Los Angeles Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...However, it lacks the impact and elegance of Farmanesh-Bocca's previous collaboration with Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, "Tempest Redux," which transformed Shakespeare's comedy into tragedy with a shocking final visual pivot. In comparison, this is a slow-building re-interpretation, its little jests rounded with a weep."
Broadway World - Highly Recommended
"...But the driving force within this new modern classic is Strong, who represents the latent power percolating within every human being until a lightning bolt moment splits them open and what has been burning inside finally explodes into the light."
LA Splash - Recommended
"...Directed and choreographed by John Farmanesh-Bocca, LYSISTRATA UNBOUND enters completely new territory for this ancient play. Brenda Strong presents a strong portrayal of an early anti-war feminist facing hostility at every turn. The ensemble cast features an amazing assortment of talent (Jo Bateman, Jason Caceres, Laura Covelli, Vito D'Ambrosio, Apollo Dukakis, Laura Emanuel, Sierra Fisk, Aaron Hendry, Steven Jasso, Casey Malone, Sydney A Mason, Dash Pepin, Briana Price, Jones Welsh, and Cynthia Yelle)."
Stage Scene LA - Highly Recommended
"...Drama, dance, and Greek-style tragedy merge in Lysistrata Unbound, playwright Eduardo Machado and director-choreographer John Farmanesh-Bocca's stunning reenvisioning of Aristophanes' 2400-year-old tale of a woman who takes antiwar protests to a decidedly personal level."
Hollywood Progressive - Highly Recommended
"...Lysistrata Unbound is, along with Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage, one of the greatest antiwar plays of all time with a female protagonist. It is an Odyssey Theatre Ensemble production that was first read as part of the Getty Villa Lab Series in 2013. OTE is collaborating with Not Man Apart-Physical Theatre Ensemble on this one-acter that dramatizes once again that, as General Sherman pithily put it, "war is hell." And whether it is at Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Africa or wherever U.S. imperialism decides to clone, bomb, invade next as part of its endless series of conquests, what is war "good for?" As Edwin Starr put it so well: "Absolutely nothing.""
Santa Monica Daily Press - Somewhat Recommended
"...I applaud the effort but think that there is a naivete in such simple suggestions as male ego driving war. Timing wise, the "me-too" movement will find a corollary in "Lysistrata Unbound," but patriarchy and male dominance are as potent today as they were then."
Stage Raw - Somewhat Recommended
"...This time, however, some prominent weaknesses in the spoken aspects of the play distract from its strengths, specifically, but not limited to, Brenda Strong as the title character leading a feminist revolt and Vito D'Ambrosio as her authoritarian male nemesis."
Theatre Notes - Recommended
"...As the character of Lysistrata carries the hope of the world on her shoulders, so Brenda Strong carries the show. Her performance is powerful and passionate. All the other characters are essentially archetypes, which is not to say they are dull. Indeed, this company of players expresses the same level of ardent commitment as Ms. Strong. Their bodies, hearts, and minds are totally in the game. The commitment to social justice and the end of war matches what I saw and participated in back in the day, when theatre groups hit the streets in protest and El Teatro Campesino encouraged farm workers to throw off their chains."
