Bye-Bye

Excerpt of my Review for "Bye-Bye" from The Nickel Press: Fast paced and witty, layered with human despair and cruelty, this production skillfully remains entertaining and fun while enlightening the audience to Byberry’s historical shocking events. At points seemingly outlandish, the story is based on actual recorded testimony and verified events from the century-spanning Philadelphia State Hospital. Scenes overlap and multiple acts occur concurrently, creating an engaging use of space on stage. The cast of nine believably plays 37 different characters on stage, each with their distinct quirks and satirical names, such as Representative Porky and Congressman Pinhead. A truly talented cast is necessary to pull off this type of production ... full review

On Sunday June 7, 2015 I saw an original comedy called Bye-Bye written by Kealy DeWitt and produced by Jon Argenziano at the Theatre Asylum. This amusing new work covers a zany account of the Philadelphia State Mental Hospital at Byberry. Superb performances came from a cast of outrageous characters like Pinhead, Slugger, Katerina, Puck, and Dr. Blain. Direction by Robert Omeara made excellent use of the entire stage with multiple acts occurring simultaneously. I would highly recommend seeing this absurdly, hilarious, and ironical presentation. ... full review

A great little piece of conceptual theatre that brought me back to my black box roots. Equal parts odd and charming, funny and terrifying, satirical and sad. The cast seemed to show real investment and the story itself is compelling. A very enjoyable piece!... full review

Fantastically disturbing show. The perverse comedy very well placed to drive home the horror of mental institutions in the US for the better part of the 20th century. The main character's story of the abuse and obscene neglect is moving to say the least, and the many characters that surround her through the years were beautifully portrayed by all the actors involved. Bravo to this group for having the stones to tell a story that even today is an uncomfortable subject for the American people, and very difficult to watch at times. It's difficult to watch because it is so believable. Again, kudos to the cast for wonderful work. ... full review

Strong acting, impactful insight into a dark spot in American history, lots of laughs, and interesting characters, but I'm undecided if I liked it or not. There isn't much story, and it felt more like a collection of character studies than a cohesive play. ... full review

Ear shattering shrieks, a character who rattles off the litany of dates, Shirley Temples, and a woman unfairly committed for decades. The horrors of Bybery were not funny and I was not enlightened. ... full review