Like all Gina Femia plays, she demonstrates her unyielding command of space and time within her words. Weaving her narrative through dreamlike poetry, melancholy honesty, and human frailties, she drops us back into reality periodically, and ultimately at the end, leaving us with a optimistic sense of hope. The poetic atmosphere of the play cultivates a tender energy in which to explore trauma and identity.

This play is a FINALIST for the 2020-2021 In-Progress New Play Reading Series at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. It is our pleasure to support REBELS TIL DEATH.

In just five dynamically-rendered characters, Gina Femia both tells a compelling story and provides a nuanced sense of place and time. Azul and Sweetie are excellent "nuclei" for the narrative, but Femia doesn't skimp on the humanity of Shannon, Vinnie, and Ma. Each of those three is as defined as our central protagonists. The theatrical stage pictures suggested, the dreamlike moments, and balance of melancholy atmosphere with human and funny interactions all combine to create a bold and cohesive onstage world. Lastly, I appreciated the tone of hope in this exploration of trauma, identity, and family.