←Recommendations of panned

Dan West again serves up the kind of crisp, lively dialogue actors salivate over. This time in a play that is so meta, it may just tear a black hole in the fabric of space and time. Perform at your own risk!

I’m certainly not going to risk criticizing this play now that I know some of the murderous scenarios Dan West is capable of concocting. Fortunately, there’s no need for criticism of such an offbeat hilarious take on the creative process. As much fun as this was to read, there’s so much happening in this play that really must be experienced in performance. Stage it if you dare!

A charming, action-packed, metatheatrical romp that's engaging precisely because it's so self-aware! The surprises don't come out of left field - they are telegraphed to the extreme, and yet no less surprising, because, as a reader, you can't quite believe the playwright (the actual playwright, not the character!) will commit to such silliness... and yet!! There are plenty of opportunities for theatrical magic (chainsawing a flat live on stage!?), and this piece truly utilizes the whole theatre!

What a wild ride! Barry, a theater critic, finds himself in more than a pickle as Wayne, a disgruntled and frankly terrible playwright tries to exact revenge for Barry's crushing review of his play. Unraveling like a Marx Brothers comedy, additional characters come and go, mistakenly believing Barry and Wayne are acting out a play (they're certainly " acting out"), and a final revelation clinches the sheer madness of the plot. (A good thing.) The play moves fast and is lots of fun.

I am all in for Wayne and his desire to wreak vengeance on Barry for his scathing review. But oh how Wayne's attempts go comically awry. The humor is boosted exponentially by the arrival of a clueless and self-absorbed family who fail to notice Barry's dire straits. The ever-escalating comedy rises to a surprising reveal and a final witty kicker. This play is such fun that even the title is witty.

The last line had me guffawing! And no, I am not being held at sword point to write this recommendation. This over the top farce about playwrights vs critics just keeps getting bigger and sillier and more brilliant. The audiences will love the visual gags, but the witty dialogue slowly unveils a story so funny, you almost don't see it coming!

This play was hilarious! The premise had me hooked from the start, and the play was everything I expected and more. The escalations, the one-liners, the meta aspect of a play about playwrights and critics, everything about it works so well. I was laughing so hard just reading it, and I could imagine it on a stage. And the twist at the end was incredibly funny and unexpected.

"panned" is a farcical romp that doesn't take itself too seriously, leading to ridiculous acts of physical and verbal comedy that would leave an audience gasping for air between giggles. A fight choreographer would have an absolute field day with this piece! Very fun indeed.

A delightfully dark and self-referential piece, Panned was a fun and farcical read. West weaves physical comedy with dark retribution. An engaging and well-paced piece with a supernatural finish, this play is an entertaining, comical, and gratifying romp.

A highly entertaining comedy with all of the elements of a classic farce. The dynamic between Barry and Wayne is heightened by their hijinks and the tourists are so infuriatingly oblivious that you can't help but laugh. I honestly couldn't stop laughing. It's easy setting makes it a breeze to produce. This is a great addition to any season!