The Last Vig Reviews
LA Weekly- Somewhat Recommended
"...Writer-director David Varriale capitalizes on our fascination with them in The Last Vig, a character-driven dramedy that features seasoned actor Burt Young as an aging mob boss beset with family problems, diminishing revenues and a shrinking sphere of influence. The script isn't wildly original, but its colorful dialogue and eccentric characters promise an entertaining evening. That never evolves, however, for a couple of reasons, mainly Young's failure to establish a strong stage presence, despite his endearing persona."
Stage Scene LA- Somewhat Recommended
"...At the very least, The Last Vig features as fine an intimate production design as you'll see anywhere in town-Joel Daavid's deliciously dingy back room set (kudos to properties designer Phi Tran for the years of clutter), Kelley Finn's evocative lighting, Mylette Nora's spot-on costumes, and sound designer Will Mahood's layered mix of effects and Jeff Babko's original music. (The passing train sequences deserve a particular round of applause.)"
Gia on the Move- Somewhat Recommended
"...But although, moments may be telling and characters revealing, in and of themselves they do not paint an entire picture or tell a whole story or even a good one sometimes. And that is what's kinda, sorta missing in this new production at the Zephyr Theatre about an aging mob boss trying to stay in the game."
Stage Raw- Not Recommended
"...It doesn't help that the plot itself is alternatingly banal and incomprehensible. The characters' actions don't make sense, and neither does the timeline of the show. None of the characters is sympathetic, which makes it hard to be vested in anyone's success. Li is probably the most likable character, but he's barely in the show, and doesn't play a significant role. Gareth Williams' Jimmy D is surprisingly endearing, but it's hard to root for a man who has admitted to being a terrible person personally (he spends a few minutes in the second act talking about his many former mistresses), and has obviously done some wretched things professionally. None of the other characters (including Rose Marie) is even remotely winning."