"Visually, the production offers plenty of diversion...But the wobbly plot doesn’t really go anywhere; it’s more a series of disconnected scenes, featuring characters who aren’t really much more realistically textured than the figures in video games...All the actors have fun with their roles under the direction of Jacob Titus and Mr. Stevens...The play itself, strenuously madcap but with minimal emotional underpinning, didn’t score many points with me."
Read more
"With amazing design but unfocused storytelling, 'The Dudleys!' is a flawed show built on a great premise...The show is at its best when it is featuring the imaginative animated scenes and offering opportunities for the actors to interact with textures and ideas in creative, clever ways...The story is all over the place...Narrative moments appear, as well as more flattened archetypal character threads, but unfortunately, they never really come together to form any coherent whole."
Read more
"'The Dudleys' is unique in execution but lacks a strong, cohesive story to carry the audience on a two-hour journey...The draw of this play is the unique visuals created by the skilled creative team...It was a daring production to say the least. Perhaps it was the lack of connection to the material that caused the audience to not get on board for the ride. When the audience is unsure of whether to clap or not at the intermission break, it’s a warning sign that something isn’t working."
Read more
"There was a disconnect between the gestalt of the show, and the story it was telling, a disconnect that, as impressed as I was by the direction, design, and performances, left me wanting a little bit more...The design of this play, it must be stressed, is quite amazing...It was just a play, albeit one with great projections. And as a play, the script doesn’t live up to the creators' attempt to put an immersive world on stage. "
Read more
"The acting, music, and plot all stood their ground next to the primary-colored landscape, and somewhere gelled perfectly...The play is not perfect. The first act should be 20 minutes shorter. My companion felt that the ending was almost too perfect. But I ate it up like a horse being given a jewel-tone sugar cube...The whole family and ensemble were lovely and engaging in their own ways but the two brothers at the center of the story were the winners of the night for me."
Read more