The Witness Room Reviews
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...Taking place within the confines of a witness room in Manhattan Criminal Court, four obdurate NYPD officers who have “done all this before and know what to say” are coached by the Prosecuting Attorney, who is fact-checking their testimony prior to the suspected child molester perp going on trial. She has instructions on what they should say to prove their evidence statements to be true. Everything seems on the up-and-up until it becomes very apparent these men plan to answer the malicious defense attorney’s every question, putting their jobs in jeopardy. The explosive new play The Witness Room by Pedro Antonio Garcia, with electric direction by Bryan Rasmussen, is making its world premiere at The Whitefire Theatre."
LA Splash- Highly Recommended
"...Director Bryan Rasmussen does a brilliant job of keeping up the pace while fleshing out each of the inhabitants in the witness room. He is ably assisted by the talented ensemble of actors, each of whom is so believable that the fourth wall begins to crumble. THE WITNESS ROOM is a compelling and intriguing snapshot of what justice may look like in the real world. But hope remains so long as at least one person is willing to keep questioning – or does it? Kudos to Garcia for writing this powerful and superbly-written tale and to the excellent direction and strong acting chops all around."
Larchmont Buzz- Recommended
"...This is a return to Whitefire by playwright Pedro Antonio Garcia; his Firehouse had a successful run in 2011. His script for The Witness Room captures the moral questions behind policing, but it’s hard to imagine a witness room playing out this way. A particularly intense moment leads to dialogue that sparked unintentional laughter in the audience. Bryan Rasmussen, Whitefire’s owner and artistic director, directs."
Glamgical- Highly Recommended
"...The actors deliver gripping performances that convey the conflicting relationship between good and evil and the urgency to cover the basic necessities of life. Director Brian Rasmussen creates a dynamic staging to marry action and dialogue, keeping the characters on the verge of total collapse. It’s a riveting production with engaging elements of conflict, emotion, and entertainment. Maybe we will have a different perception when we read the phrase “to protect and to serve”."