Washington Post
- Recommended
"...Name doesn’t ring a bell? Nope, not with me, either. That’s partly why this piquant dish, mounted with considerable aplomb by director Eleanor Holdridge — and dressed to the sensational nines by costume designer Jessica Ford — comes with a side of pleasant discovery. Centlivre, whom history records as a feisty, self-reliant sort (How, really, could she not have been?), was one of the few women writing popular plays in England at the turn of the 18th century, when comic dramatists such as William Congreve (“The Way of the World”) were in vogue."
Examiner
- Recommended
"... The 1705 comedy is almost as timely and witty today as it was when Susanna Centlivre wrote it more than three centuries ago, thanks partly to some polishing by director Eleanor Holdridge, and a clever new prologue and epilogue by playwright David Grimm."
WeLoveDC
- Highly Recommended
"... Out of the all the pieces I’ve seen at Folger over the past year, The Gaming Table currently stands out as the most enjoyable to date. A classic piece that does not bore, a comedy that keeps things light, and an adaptation that does not try to change too much of a play that’s already solid in its original form."
Talkin Broadway
- Recommended
"... Holdridge has brought together these diverse characters, and their skilled portrayers, into a harmonious unit. Ross captivates in her towering hairdo and dress ornamented with animal-print fabric and leather straps (costumes designed by Jessica Ford); she's well matched with Pierce as her foolishly besotted husband, so fascinated by her that he walks into one wall after another. Marcus Kyd plays Lady Reveller's suitor, Lord Worthy, as an overgrown child likely to throw himself onto a chaise and sob when thwarted. Trask is a hoot as a woman who would rather dissect animals than pursue romance. Emily Townley displays poise, and a pneumatic figure, as the maid Alpiew. And Jesneck presents Lady Reveller as a woman who enjoys taking chances—as long as the house always wins."
Washingtonian
- Recommended
"... Holdridge has crafted a smart, funny, and tongue-in-cheek show, but she’s also working with a playwright one hopes we’ll continue to see more of, since Centlivre’s play is a welcome and refreshing alternative to the predictably male-dominated fare we see so often. To misquote Shakespeare, men may fall when there’s no strength in women—which the Folger reminds us of with this gem of a production."
BrightestYoungThings
- Recommended
"...The cast succeeds by either embracing the past or standing outside the material. As the servant Alpiew, Emily Townley takes a supporting character and gives her depth with a steady, world-weary gaze. When the characters/relationships are still confusing at the start, Townley’s terrific asides are critical to keeping the story afloat. Pierce’s Mr. Sago is another stand-out, albeit in a wildly different way. His entrances and exits are terrific moments of physical comedy, as are his go-for-broke broad humor, which make him a classic fool."
CultureMob
- Highly Recommended
"... All bets are on at the Folger Theatre’s production of the 1705 play “The Gaming Table.” This expertly acted, immaculately costumed and inventively staged truffle romps through gambles of romance, wine and cards among four couples."
MD Theatre Guide
- Highly Recommended
"...Folger Theatre presents The Gaming Table - a comedy written by Susanna Centlivre, an 18th Century dramatist who helped blaze a trail for women writers, with modern material added by David Grimm. Director Eleanor Holdridge fittingly works with a design team that is made up of talented women, and together they breathe new life into an old masterpiece, and offer contemporary culture a chance to enjoy it once again."
