←Recommendations of BANSHEE

It is difficult to accomplish what Richter has with BANSHEE. This play spans centuries of family history, the consequences of one ancestor's decisions leading to generations of mystery and trauma inherited by a contemporary descendant who may or may not live to break the cycle... and it's incredibly producible. I saw the world premiere at Reading Theater Project and this odyssey was expertly staged with very much less set and tech than one might expect. Please read this, and stage it again ASAP!

I was truly mesmerized by this wonderful full-length play. In life, we may be haunted by our own actions, but we may also have to endure the ‘inheritance’ of the actions of our ancestors. Are there curses to be overcome, or are these more an unforgivable fate we must endure? ADAM RICHTER brilliantly conjures a tale (or, is it a fable?) of what must be true, no matter what we think, say, or do. “Banshee” is truly a play that needs to be performed. BRAVO!

This is an eerie, thought-provoking, incredibly captivating play! From the dueling-timelines structure to the atmospheric supernatural elements, this piece never slows down and always keeps you guessing and hoping - despite the themes telegraphing where the story would go! I LOVE the clever intersection of mythology, history, and mental health, which always felt cohesive. There's plenty for designers to sink their teeth into, too. Ultimately, this is a stunningly woven, gorgeously haunting play!

I love that Richter has created something that feels ancient and new all at the same time. Irish folklore, inherited memories...banshees...a recipe for a super tale which doesn't disappoint.

I love this one act! It blends folklore and history as it explores the question of how much we are able to shape who we are and what we are destined to be, versus how much the people and events that came before us shape us. Plus it's so wonderfully steeped in its setting - a designer's dream!

What determines our destiny? Social, familial, and religious expectations? Our genetics, generational curses and inherited traumas? Force of will? Or is it as as the Greeks once believed, an inevitable and certain end, regardless of the path we take to get there?

BANSHEE obsesses over this question, circling around it again and again. Richter’s lyrical prose keeps this briskly-paced one act buoyant, even as it delves into darker and darker territory. His vivid characters are matched by a powerful sense of place; designers would be lucky to render this moody supernatural fable.

Deliciously atmospheric and filled with vigor, Richter's one-act is a tale of a would-be, whirlwind romance's encounter with...well, that's for us to decide. A banshee? The wind itself? Simply one another? Whatever the case, all have been enhanced and given life beyond the tales and stereotypes we know. Any fans of folklore or Celtic mythology will find plenty to love here. Brilliantly weaved and brilliantly told.

WHY THE BANSHEE WAILS is a snapshot in time, seen from several points of view. Adam Richter creates a compelling moment and then turns it over and over, and it is exactly those shifts in perspective that draw us in. This play has history, mythology, psychology, and practicality all wrapped up in one.

Definitely check out this eerie play and find out WHY THE BANSHEE WAILS!

This wonderfully atmospheric ghost tale gave me goosebumps! The vast coasts and countryside of Ireland is LOADED with myths and legends and Adam has wonderfully captured one here! Not only is the tense thrill of the piece captured perfectly but its a piece I could happily read more of!

At last a play worth crowing about - WHY THE BANSHEE WAILS has it all - a fascinating, complex yet efficient short play I'd move mountains to see staged. Superb storytelling - from the assured non-linear time manipulation - to the use of sound (ocean cliff setting, the banshee wailing, the perfectly placed Irish folksong) - how the characters seamlessly address the audience and each other, the concluding monologue that counter-balances the opening. Even for the talented Adam Richter, WHY THE BANSHEE WAILS is outstanding work, the kind you write home about.