March 12, 2008
Barbara Laffan Venice, CA
Stage setting is in-your-face, minimal, and cold. The play does not have a traditional plot or theme, but relies on structure and action to send its message. This is done superbly. The audience is a witness to the relentless depersonalization of the prisoners, thought through by the guards in painstaking detail. I felt anger, sadness, and exhaustion as I experienced their terrible day. There are no heroes or villains: the prison environment itself and the Marine prison rulebook strips both guards and prisoners of humanity, and is the driving force of the play. The actors are excellent, disciplined, with a lot of physical stamina. Emotions are communicated powerfully and accurately. I strongly recommend this play.
March 6, 2008
JK Redondo Beach, CA
Great work by the actors playing the prisoners. Not so the guards who were unconvincing. To make a 2 hour "play" out of this is punishment for the audience and the actors. They could have accomplished the same thing with a short one-act play.
March 5, 2008
Seth Los Angeles, CA
Bravo. Those guys really look like Marines. The production design in this show is very strong. I was entranced.
March 2, 2008
hr westchester, ca
2 hours of yelling and boot stomping. 1/2 of the audience did not return from intermission. i kept hoping it would be good but i left exhausted and wasted my sunday afternoon.
February 28, 2008
bill culver city, ca
This seems to be the forerunner of Stomp shows... it was irritating and unbelievably boring.
February 22, 2008
paula studio city, ca
cruel, brutal, brilliant - an amazing account of how america brain-washes its soldiers with mindless and numbing punishment.
February 11, 2008
Jane Los Angeles, CA
Intense, Moving, brilliantly Directed.
The actors pull you into their experience perfectly.
February 11, 2008
Joseph and Albina Los Angeles, CA
The Brig truly is an experience. There really is no 'story' or conventional plot. It basically shows one day in a military base prison from morning to night. The guards put the prisoners through their paces. It shows the abuse of power and how cruel and inhumane people can be (it can be very intense). It pushes the boundary on the definition of theatre and shows what theatre can be. One of the strongest ensembles we've seen in a long time. Definitely not for everyone. We loved it.
February 8, 2008
Linda E. Playa Del Rey, CA
Quite incredible. Packed a huge emotional whallop.
