“ Here's the thing: if you grew up a nerdy child in America and you lived to tell the tale, then nothing about our present, frightening political moment is the least bit surprising - the impulse towards fascism is just the bullying instinct writ large. Sickles knows this truth in his bones, and he's used it as the foundation of MARIANAS TRENCH - a magnificent melange of science-fiction epic, coming-of-age story, immigrant saga, queer romance, political satire, and possibly (gods I hope not) prophesy. A spectacular achievement. ”

“ A zippy mash-up of Moliere and "The Ethical Slut," Blevins' piece works beautifully not just because of its cleverness - though its plotting and rhyme schemes are clever as hell - but because the play's construction reflects and amplifies its theme. The rules of a farce in rhymed couplets are as strict and byzantine as the rules of a polyamorous unit, after all, but in both cases those rules only barely contain the roiling human passions contained therein. Delightful fun for good, giving, and game actors. ”

“ A deeply affecting and urgent piece of work. Williams is dealing with a number of sensitive topics here - fracking and its environmental cost, yes, but also the realities of raising a child on the autistic spectrum and the ways economics and class complicate our lives - and any one of them could go awry in the wrong hands. But Williams' hands are absolutely the right ones; he balances everything with sure and steady construction, true empathy, and builds to a gut-wrenching (but weirdly hopeful) conclusion. ”

“ A dark and propulsive delight. Blevins is juggling a lot of balls here - science fiction, workplace comedy, political satire, and Talumdic ethical debate - and does so with giddy aplomb. It's hilarious, it's heartbreaking, and it might just make you wish space lasers were real (heavy though their burden may be). ”