Los Angeles Times
- Highly Recommended
"...The modern urban setting and lack of onstage action may seem a departure of sorts from McCarthy's usual territory. But with so much at stake in whether White can recognize the unexpected kind of redemption embodied in an unsophisticated reformed criminal, the electrifying dialogue still keeps us on the edge of our seats. What more could you ask for'"
LA Weekly
- Highly Recommended
"... It's a high-stakes intervention where both men state their cases with unbridled passion and eloquence engendering a back-and-forth shift of empathies, and one never gets the sense of an immutable moral center or of merely listening to lectures. McCarthy, who is noted for his sparse dialogue and powerful imagery, exhibits an uncanny ear for ghetto argot, but just as nimbly utilizes the idiom of the academic. When, at the end, White erupts and expresses a weltanschauung of the darkest hue, one is reminded of Nietzsche's remark about staring into the abyss. Complementing Flynn's fine direction are the equally superb performances."
Backstage
- Highly Recommended
"...Smallwood offers a compelling portrait of a man scarred by life's harsh blows who believes he has found a path to spiritual salvation, which he wants to share with others. At times frightening, at others amusing and reassuring, Smallwood's beautifully nuanced characterization is mesmerizing. Bottitta's depiction of White's journey is equally layered and deeply affecting, showing us the character's desperation and despondency, as well as his resignation to what he considers inevitable. These actors command our attention for two uninterrupted hours with their skillfully calibrated interplay and the intelligence they bring to these challenging roles. Flynn's direction is taut and insightful, and he receives first-rate support from his design collaborators (set designer Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, costume designer Lauren Tyler, lighting designer Dan Weingarten, and sound designer Joseph Slawinski), who enhance the unnerving mood with their stark but arresting contributions."
LA Theatre Review
- Recommended
"...Wonderfully acted, The Sunset Limited, is a powerful demonstration of two actor's ability to maintain an audiences attention within a semi-flawed script."
LAist
- Recommended
"...This is the kind of show where a lesser director might have the actors overplay to amp up the conflict, but John Perrin Flynn's direction trusts in the text and his cast and wisely keeps the yelling to a minimum. Initially one might think that McCarthy is writing about race relations, but that's not his true focus-this is a debate between having faith and having none. The play's only failing is that it goes on a bit longer than it should, but this is mitigated by the great quality of the work."
Stage and Cinema
- Highly Recommended
"...Smallwood's portrait of a man of faith is the most beautiful expression of that faith that I have seen since the great Ethel Waters, whose faith informed almost everything she did in a most triumphant way, walked this planet. That White resists Black is a testament to the fury of his despondent vision. And the last image, with help from Dan Weingarten's poetic lighting, will burn into your memory. The Sunset Limited must be experienced."
EyeSpyLA
- Highly Recommended
"...This play's success rests solely on the shoulders of its actors and Smallwood and Bottitta prove their both Atlases in their own right. Both men actively listen to one another, engaging each other in a verbal volley that keeps the audience hanging onto every word. Bottitta infuses his cynicism with a simmering mild-mannered defeat that makes White's last stand against Black that much more effective and memorable."
LA Splash
- Highly Recommended
"...In an age of short attention spans, endless multi-tasking and Googlefied width without depth, it was intensely satisfying to sink into a seat at the Los Angeles premier of The Sunset Limited-a drama presented by Rogue Machine and now playing in Theater Theatre at Pico and La Brea-and have an engaging, focused demanding experience."
StageHappenings.com
- Not Recommended
"...Author Cormac McCarthy has written ten novels, receiving the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for The Road. His novel, No Country for Old Men, was adapted into a film, which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. I could extensively continue listing his literary credits. The point is, however, that The Sunset Limited, his second play, is written with an extremely precarious dramatic format and is, in my opinion, more about artistic daring than imagination."
ReviewPlays.com
- Somewhat Recommended
"...With almost no action in the play, director John Perrin Flynn tries valiantly to infuse life in the story by having the characters move from the kitchen table to a small sofa and back again. He has them scream at the top of their lungs at times and even has Black prepare food and brew coffee on stage. This works well for awhile, but the constant nagging by Black and the continual denials by White begin to wear thin after the first hour."
