REVIEWS
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
"Melissa Firlit, directing and choreographing “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” she kept freak flags flying and spirits high, but she also delved into her characters who they’re more than people with funny names who dress funny too.
Firlit and her cast at the Princeton Festival maintain the writers’ exuberance while finding the part of several characters that compels them to be part of the “bee” and to succeed in it so ardently.
NealsPaper.com
"Firlit’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee captured all of the emotional back-stories that children bring onto the stage of this annual bee. It dealt with parental support, or lack thereof, methods used to recall spelling, fear of failure, and the need of comfort after things went awry. It made me sympathize with contestants who seem confident and robotic to the public, but below the surface have the same insecurities as everybody else.
Melissa Firlit brilliantly revealed the trials and tribulations of annual spelling bees in this production and, and allowed audiences to see how bittersweet the event can be from a child’s perspective."
PrincetonFound.com
A PICASSO
"And director Firlit’s sense of pacing and tonal shifts were all but invisible.
What began as a rigid symmetrical underground room with one table and two chairs became a fluid space for two superb actors who humanized a “what-might-have-happened” tale."
The Durango Herald
MISTERMAN
"Director Melissa Firlit's vision is a visceral immersion in Thomas's mind. His perception of the world is special, but they ground him as a somewhat relatable guy. "
Broadwayworld.com/Denver
"The play, directed by Melissa Firlit, is a rare opportunity to see a splendid performance by an emerging American actor in a gripping new Irish play."
The Durango Herald
Broadwayworld.com/Denver
"The play, directed by Melissa Firlit, is a rare opportunity to see a splendid performance by an emerging American actor in a gripping new Irish play."
The Durango Herald
A FEW GOOD MEN
"New York Director Melissa Firlit has returned to Pagosa for the task of shaping this complex work into a clear, well-paced and intense performance. The whole production has an underlying feeling of momentum."
The Durango Herald
The Durango Herald
RED
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"This spellbinding work is playing at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts. Directed by Melissa Firlit, the production is intelligent and well-paced with a remarkable set and excellent technical support."
The Durango Herald |
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BUBBA
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"Keeping him focused is Melissa Firlit’s tight direction"
timeout.com "Told through song, narrative and the occasional movement piece, Bubba is beautifully directed by Melissa Firlit." nytheatrenow.com "That is, to some, what life is about: First you sing, then you cry, then you dance, then you laugh, then you sing and dance and laugh and maybe cry some more. Repeat ad infinitum, or ‘til death we all part." tuscaloosanews.com |
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THE RISE FALL OF MILES AND MILO
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"Director Melissa Firlit has all the performers adopt a broad vaudeville style, which at first I had trouble warming up to, but appreciated as the characterizations started to shift in response to what was happening. The staging of the final scene in particular nails the transformations that have occurred, and the audience laughed not just at the jokes being told but also at the recognition of a part of themselves onstage."
nytheatre.com "Director Melissa Firlit aided the play by matching Asselin’s broad humor with a uniformly broad acting style. All of the performers were both engaging and entertaining. The Rise and Fall of Miles and Milo is recommended to anyone who wants to have a good time and a good laugh in the theater." offoffonline.com |
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A NASTY STORY
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"Melissa Firlit's direction is lively, particularly in several inventive dance/movement sequences, including a hilarious demonstration of the six stages of Russian drunkenness."
nytheatre.com "Rarely does one have the good fortune to see a true ensemble cast, working as though lit by the same fire, moving as one complete and complimenting whole. This is really a credit to the smart and solid directing of Melissa Firlit, who was able to capitalize on the strengths of a uniformly strong cast." offoffoff.com |
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THE DEATH OF EVIE AVERY
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"Top-notch directing by Melissa Firlit." nytheatre.com |
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