Latino Theater Company at
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
The Little King of Norwalk Reviews
The Little King of Norwalk
Latino Theater Company at
The Los Angeles Theatre Center
Thru - Nov 2, 2025
LA Theatrix- Recommended
"...But that doesn’t prevent “The Little King of Norwalk” from being a highly entertaining and though-provoking satire that plugs into theatre as a space for reflection and transformation. Though in real life Norwalk’s homeless shelter ban was rescinded just last month following a State lawsuit, this hilarious play is still a timely comment on the haves and have-nots, those in power and those with the overriding power of heart."
Stage Raw- Somewhat Recommended
"...The Little King of Norwalk is an adaptation of Gogol's The Inspector General and follows a similar satirical story arc. Although Reyes does well at sticking to the beats, recontextualizing the farce to a modern-day struggle (it is based on a very recent real-life scandal when Norwalk banned shelters) requires a level of urgency that is seldom met by the leading characters. Reyes's script is full of razor-sharp one-liners that perfectly bite the line of problematic and witty. While the play is able to provide a good laugh, its weight is rarely depicted in the characters. Soon, the laughs run stale, and Juan's final call for change feels underwhelming and undeserved."
Larchmont Buzz- Recommended
"...The always impressive Latino Theater Company does it again with Little King of Norwalk, developed as part of its Circle of Imaginistas program. Playwright Israel López Reyes brings a deep knowledge of city politics—and human nature—to the stage. It’s funny, moving, and an authentic look at the ways power corrupts—or perhaps attracts the already corrupted."
Nerds Of Color- Highly Recommended
"...Latino Theater Company returns for their fall season with a laugh out loud hit in Israel López Reyes' The Little King of Norwalk, now having its world premiere at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Not only is this play a meaningful tribute to Chicano identity, it is a love letter to the city of Norwalk wrapped up in a hysterically wacky film noir with a touch of magical realism and a nod to Nikolai Gogol's The Inspector General."