Cat's-Paw Reviews
Broadway World- Recommended
"...Ultimately, the play seems to tell us to "question authority," much the same motto as protestors against the Vietnam War in the late 60s. It has always been, and will always be, something we all need to remember to do as the halcyon days of today's political unrest continue to unfold."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Suspense dramas don't much more edge-of-your-seat nor subject matter more hot-button than William Mastrosimone's 1986 eco-terrorism thriller Cat's Paw, updated by the author in 2011, more relevant than ever in 2017, and the terrific latest from Actors Co-op."
ArtsInLA- Somewhat Recommended
"...Director Stephen Rothman's production struggles to get off the ground until well into its hour-and-45-minute running time. To be fair, the blame can be laid, for the most part, at the feet of the author. Mastrosimone spends more time than needed laying out his backstory and the rationalization for the militants' actions via a repetitious exchange between the group's leader and a female television journalist who has been kidnapped for the purpose of interviewing him."
Will Call- Recommended
"...McHugh brings an imposing, menacing presence to the villainous leader. Beech is touching as a misguided, young idealist, ready to sacrifice herself for the cause. Viscuso is ideally cast as a hostage on the verge of succumbing to the Copenhagen Syndrome and the intense Marlow commands the stage unequivocally, with every move. This is a riveting work, with a headline grabbing subject and somewhat bitter food for thought. Well done!"
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...Playwright William Mastrosimone cleverly peels away the levels of reality to reveal the nature of each of his characters, but all the talk about protecting the environment seems like window-dressing, to lend the play a semblance of political relevance. Ultimately the piece seems like a variation on Mastrosimone's earlier play Extremities, a melodramatic character study of a feisty woman held captive by a charismatic psychopath."