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Reviews
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Reviews
"Teddi
Yaeger’s superb adaptation of Howard Buten’s book – about a boy
thrown into a mental institution for what he did to a classmate –
creates the perfect mix of horror, humor, and insight.
Director Susanna Wilson elegantly weaves the action across the
stage, bleeding a tight-knit cast in and out of deftly drawn scenes and
characters, topped off by Brian Culver’s Burt.
Culver draws you in as he repels you, just as creepy as he is
endearing in his attempts to deal with being suddenly thrust from a
child’s imagination out into the much less simple adult world. "...a smart, unsentimental look at childhood and alienation as seen through the eyes of the title character. The story, told through a series of flashbacks, is touching, insightful, and at times downright horrifying, as Burt collides again and again with a world of adults who mean well but almost always do more harm than good. Brian Culver manages to make Burt both creepy and sympathetic, bringing the eight-year-old's voice to life under the able direction of Susanna Wilson. The denouement, after two hours of build-up, is somewhat anticlimatic, but that's faint criticism for this competent treatment of a difficult and often disturbing story." -Seattle Weekly, Pick, Theatre Babylon Production “I
don’t know if there’s anything more interesting than watching (stories
with) smart kids who are truly imaginative.
Burt is completely engaging, upsetting, touching, moving –
and ultimately very funny.” "One of the best shows from the past Fringe Festival." - The Stranger, Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival "Making us care about characters is a writer's main job. Playwright Teddi Yaeger (and novelist Howard Buten, whose story Yaeger has adapted for the stage) accomplish that." '...a sort of a tot version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "The Catcher in the Rye" or "Good Will Hunting."' - Seattle P-I, Theatre Babylon Production "Teddi Yaeger's adaptation of Howard Buten's lost American novel (and blockbuster-in-translation in Europe) is soaked in the kind of resonant detail that makes hit plays." "...if you can't feel for at least one of Burt's excruciating traumas by play's end, I want to kick your ass." - The Stranger, Theatre Babylon Production “…one
of the most outstanding pieces of theatre I've seen in a Festival, on the
Fringe or anywhere else for that matter…this work deserves an extension,
and venues should be clamoring to get it onto their schedules.” “The
play (is) very touching, and (Ms. Yaeger is) an extremely talented
writer.”
"This show doesn't get old, and it keeps improving...it is like seeing old friends performing a choral piece that one has grown to love. This show got lots of praise at this year's Fringe Festival; the present version is even better." (Joe Boling, 3-time audience member & reviewer) "Institutionalized
in the Children’s Trust Residence Center, adult actor Brian Culver’s
eight-year-old Burt Rembrandt takes us through flashback scenes of a
childhood full of adventurous fantasy, innocent discovery, and disturbing
fears, leading up to a mysterious “accident” with classmate Jessica.
The supporting cast very capably drifts in and out of adult and child
characters, through scenes that in moments move from wonderful humor to
tragic heartbreak. Taking great advantage of a minimalist set with
creative blocking and staging, we peer into Burt’s life at home, at
school, and at the institution in which he’s placed. Mr. Culver shows
great care in bringing us a Burt full of frustration and confusion in
trying to figure out which are the “right” impulses to act upon, in a
world where adult guidance is often clumsy at best. Don’t be surprised
if Burt is a strong competitor for “Favorite Play” at this
year’s Fringe." "The best ensemble acting I've seen in the festival." - Rebecca Brown, The Stranger, Seattle Fringe Theatre Festival
"This
is a must-see for the fringe. The cast is superb and the direction lends
itself to subtle humor and unique concepts. I plan on seeing it again and
bringing as many people along to share in the experience." "...Burt
is the first Fringe play that, after leaving, I thought "I need to
take other people to see this!".
Usually we're planning what the next play we want to see will be,
no matter how good the play we saw was. Burt, though, was better
than that. I want - need - to see it again, and bring people so we can
talk about it afterwards. I could barely drive home after the
performance... "life is a journey, not a destination" ...
and so is this play.
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