Liana And Ben Reviews
Los Angeles Times- Somewhat Recommended
"...Where Ruhl's play was a focused deep dive, however, "Liana and Ben" is a sprawling mythical-historical mashup ranging from lucidly on point social commentary to seemingly arbitrary fixation on figures from Greek mythology, Christian theology and the French Revolution. Rubin's narrative gets a bit cavalier in upending its own dramatic tension for the sake of tidy wrap-ups. A key character's sacrifice, for example, is robbed of any real consequence by an ending that plays more like baby boomer wish fulfillment than real life."
Broadway World- Somewhat Recommended
"...Mark Bringelson directs his capable, very committed cast at a quick enough pacing, but without any sympathetic characters to root for, the proficient technical elements take over attention and focus."
ArtsInLA- Somewhat Recommended
"...Whatever went wrong, whatever might be learned from this effort, can hopefully benefit future productions of Rubin's Liana and Ben , a play more than worthy of further exploration. Still, this production is an astonishingly unexpected disappointment. Perhaps a big part of this outcome is the staging, with audience placed on either side of a long, slender playing space dominated by two huge seesaws. It's not difficult to see what an inventive idea this was on the drawing board, but to say it doesn't work in actuality is a major understatement. Even while an audience might appreciate the ingenuity that went into creating the apparatus, it limits the actors' playing space and is also a rickety distraction, particularly when on the move into another position."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...The play attempts to look at life, immortality, truth, and the deeper meaning of existence from all angles. To do this, it embraces many different mythologies and literary inferences, including Faust, the Devil, Hades, Persephone, Alice in Wonderland, Dorian Gray, and the historical figures of Marat and his killer Charlotte Corday. This is a thrilling idea (for example, who wouldn't want to see what happens when Lucifer and Hades meet in the underworld?), but for all the setup the execution is muddled and the stakes are low. Why should we care if the unlikeable and self-obsessed Liana's pact comes to an end if she fails to uphold her side of the bargain? Anything the characters might have contributed to heighten those stakes is painfully missing, as everyone is so flippant and changeable in all things."