Cracking Zeus Reviews

Washington Post- Somewhat Recommended

"...To be fair to Hampton, Greek myth is as didactic as Hades. The problem here might simply be the playwright’s sheer repetition of the word “crack,” which gives what could be a spellbinding urban myth the whiff of an anti-drug PSA. “Cracking Zeus” would be an easier Yes were it not so seemingly determined to make us Just Say No."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...Still, the dramatic cogency of Cracking Zeus in performance is reliant in no small measure on Reginald L. Douglas’ astutely humanizing direction of a sometimes grandiose script, grounding it always in recognizable emotion, plus the design team’s realization of the play’s credibly everyday world. Barrett Doyle’s scenic design makes palpable the polished white marble steps leading up to a church front topped by a neon cross, on an urban street, bracketed by graffiti and detritus, a trash can here, sneakers hung from a street lamp there."

MetroWeekly- Somewhat Recommended

"...Douglas’ production realizes Hampton’s fanciful depiction of the crack-ridden ’90s with astute design and details — like the Washington Bullets jersey and FUBU tee on the kids — that also evoke the story’s nods to ancient Greek myth. From the chapel’s marble steps, to the Greek drama-masked figures whose haunting dance interludes signal a descent into a crack high, ancient and modern religion meet on Momma Jo’s corner."

Washington City Paper- Highly Recommended

"...Blending elements of classic Greek storytelling, including a chorus, with modern structure, Hampton has crafted a wholly original work that successfully merges the two worlds. He accomplishes a driving momentum throughout the play’s concise 95-minute run and avoids a detour into the history of crack in favor of a laser focus on story. By doing so, he frees the characters to deliver subtle but clear commentary on addiction, greed, and religion (and the relationship between all three). He writes naturally and distinctively, a talent that allows him to take the bold dramatic risks on which Cracking Zeus relies, and the final product makes for a deeply satisfying, if not altogether perfect, trip to the theater."

MD Theatre Guide- Recommended

"...Let there be no question, “Cracking Zeus” is, flaws aside, compelling. It presents a social ill often ignored in a unique and humanizing light. Our fallibility, strength, and the instincts to do good in each of us drive the plot’s movement. Despite that severe topic it is unafraid to be brash and goofy in equal measures, making an eminently watchable package out of an issue that could fall dour easily."

BroadwayWorld- Highly Recommended

"...Spooky Action Theater’s debut of CRACKING ZEUS unleashes magical realism that blends Greek mythology and the gods of old cast against the backdrop of a crack epidemic that stubbornly persists."