←Recommendations of Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes

Stunning. This play dances with explores and subverts any preconception you might have about the criminal justice system while having conversations that we desparately need to have about a systemic machinery that whirs day to day and behooves the general public to not think about. In the way that theatre does its best work in prisons and schools, this play brings the place of prison to our velvet-seated refuges in a way that is powerful, thought-provoking, and deeply moving and theatrical.

Such a poignant work of art, a thoughtful commentary on life in prison and the ways which people get dehumanized in the system. Could not put this play down for more than a minute. Amazing!

painfully beautiful.

Franky Gonzalez doesn't just write plays. He writes experiences. The theatrical and immersive nature of this show pulls you in, and once he's got you, Gonzalez doesn't let you go. From the pre-show moments collecting your "visitor pass" and watching guards subdue an "escaping prisoner" to the time-bending transitions between scenes, the theatricality of Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes amplifies the power of this unflinching examination of the U.S. Injustice System and the dehumanizing effects of incarceration. As with so many of his plays, the complexity of family relationships fuel the moments of deepest pain and greatest hope.

Compelling. An experience that begins before you get into your seat and continues when you leave it. An observation and exploration of the oppressive systems put in place, that are presented to us as rehabilitation, but are a disguise for our demise. Franky Gonzalez's "Even Flowers Bloom in Hell, Sometimes" is a beautifully written play with heart, strength, wonder, discovery, and heartbreak, as it takes us on this journey that many lives have gone through, still go through, and that some don't want us to see. A piece that not only motivates change within the system, but within ourselves.

You will feel this play, and feel it again, and again later, when you remember moments, or characters, or phrases. Franky has such a command of theatricality, the play begins to feel almost cinematic in its grasp of the characters and the soft, subtle windows into their worlds and the way he isn't afraid to break from patterns or form. His writing is deeply emotional, visceral, pulpy and pulsing with life, to the point that you feel as trapped and confined as Prisoner. I cannot recommend this play enough.

A tough, beautiful play about the indignities and dehumanization of our prison system, and the ways people find to hold onto their humanity on the inside. It doesn't shy away from some very difficult truths about the reality of life for many Americans, but finds moments of poetry, joy, and love within the prison's concrete walls.

Beautiful and deeply moving play exploring incarceration and the prison system. Theatrical and unflinchingly truthful, this is a play for our time that is also timeless.

A moving story of isolation and the ties that bind as one tries to rise from the darkness. Beautifully done.

What an innovative and thought-provoking piece! Gonzalez uses a variety of theatrical tools to create an immersive experience for the audience which asks big questions and refuses to give the answers. Sure to leave audiences with lots to talk about and hopefully inspire some action as well!