The Arsonist of Venice

There was a lot about Arsonist to praise, but overall, I think it could be a stronger work with just a few revisions.... full review

Captivating and full of intrigue. Felt like a fly on the wall as the characters open up about their wants, needs and the possible explosion of doom for sharing such emotions.... full review

Blake Shields writes and performs with his whole soul. This is a dark, virulent piece told in the poetic and lyrical way I've come to associate with Shields' voice. The actors left everything they had on stage.... full review

Maybe it's my affinity for the classic American myth of the tortured writer, but I loved this show. It's a molotov cocktail of ego, drug abuse, and mental disorders that's dripping with unresolved tension. I don't know if Kerouac, Steinbeck, or Williams ever wrote about Venice specifically, but it might have looked something like this.... full review

"The Arsonist of Venice" is a hauntingly dramatic piece of theatre that fully indulges in the complex darkness of the human psyche. With each character experiencing a specific and extreme trauma, they cling to various forms of dependence either through drugs, alcohol, or interpersonal relationships. A beautifully dark piece of theatre, and one I found very captivating. ... full review

What an outstanding show with amazing acting and a compelling storyline. I loved it. Great ensemble work. Excellent true play for fringe. You get what you pay for here, it's not something that was just thrown up. You can tell a lot of work went into this amazing play.... full review

A gripping story and amazingly strong performances by the entire cast. ... full review

Every once in a while at Fringe one stumbles upon a bit of greatness like a prospector falling into the mother lode. "The Arsonist of Venice" is just such a treasure. It restores my faith in humanity. Which is odd, because one of its main interests is in the illumination of the darkest parts of ourselves. Hatred and revenge, for example, get their day in the sun. But the play is so brutally unflinching, and so funny at times, that it seduces us into searching our own hearts for that elusive line between good and evil.... full review

This is an ambitious show. So much to be thought about. The story was very dense with emotions and information. I enjoyed the writing and the acting. I love to watch dramas unfold and this did not disappoint. ... full review

The Arsonist of Venice explores our relationship with people, place, and emotions in an action-packed play. The main character, interpreted in a stellar way by Blake Shields, is a deeply troubled pyromaniac novelist that is seeking revenge for a crime committed in the family decades ago. Joe, his adoptive brother, is a down-to-earth, responsible, and emotional history professor that desperately wants to reconnect with his formerly imprisoned brother. Marie, Robertson's Girlfriend, seeks the love and attention she didn't get from her Hollywood parents. The Arsonist of Venice captivates, entertains, and shocks. I recommend it.... full review