excels at creating atmosphere, expertly drawing the audience not only into its blue-collar Southern setting but also into its confining domestic space...While many plays that tell the kind of story that Fischer's play does progressively darken an initially light tone, 'Petie' successfully interweaves its funny and dramatic strands throughout...All of these effects are underpinned by a fantastic cast...A gripping, impactful new production."
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