King John at Theater On The Run

Washington City Paper - Recommended

"...The child and toys lend a playhouse element to King John, also illustrated by the lawn-chair throne and tennis rackets that substitute for weapons. But Avant Bard isn't kidding around: There's tremendous ambition at the heart of this production, which is worth the trip to Shirlington. Sure, Prewitt could have tailored his vision to more adequately match its surroundings. But that sort of self-restraint wouldn't be very Shakespearean."

DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended

"...King John is famously known as one of Shakespeare's least-performed plays, but there are many reasons to see it. It is a credit to WSC Avant Bard and its Artistic Director, W. Thompson Prewitt, that they are offering us a richly imaginative, amusing, and ultimately moving interpretation. As A.D. Nuttall has said, and Harold Bloom quotes in his book Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human Shakespeare "allow[s] us to see much in human character that was doubtless there already but which we never would have seen had we not read Shakespeare, and seen him well performed." This is a sparkling, original, must-see production."

MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended

"...Noteworthy performances abound. Cardinal Pandulph, as the pope's reverentially diabolical emissary portrayed by Christopher Henley, is exquisitely calculating, manipulative and wicked. Sun King Davis as Austria is fiercely menacing, even after he loses his head. William Hay's Lewis the Dauphin is both regal and comic, with crown teetering on the back of his head. Chuck Young as Chatillion captures well the spirit of a messenger of ill news who might lose his head. Kim Curtis portrays Essex with gaunt elegance. Slice Hicks imbues would-be torturer and executioner Hubert with earnest humanity, despite himself. Connor J. Hogan's Arthur is swishy fun in the play's somewhat comic first half and fatally vulnerable when the play turns dark in the second half."

DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended

They don’t perform Shakespeare’s King John much any more, and that’s a damn shame. When it’s done right – as it is in WSC Avant Bard’s excellent production – it is exciting, provocative, and uproariously funny.