Los Angeles Times - Recommended
"...That "Les Blancs" remains unfinished is just one of the tragedies of Hansberry's premature death, but Rogue Machine's vivid, well-acted production brings her work to life."
LA Weekly - Recommended
"...It opened on Broadway in 1970 with James Earl Jones in the pivotal role of Tshembe Matoseh, a man asked to choose between a peaceful life with his wife and son in London and the responsibility of leading his people in their fight for freedom and against oppression in colonial Africa. Jones must have been wonderful. Happily, the current revival at Rogue Machine, directed by Gregg T. Daniel, is powered by a terrific lead performance from Desean Kevin Terry that goes a long way toward compensating for shortcomings elsewhere."
Edge - Highly Recommended
"...The extraordinary power of Hansberry's dialogue is well-met by the quality of the acting, undoubtedly aided by the crispness of the direction. This 2-hour-plus running time is well used, illustrating the turmoil that the "Dark Continent" suffered in the heady liberating days of the late 1950s-'60s."
LA Splash - Highly Recommended
"...Director Gregg T. Daniel has done a superb job of conveying the multiple, complex dynamics - some on the surface and some far beneath - of this motley group of people who come together in a small, simple mid-twentieth century village setting. From the Protector of White Rights, Major George Rice (Bill Brochtrup) to the obsequious, innocuous Peter (Amir Abdullah) - from the totally assimilated Abioseh Matoseh (Matt Orduna), who had donned the Christian cross and cassock, to his as-good-as invisible brother Eric (Aric Floyd), whose skin suggests a white DNA contribution - all are in for a merry ride in this explosive tale. And each of the actors is clearly up to the task of conveying the ins and outs of this subtle and sometimes terrifying transition."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...Mid-20th-century colonial Africa serves as a metaphor for the then ongoing American civil rights movement in Lorraine Hansberry's rarely produced posthumous epic Les Blancs, a Rogue Machine revival that transcends the play's inherent didacticism to electrifying effect."
On Stage Los Angeles - Highly Recommended
"...This thoughtful and well mounted production deserves an audience. The polemic is transparent. Hansberry's characters hold few surprises, but the work is excellent.. excellent theatre."
Will Call - Recommended
"...We have come to expect great things from Rogue Machine Theatre and they do not disappoint us with LES BLANCS, a powerful piece of theatre, indeed. Lorraine Hansberry, the legendary author A Raisin in the Sun, has written this story decades ago yet, regrettably, it's timely and relevant even today."
Hollywood Progressive - Recommended
"...Les Blancs cannily uses dance to express Negritude, the spirit of African-ness. Shari Gardner, who personifies and proves once again that "Black is beautiful," is the best thing about this Rogue Machine production, reappearing throughout both acts as the embodiment of ethnic memory, pride and culture. Her face painted, Gardner is scantily clad in a halter top and brief skirt that looks like Polynesian tapa (bark cloth), but isn't. This talented dancer is a sight to behold, epitomizing what it means to be young, gifted and Black, performing exaltations and exhortations choreographed by Joyce Guy."
KCRW - Highly Recommended
"...Les Blancs is a play that, were it written by a white playwright, would be considered one of the classics of the 20th century. Don't miss this chance to see it."
Showmag - Recommended
"...Left unfinished at her death, Lorraine Hansberry's play Les Blancs was completed by her husband, Robert Nemiroff, and posthumously produced on Broadway in 1970. Despite a strong cast featuring James Earl Jones, the production was not a success, and the play quickly fell into obscurity. Rogue Machine's riveting new production makes a powerful case that the play has been unjustly neglected."
Stage Raw - Highly Recommended
"...It's kind of amazing that a major play by Lorraine Hansberry is just having its Los Angeles premiere now. Perhaps the tide of criticism that caused the play to close after one month on Broadway in 1970 tainted its reputation in some way, or its need for a 24-member cast scared producers off. Thankfully, Rogue Machine decided to rectify this situation, and its current production is a smart, exciting theatrical event."
Haines His Way - Highly Recommended
"...Hansberry has written a very layered and intriguing play, unfortunately with a bit too much speechifying at times, but the work deserves to be seen. It gives one pause to think what the play could have been had she been able to finish it herself and to think what else she would have created had she lived beyond age 34. Her play has found very sympathetic hands with director Gregg T. Daniel, who has done a masterful job of bringing this rare gem to brilliant life on the MET's stage. The large cast inhabit their roles and vividly convey the vast array of emotions Hansberry has stirred up with her prose. Les Blancs is sure to be one of 2017's most memorable theatrical events."
Peoples World - Highly Recommended
"...For several reasons this is an experience theatergoers should not miss. It is the final work of one of our great American playwrights, who reportedly considered this her most important play. And it is so powerfully staged and acted. Rogue Machine Theatre has given it its full due. This is a rare and memorable experience."
Ticket Holders LA - Highly Recommended
"...Les Blancs is long and gritty and epic, which is surely why it has been so long ignored despite its continuing importance, but Rogue Machine and Daniel have taken it on in its difficult uncut state and, adding a dynamic cast and brilliant production designs, have simply made it the highlight of the season for LA theatre."
