Washington Post
- Somewhat Recommended
"... In Synetic Theater’s new war drama “Home of the Soldier,” the bodies pile up, but unfortunately, so do the cliches. This 90-minute dance-play, about a young man who enlists in the military to save his father — a general who has been captured by an enemy wearing gauzy, free-flowing netting — is a whole album of echoes. As a result, it never reverberates with an identity of its own."
Washington Examiner
- Somewhat Recommended
"...It would be nice if Cunis' script were fleshed out with more opportunities for Tsikurishvili to realize his character. Still, through its unified use of choreography (by Cunis and Irina Tsikurishvili), music and multimedia design, the production is a tremendously affecting testament to the pain, anguish and courage associated with the individual soldier, whether he or she is in the hostile environment of war or has left that place to return to another home."
Talkin Broadway
- Highly Recommended
"... Synetic Theater in Arlington, Virginia, makes a bold move away from its adaptations of classic works with Home of the Soldier,a visceral and fascinating exploration of modern warfare and the displacement soldiers face in an unfamiliar society."
Washington City Paper
- Recommended
"... Much of the projection work is extremely high-tech. Flashes of neon green shift the play from scene to scene, an effect that’s very NCIS, and one that obviously took quite a bit of work. The overall aesthetic seems to mimick games like Call of Duty (or even World of Warcraft), which might make teenage boys Home of the Soldier’s target audience. The climax is exciting, suspenseful, and sweetly moving. It’s only theater fuddy-duddies—you know, folks who value things like internal logic—who’ll leave frustrated."
Washingtonian
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Synetic company member and resident fight choreographer Ben Cunis wrote the script, using interviews with military people as background research. Some of the soldier-to-soldier dialogue has a distinct ring of authenticity, but as the show veers toward its implausibly coincidental climax, Cunis and director Tsikurishvili felt compelled to throw in practically every issue one hears about today relating to the military—post-traumatic stress disorder, roadside bombs, questions pertaining to torture, relations between men and women in the military, Skyping with the folks back home. It’s too much for one play."
ShowBizRadio
- Highly Recommended
"...Home of the Soldier is a breathtaking illustration of how the road to hell is paved with good intentions; or maybe that one man’s insurgent is another man’s freedom fighter…or both. Director Paata Tsikurishvili and writer Ben Cunis have enticed us to endure a fully fleshed no holds barred battle ballet in which there can be no good outcome. Chances are most of us haven’t ever seen anything like this on a stage before. It is breathless and I have no bon mots or drollery this time."
MD Theatre Guide
- Highly Recommended
"...It’s more than a familiar story- young man goes to war for a cause, learns life lessons in the matter of what seems like seconds, and is forever changed. Home of the Soldier, written by Ben Cunis and directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, may not be all that new in terms of general concept, but it is certainly an incredibly different way of telling a story that still needs to be heard as military forces all around the world continue to operate in conflict zones. Production wise, it is also THE production to see in the Washington DC Metro area at the moment."
DCTheatreScene
- Recommended
Home of the Soldier blends dance, tumbling, gymnastics, martial arts into a nearly seamless blend of rapidly unfolding impressions that, collectively, create a compelling narrative about how at least one young soldier is drawn into the military to confront both cosmic and personal demons.
DC Theater Arts
- Highly Recommended
"...A stunning performance of heartfelt emotions and war-torn reality comes to Crystal City in Synetic Theater’s new mesmerizing production of Home of the Soldier. A new play created by Paata Tsikurishvili and Ben Cunis, this heart-breaking, gut-wrenching story is a phenomenon of live theatre that must be seen to be believed. Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, the harrowing life of soldiers in modern warfare takes to the stage in bursts of frenetic chaos and explosive violence that will keep you at the edge of your seat – as the show spirals towards its drastic and profound conclusion."
