The Shoplifters Reviews
LA Weekly- Not Recommended
"...Before too long, this mirroring grows monotonous. When the pairs reshuffle - Dom is paired up with Phyllis to extract a confession - there's a little too much crazy to go around. Otto and Alma have their own meeting of the minds, but their vague philosophical discussion always feels undercooked. A crucial detail of Alma's biography is only hinted at, leaving her motives and the true significance of her actions ambiguous - and making her abrupt romance with Otto feel contrived. The play tries to make a case for the moral gray area involved when needy people take from institutions that can afford to give, but Alma refuses to cop to her crime. In the end, she eludes us as well."
StageHappenings.com- Recommended
"...Director Maria Gobetti has coaxed out grounded, plausible performances in spite of the cock-eyed hijinks. Bailey as Alma and Hofvendahl as Otto make engaging 60-something romantic leads, while Johnson's slow-takes and palpable misery make for some of the funniest moments in the production. All the silliness is set against Elizabeth Hayden-Passero's extraordinary "box"� set, facilitated by Bonnie Baldwin's costumes and illuminated by Carol Doehring's lighting design. David Duarte's quirky sound design rounds out the Victory's diverting production of Shoplifters."
The Tolucan Times- Recommended
"...Billed as a "darkly twisted modern comedy,"� written with MANIACAL MADNESS by Morris Panych and directed with a FAST-PACED FERVER by Maria Gobetti, this is an award-winning, darkly hysterical four character play."
ArtsInLA- Recommended
"...Under Gobetti's precise leadership, her three notable veteran performers are remarkably comfortable with Panych's often hyperbolic rat-a-tat of nonstop humor."
Frontiers- Recommended
"...Director Maria Gobetti parlays the unpretentious piece into a satisfying evening of light entertainment. Design elements (particularly Elizabeth-Hayden Passero's set, Carol Doehring's lighting, and Bonny Baldwin's costumes), add to the pleasures."
NoHoArtsDistrict- Recommended
"...Let's not mess around talking about how great the writing is, (it's brilliant), or the hilarious and poignant performances of the actors, (they are all absolutely fabulous). No, let's get right to the the point and have me tell you that you absolutely HAVE to see this play!"