“A series of 20+ vignettes skimming the life and times of notable and troubled French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec..What hinders this production is not the performers themselves, but the cramped performance space that affects lighting, actor movement, and audience sight lines...'Unmaking' is a contemporary example of immersive devised theatre...Although restrained from a space perspective, the Bated Breath troupe is not short on creative ideas.”
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Score: 88% "The Moulin Rouge is a place where Lautrec felt he belonged. Madame X bar and 'Unmaking Toulouse-Lautrec' just might be a place where you belong as well."
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“’Unmaking’ has all the ingredients and passion of something provocative and immersive but I feel your tale needs a larger less confined space and more distinct visuals to flourish. Although hemmed in, your upbringing and your deformity are high kicked out by a much determined cast, and as conceived and directed by Mara Lieberman, the drama creates a thirsty desire to find out more, read more, and understand more.”
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"As with 'Moulin Rouge,'…thrilling from the moment I entered the West Houston bar where it takes place…until a few minutes after it began…a vivid example of site-specific theater...at best inventive, at worst amateurish, and overall a mishmash."
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"This intimate one-act presents the artist and the legendary Moulin Rouge in shadowy high relief and with an aura of weirdness. An all-in cast and crew quicken the proceedings with slinky dances...Standout stagecraft energizes the action...Altogether 'Unmaking Toulouse-Lautrec' is a weird and wonderful little show. It puts those ubiquitous posters in context, and it possesses enough theater magic to entertain people unfamiliar with the artist and his haunts."
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“While some vignettes are stronger than others, the ensemble’s collaborative relationship helps each scene flows seamlessly into the next...Overall, ‘Unmaking Toulouse-Lautrec’ represents both excellence in devised theater-making as well as some good escapist entertainment...May not enlighten audiences, but it does provide enough meaningful moments and quality content to delight both interactive theatergoers and bar-hoppers alike.”
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