Washington Post - Somewhat Recommended
"...And those two bits of jewelry give rise to a farrago of kooky blunders, double takes, madcap chases and slapping matches before the end of this relentlessly lighthearted tale, which is based on a commedia dell'arte scenario from 17th-century Naples. Faction of Fools specializes in commedia, a centuries-old street-theater form, so it's no surprise that the gags and comic speeches in this production, directed by company veteran Toby Mulford, often display a confident aplomb. Still, theatergoers with a limited appetite for frenzied silliness - scrappy fisticuffs, breathless racing about, repeated physical entanglements with bedsheets and so on - may find that, even at a mere 90 intermission-less minutes, this show feels slightly overlong."
Washington City Paper - Somewhat Recommended
"...Too often, however, the gags skew toward the hopelessly corny, resulting in more eye- than aisle-rolling. There's a Borscht Belt sensibility at work that played well to some of the kids in the audience (along with a stale Harry Potter joke), but which mostly induced groans. Too much of the material lacks the tricky illusion of spontaneity, that loose and unrehearsed feeling that comes from hours of tightly controlled rehearsal. When it seemed effortless, the show was clever and funny; when the performers were reaching, it was across a certain very fine line."
Washingtonian - Highly Recommended
"...There's not a whole lot about Faction of Fools Theatre Company's The Lady Becomes Him that's new: We've seen the tangled romantic plotlines, vaguely familiar old world costumes, and slapstick gender swapping mistaken identities in countless sitcoms, movies, and Shakespearean comedies. But that's kind of the idea. A big part of what makes this production so likeable is its gleeful, knowing embrace of those archetypes. And though this kind of material has all been done before, a pitch-perfect jovial energy, impeccable comedic timing, and a fearless and talented cast make the show far from unoriginal."
DC Theater Arts - Highly Recommended
"...But che sarà. When the show was over, I didn't want to leave the little world that Faction had built. And not because it was still raining."
MD Theatre Guide - Highly Recommended
"...Faction of Fools, DC's Commedia dell'Arte company, is back this spring with The Lady Becomes Him, a wild adaptation and expansion of a three-page, 17th century text called Donna Zanni. Using classical technique, mask-work, and improvisation, the company tells a humorous story of forbidden love and mistaken identity. And while the style may be unfamiliar to some theatregoers, the content is accessible, immediate, and fun."
DCTheatreScene - Highly Recommended
Faction of Fools Theatre Company has invented this confection from a 17th centure bare-bones, classic Neapolitian commedia dell’arte scenario. But there’s nothing fustian or academic about this production.
