“ Dendinger accomplishes something very difficult, which is to make us care about people we, for good reason, despise, while never losing sight of her own moral compass and tipping over into sentimentality. Her satire avoids cheap shots in favor of more grounded, precise observation of contradiction, making the journey into this world as cathartic as it is illuminating. The mix of ancient and contemporary, the tension of an old religion existing in a world of twitter and Death Cab, are all fascinating layers in this story of coming-of-age, spiritual doubt, and group toxicity. ”

“ An exquisitely-written two-hander that goes places you would not expect. It builds such a rich world with its language, and the characters feel like at any point they might burst from their containers. Imaginative, unsettling, and so much fun. ”

“ Macabre and grotesque, wickedly funny and full of imagination. I think about this play a lot, including how it deals with alienation of humans from the natural world and how that, in turn, is profoundly dehumanizing. And it does it in a way that is unique and theatrical, with a healthy amount of wit and spectacle. ”

“ Bruise & Thorn crackles with humor, passion, and confidence. J. Julian Christopher's command of language is so clear in it: the play sings, has rhythm, and puts you directly into the play's world. It's also rich and thoughtful in its politics. Never didactic, never judgmental or heavy-handed, always wildly fun. ”