Early Birds Reviews
Stage and Cinema- Recommended
"...So, plot points in or out of favor here, Schwartz has written solid roles for three women - two of them past 65 - not a small feat anymore, and the play is sweet enough. And the overall look of the piece (John Iacovelli), two deck chairs and a railing guard between the action and the audience, is satisfactory, giving director Elizabeth Swain a free hand in the staging and in her casting. What is slightly missing is the soundscape: while there are seagull noises and wave sounds, it's not always audible, which distracted somewhat."
Stage Scene LA- Highly Recommended
"...Night-and-day-different 70somethings bond aboard ship in Dana Schwartz's Early Birds, a World Premiere comedy as entertaining and charming as it is predictable, and nothing wrong with that."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...Schwartz's script isn't bad, just uneven. Though Gilpin and Taini are strong actors, their characters' emotions occasionally turn on a dime, and it's hard for the performers to justify why the characters are behaving like that in that moment. Logically, the text doesn't hold much water either - captains aren't typically so social and hands-on with guests on a 500-person cruise (indeed, the ship as a whole seems quite under-staffed). Without getting into spoilers, there are other conceptual issues the script presents that don't make much sense."
Theatre Notes- Highly Recommended
"...Drama needs conflict, and in this script it arises over revealed information that begets misunderstandings and a friendship-wrecking clash. Along the way, dramatic moments lead to crisis, climax, and a satisfying denouement."