Review by anonymous
June 25, 2018What I liked
I was unfamiliar with Burden before the show and had no idea what I was walking into, as I’ve been hopping around to different Fringe shows, but after studying Burden afterward, Ben Hethcoat, who plays Chris, portrayed him perfectly. He was a mesmerizing protagonist/antagonist. There was a wonderful supporting cast as well. I enjoyed the opening scene with Brennan Murray and Leah Lamarr, two obviously well-trained and talented actors. Murray, a quirky, interesting and bold actor, and Lamarr, a powerful, versatile and stunning actress, together, had a fascinating chemistry on stage and it was delightful to watch the show as if a Burden performance piece was currently happening. Anthony Rey Perez was underutilized in my opinion. He’s so natural and lively on the stage and gave an effortless performance. I also loved the reenactment of Burden threatening to kill a woman from multiple points of view.
What I didn't like
They need a longer run!
My overall impression
Very impressive piece of theater. I’ve been meaning to write this review for a few days now, but I’m still lost in thought about the show. Billy Ray Brewton, playwright and director of “A Beast/A Burden”, created a true masterpiece. I dove into a Google search fiesta after the show about Chris Burden and his entire life. Billy Ray Brewton depicted Chris as a multilayered man, leaving the audience to decide how we felt about him, while also simultaneously humanizing him, which was a difficult task.
