Broadway World - Recommended
"...Marja-Lewis Ryan's fourth original production at The Lounge, entitled BUGABOO & THE SILENT ONE, centers on just such a tale based in the women's block of Henderson County Jail in West Virginia in the present day, centered around two female inmates faced with life in prison. Presented by producer Chris Bender (American Pie, History of Violence, Mulan), Marja-Lewis Ryan's timely new drama is an intimate look at the power of female friendship despite devastating circumstances."
Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...For those who gripe that there aren't enough great roles for women, Ryan has taken it upon herself to make sure that there are. Her timely new drama is presented by producer Chris Bender (American Pie, History of Violence, Mulan), who said, "Since meeting Marja, I haven't missed a play, each brilliantly exploring complex social truths through intimate relationships, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this next chapter." I urge you to check out this intimate look at the power of female friendship despite devastating circumstances."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...Marja-Lewis Ryan puts her own distinctive stamp on Women Behind Bars in the powerful Bugaboo & The Silent One, the playwright-director's fourth and latest World Premiere collaboration with the astonishing Heidi Sulzman."
Will Call - Recommended
"...The three women perform admirably, under the direction of the playwright. Sulzman rattles on for just about seventy-five uninterrupted minutes, in a genuine, Southern hillbilly accent. She may annoy you but she won't bore you. Gardner perfectly personifies what we think a prison guard should look and act like. Compliments to the anonymous Casting Director. Toboni's delivery borders on monotones and she never changes the expression on her pretty face but, perhaps, that is de rigueur for the character she portrays. Award-winning author Marja-Lewis Ryan gives us a unique situation, as we wonder – are these two going to bond or are they destined to remain strangers in spite of their confined quarters? Find out!!"
Stage Raw - Recommended
"...Bugaboo (Bug) is the nickname of a feisty blue-collar woman (Heidi Sulzman) who's incarcerated in the Henderson County, West Virginia jail on a drug charge. She's been alone in her cell for 42 days, which is hard on her because she's a compulsive non-stop talker and has been deprived of an audience. She's responded by talking to herself, God, and the jail guard, Peterson (Michelle Gardner), and playing solo games of tic-tac-toe. Peterson now informs her that she's about to acquire a cell-mate with a violent and tragic past. She also tells Bug that the new woman is suicidal, and Bug should look out for signs of trouble. When the new cellmate (Jacqueline Toboni) arrives, she proves to be silent and totally incommunicative, to the point of catatonia."
Los Angeles Post-Examiner - Recommended
"...To call this a fun show would be a huge mischaracterization even though there is frequent humor coming mainly from the often amusing even funny utterances from Bugaboo. But to say that Bugaboo & the Silent One is powerful and even compelling is a very good fit. I would not recommend it for children under 14 nor to the hyper sensitive. Otherwise you will enjoy pretty much every one of the approximately 75 minutes of the show's run time."
