Arden of Faversham

What makes this show such a pleasure to watch is that it shouldn't be this good. I knew that it would be in capable hands, having seen the work of The Porters of Hellsgate Theatre Company before, but in the hands of director and adaptor Gus Krieger, not a moment is wasted on stage. Every character was meticulously crafted and must have received total support and unwavering encouragement in their choices. Huzzah for such great direction by Krieger! ... full review

WHO WROTE THIS? A young Bill Shakespeare hammered in some of his stylish, rhythmic lines, but whoever else penned this cavalcade of mayhem and double-crosses is not known. Regardless of authorship, the Porters of Hellsgate have spun this Elizabethan true crime potboiler into a masterly production. The accomplished cast includes Brittany Pirozzoli's coquettish criminal, Matt Jayson's and Brendan Mulligan's gullible husband and lover, Dana DeRuyck's and Julia Manis's none-too-bright but always too drunk hit men, Bert Emmet's man of many talents and Mara Klein's whining landowner dispossessed on a royal whim. Together with Anusha Shankar and Olivia Schleuter-Corey, they help concoct a dark thriller simmering with venality and greed. Direct... full review

This show was so polished and the stage is filled with wonderful talent! Exceptional performances by: Anusha, Julia and Dana - Especially Alice whose precision and aptitude for the material is evident in a stellar performance as the leading lady.... full review

What a wild show! It truly felt I was plopped into the seventeenth century and I was watching an Elizabethan soap opera. All plot all the time, easy to follow, and riveting to behold!... full review

Fantastic, funny and entertaining!... full review

Hilarious. Incredibly well acted and directed! Shakespeare’s best hidden work.... full review

Sometimes Shakespeare can require the audience to really work to follow the plot. This show is NOT like that. Even watching at 11am on a Sunday, I was able to easily relax into the plot and laugh my way through the numerous escapades. Arden of Faversham is 80 minutes of hijinks, followed by a (somewhat brief) dénouement.... full review

Another fabulously acted and entertaining production from this ambitious company. The play is one of the first true crime thrillers and rarely performed — so catch it now in all its dastardly silliness. ... full review

Excellent lead performances & a great intro to a lesser known Shakespeare play that you'll probably never see again! So see it while you can!... full review

Fantastic cast, a wonderful mix of strong actors who all walk the line between comedy and drama. What an ensemble. And great simple production design, lights, fight choreography, etc. ... full review