Zip Ties

Zip Ties by Benjamin Schwartz is bloody frolic in the vein of Quentin Tarantino and Martin McDonagh, with a dash of Harold Pinter sprinkled on top. And that’s a good thing. The play, running just one hour, unravels with an urgency and tension that’s palpable. A pair of hitmen abduct a man who has just been released from prison; as one hitman finishes tying the victim’s hands with rope (he detests zip ties), the other stares blankly into the audience. It’s a wonderfully uncomfortable opening, and the play only escalates as time passes. The two hitmen repeatedly question their victim (Why are they here? What has he done to warrant their services?), and occasionally take jabs at him (and each other), before being joined by an assortment of char... full review

Schwartz defines dark comedy in this one hour farcical episode of gore and laughs. Not for the squeamish, its surprising you don’t leave covered in stage blood from this intimate theater, which appears to have been built specifically for this seedy motel room setting. That said, the comedy outweighs the terror in bucket loads and the actual violence is hidden from view. The jokes roll effortlessly from one character to another, each offering their own awkwardly sadistic spin to the story whether their character intended to or not. If you like Pulp Fiction with a side of Pinter, this is your dream show. Regardless, buy a ticket, immediately! I’m sure they’ll pick up the laundry bill if you get sprayed...... full review

Benjamin Schwartz brings a Tarantino film to life on the stage - at least that's how it feels! A great noirish tale of mistaken identities (or are they?) and KEY LARGO-esque bad guys holed up in one location, realtime, in a gory and involved mystery. Begging to become a short film, ZIP TIES is a great shift from many theatrical pieces at Fringe to something very cinematic. Great performances and a nice twist! (Pun not necessarily intended...) Check it out!... full review

This show is a powerhouse! Well...power hotel room...power tools? ALL OF THE ABOVE! Great script, cast and direction. This play is like a live action Tarrentino film directed by Simon Pegg. The pace is fast and the dialogue is witty. The actors keep you on the edge of your seat as they epertly navigate the space between danger and humor. The script was obviously well crafted and each character is completely fleshed out. This show never has a dull moment, it keeps the audience member present, because it makes you work to figure what's going to happen next. Smart, well executed theatre. Definitely put this on your Fringe to-do list!... full review

This show is a beast. Its not just a great tip of the hat to its predecessors, it also just fits in right with them. The dvd of Zip Ties would be right between my blu rays of Reservoir Dogs and True Romance. The script is fast paced, but allows the characters to linger at moments. It also has the wit that you'd hope from a one room play, but also has the pop culture corrector in all of us screaming throughout which breaks up the seriousness. And baby, does this thing get serious. And then funny. And then serious. The tone and overall stage picture of this play were the most impressive aspects. From the first image to the last, Zip Ties wants you to think its a Tarantino homage, but the real secret is its entirely its own thing and doesn't ha... full review

Deliciously Dark & SOOOO much fun! With a Tarantino-like flavor, Benjamin Schwartz' dialogue is wonderfully crisp & smart -- brimming with detail. Paired with a strong cast of seedy characters who you never want to run into -- this is a night of theatre you don't want to miss! SEE IT!! ... full review

Benjamin Schwartz's Zip Ties is ambitious. One scene, six actors, working a high intensity crime piece in the spirit of Reservoir Dogs. That's not an easy thing to pull off. His piece is brutal and mean, men at their worst, and has some genuinely cringe-worthy moments. All the elements are there: The wit, the crazy, the everything-goes-wrong. And the cast is great. Everyone is up to speed, steaming through the material with passion and skill, at times it's like watching a verbal street fight. Belligerent and funny, Benjamin Schwartz's dialogue is highlighted throughout and keeps the danger of the piece palpable. More frightening than a psychopath like Otto (with his suitcase full of power tools and cutting devices) is the fact that at any mo... full review

I love comedy and I love blood. This was a fun show! Very Tarantino-esque. Really well produced and executed. Great house music, nice use of light and sound overall, the blood effects were really neat (not for the squeamish), and it was a great use of the space. Seriously! The space seemed to work perfectly for this show, almost like it was built specifically for their show (not common with fringe). Kudos! ... full review

Zip Ties is 50 minutes of hilarious action packed fun. A very well written script, beautifully acted and very funny. All the actors ebmody their characters with such conviction, the audience is sucked into their reality and taken along for the ride. I am seeing it again next week and recommend it to all.... full review

Zip Ties is an homage to Tarantino and done in the Neo Noir style of Reservoir Dogs. This satirical play was fast paced with well-delivered non-stop dialogue. Violence is used to develop the characters personalities, with a well-chosen cast of talented actors. The tension mounts to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is worth a second viewing, as it is as fun as any Tarantino film. I look forward to seeing more from this up and coming playwright, Benjamin Schwartz. ... full review