The War Boys Reviews
DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended
"...The animus being whipped up against "invaders" at our southern border lends Naomi Wallace's 1993 The War Boys an unsettling resonance. Written when she was but 26, the play is about three men in their early twenties, freelance vigilantes, who spend their nights scouting for fugitive "beaners" at the Texas-Mexico border. With nervy theatrical flair, The War Boys takes us into the messed-up dynamics of their macho game playing and ostensible friendship. Under the tight and insightful direction of Matt Ripa, Ally Theatre Company's production is a raw and riveting look at the nexus of manhood, misogyny, and xenophobia."
MetroWeekly- Somewhat Recommended
"...Are they entertaining each other, or explaining themselves to...somebody important? As an exploration of young male conscience, it's the play that leads the audience into the desert, then draws a gun but no conclusions. Director Matt Ripa sets a proper mood, but without lashing these wild boys to a defining rhythm or structure to help focus those meandering monologues. The War Boys' schtick and crude follies gradually grow wearisome, even while their collective company retains a spark of suspense and intrigue."
DCTheatreScene- Recommended
"...This is a play with hard and disturbing language, with scenes describing rape and and violent interactions between the men. The production team has set themselves up to be emotionally available to audiences before and after the production, including a number of talk-back events. The company clearly values the importance of Wallace's play within the context of the times, and have gracefully delivered a worthy story from the U.S. side of the border."