Praise for The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side
Martin Denton, NYTheatre.com
'The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side, written and directed by Derek Ahonen and presented by The Amoralists, is the most exciting theatre I've seen in quite a while; its adventurousness, its fearlessness, and its wide-ranging embrace of a potpourri of important and challenging subjects mark it as something special-the kind of work that makes theatre-going the uniquely vital experience that, at its best, it can be ... a jolt of energy, right when (and where) we need it.'
'The Amoralists probe the important subject of how a person can live in accordance with their ideals in a world where that seems impossible; the debate here is compelling and authentic and smartly not one-sided.'
'The sheer scope of this piece-touching on religion, environmentalism, economics, anarchy, vegetarianism, sexuality, and much more-makes it endlessly admirable, as does its willingness to look at controversial subject matter frankly and uncompromisingly.'
'The production is thoroughly professional, and though the play runs nearly three hours, it never drags and constantly keeps us riveted. The six actors give bold, thoughtful performances.
Sarah Fraunfelder, James Kautz and especially Helena Lee and Pilieci create sympathetic, compelling, three-dimensional characters whom we come to care about and understand.
'The Amoralists are making theatre here that really does have the capacity to lead their audience toward some meaningful social change. This is raw, potent, visceral work ...This is a play that means what it says and says what it means, and is never afraid to put its metaphorical money where its mouth is. How I respect that; and how I look forward to whatever these folks come up with next.'
Jonathan Reuning, United Stage
'The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side is so enjoyable and satisfying to watch it’s particularly tough to review. Over-hyping audience expectations—or worse, hoisting a mantel of “next hot group” onto the The Amoralists (the next hot group)—might do an unintentional disservice to a young theater company who by some miracle of artistic convergence is everything a great theater troupe aught to be: ambitious, purposeful, madly talented and largely unknown (as not ever to covet public approval). ...Think young Steppenwolf.'
Michael D. Jackson, The Off-Off-Broadway Review
Derek Ahonen's fascinating new play, which he has also directed, is a rare creature among the world of Off-Off-Broadway- it is superb.
The show could move as is to a commercial venue and find success. The sensational aspects of nudity and sexual freedom might get people into the theatre, but what they will come away with is an evening full of interesting ideas to ponder.'
'It is a comedy with seriousness at heart and is acted beautifully by the cast of six. ...Kautz is commanding and boyishly playful ...Pilieci walked the line between the dangerous and the comic with believable ferocity ...Fraunfelder created a calming energy to the explosiveness of the men ...Tom Bain drew a conflicted character with clarity while showing comic aplomb with the character's joking nature ...Nick Lawson immediately radiated the opposite of the communal world and while being presented as a stereotypical frat dude, he managed to be universally like that very brother that everyone knows.'
'The play is sexual, noisy, demanding, message-ridden, sweet, loving, and despite its aggressive nature, is actually rather conventional. This is perhaps why it works so well, for the structure is good and the conflict is relevant. If you're in for something substantially entertaining and thought provoking, go see it.'
Jerry Portwood, Backstage
“The Amoralists manage to entertain, educate, and titillate.”
'This is a collective theatre experience, and it all starts as the audience descends into a basement infused with the scent of patchouli and encounters a messy apartment (designed by Pilieci) strewn with liquor bottles and decorated with 1960s rock posters and psychedelic paraphernalia. It would appear to be set during the Summer of Love, until someone answers a cell phone. No, this neo-hippie enclave is located in NYC's present-day Lower East Side, where the foursome manages a vegan restaurant in exchange for free room and board. They're scantily clad, quick to pounce on one another for sex (regardless of gender), and they encourage each other's rages, lovemaking, and vices.'
'The naturalistic style of acting comes easily to the pack: Pilieci is an incredible jumble of manic energy, frightening and fascinating to watch; Kautz is sexy and brooding; Lee personifies pixie innocence; and Fraunfelder unexpectedly grows to become a warm, motherly force.'
Leonard Jacobs, Backstage
“It’s the same rabble-rousing theatricality that fueled the Living Theater, that made Sam Shepard plays, especially the early ones, a theatre of brutality that electrified audiences.”
The New York Times' Arts Briefly, November 23, 2007
Despite the stagehands' strike, there are dozens of theater options available for those willing to venture farther off Broadway. Among them is the Amoralists' production of 'The Pied Pipers of the Lower East Side.'
Jennifer O'Rielly, The Villager
'(The characters) of The Pied Pipers are much to optimistic for our cynical world.'
