Nick Malakhow: This Is Only a Test

A potent and powerful exploration of violence in schools and America, and on the capitalization/commodification of fear and anxiety to further an agenda. Eric Reyes Loo has four richly unique and well-rendered teenage characters who are contrasted perfectly by a rotating carousel of misguided and unfortunate adults. Vacillating between sharp satire, horrifying and lyrical choral reading/staging, and nuanced and complex moments of human connection between these suffering young people, "This Is Only a Test" addresses American gun violence in a truly theatrical and innovative way. Glad to see...

A potent and powerful exploration of violence in schools and America, and on the capitalization/commodification of fear and anxiety to further an agenda. Eric Reyes Loo has four richly unique and well-rendered teenage characters who are contrasted perfectly by a rotating carousel of misguided and unfortunate adults. Vacillating between sharp satire, horrifying and lyrical choral reading/staging, and nuanced and complex moments of human connection between these suffering young people, "This Is Only a Test" addresses American gun violence in a truly theatrical and innovative way. Glad to see this is getting a production in 2021.