Villa Thrilla Reviews
Edge- Not Recommended
"...The idea is a curious one and perhaps with some tweaking it might work better in the future. One possible solution is to give a reason for the futuristic version to be happening below the original film. Is there a connection or is it just a concept? For some this might be an experiment that is electric and fun. For others it could be an ADD nightmare of too much going on and no real reason for it to be happening in the first place. There is talent here for sure; it just might need to be reined in."
LA Splash- Somewhat Recommended
"...While the first act was slow and confusing, the second act picked up. It still took some time to get the story straight. The acting was great with Andrew Villarreal being the most outrageous of the crew with Brad Lee Wind being close behind. On a scale of 10, I would give it a 6."
StageHappenings.com- Not Recommended
"...I must say the set was cleverly designed by Madison Rhoades, but a good scenic design and a couple of good performances were not enough to offset the flaws in this production."
ReviewPlays.com- Somewhat Recommended
"...It's a great premise, wonderful set, excellent actors but there is something missing. Maybe it's the timing, perhaps the situation is too convoluted or maybe the dialog is not quite as funny in performance as it was thought to be at the table read."
ArtsInLA- Not Recommended
"...Most of director Gary Lee Reed's cast of 10 (little Indians?) operates in a world of clownish choices with often unintelligible accents and overplayed punch lines-not to mention innumerable dropped cues-ruling the day. Add this to an almost horserace-like pace of certain individual actors' line deliveries, and this play-within-a-play's storyline winds up darn near impossible to follow. The trick to this type of endeavor, be it comic or truly suspenseful, is allowing one's audience the ability to amass and separate clues from red herrings either during the proceedings or as self-revelatory moments of "Ah, ha" after the denouement. This performance was so difficult to decipher at times, it left this critic scratching his head as to when certain actors were playing their true-life characters or their murder mystery alter egos."
On Stage Los Angeles- Somewhat Recommended
"...This is a valiant effort at a silly premise, that with some work might fly through all the available doors a pace. Keeping track of who's who and the thread of the plot is reflective of Agatha Christie (Ten Little Indians is briefly referenced). The fun of farce is the theatricality of it. The mad nuttiness of Noises Off! is missing. The clever use of doubling in Irma Vep is missing, too. With a bit more energy and enunciation by the actors and really using all those doors, it might become a clever romp."
LifeInLA- Recommended
"...The action and dialogue is fast and furious. At times it is a bit hard to understand some of the characters because of their heavy accents and rapid-fire conversations, but overall it is a fast-paced, fun show that will keep you laughing and trying to figure out who did it and why. At intermission, the audience seemed stunned that there was a break since we were all so into the action."