The Rental

A gem of a play! Superbly acted! The complex (two) characters change in the course of their time together (50 minutes, real time) and call each other out on their BS. In doing so they raise many issues relating to class, consent, sex and more. Of the many plays I have seen this year -- this is hands-down my favorite!... full review

Absolutely brilliant! Writing, acting, directing...excellent! I loved every minute of this 50-minute play. Astin and Corvino were amazing! It delivered what it promised. From a shy, uncertain virgin and a caring, knows-her-stuff prostitute, to an angry, virgin-no-more, and a stand-up, right-on, full-on confident, no BS prostitute! Feminine power explodes! It's a significantly powerful, funny at the perfect times, awesome play. ... full review

Astin steals the show! From the moment you walk into the theater, she is in character and embodies an empowered escort. Throughout the show, her stage presence is commanding and she connects to the message of feminism flawlessly. Both actors had great chemistry, but I would watch it again for Ali Astin's performance. ... full review

Playing out in real time, a sexual encounter between two strangers shifts from sharing a moment of tenderness to an examination of personal integrity and sexual politics. This fascinating drama takes a familiar sounding premise and manages to create a thought-provoking, fast-moving hour. I highly recommend this show.... full review

A well-acted deep dive into a call girl's appointment with a 20-something virgin. Both characters are impeccably defined and have clear POVs. The actors are fearless in their portrayals. An interesting snapshot into these two individuals' lives.... full review

The Rental artfully leads the audience through an array of emotions as you get an inside look at the life of elyse. Astin does a beautiful job enveloping the character and can not only utilize but masterfully create different emotions ranging from being vulnerable to disbelief and then outright hatred. ... full review

This is the most honest commentary on modern insecurity and emotion in today’s society embodied by precisely crafted characters. BRILLIANT!... full review

There were some great moments in The Rental. Some interesting turns and choices occurred that I didn't predict, and the play explores an interesting topic. The acting was really good, and the dialogue is well crafted to allow the actors to really dig into their unique perspectives. I would have liked to have seen the stakes being raised and the character's objectives being slightly stronger, but overall this was an enjoyable play. ... full review

Both Astin and Corvino turned in Tony Award-worthy performances as a call girl and her virgin client. The story takes you in one direction and then shifts into an entirely different one, with mind-blowing results. Check out the rest of the review at http://www.lamusiccritic.com/indie_voice_blog/hff18-day-1-see-it-or-skip-it/.... full review

A touching, thought-provoking show about sex and relationships. The two leads give strong performances that require great emotional honesty. ... full review