This pressure cooker of a play, offers intense, provocative criticism on MAGA conservatism and the strident, white religious right that carries it upon their shoulders. The two hours spent in the theatre as this production prods today’s dire and divisive politicking is not always comfortable, but it is captivating and it does set the table for interesting post-viewing conversation. And one of those conversations should be the amount of hard work the Will Arbery script demands of each and every one of the actors on the stage. (DANA GEE – VANCOUVER SUN)
Intelligent, complicated theatre…a strong mounting from Mitch and Murray Productions…offers uniquely challenging perspectives. See it.
(COLIN THOMAS – FRESH SHEET)
John Murphy’s excellent Mitch and Murray production left me shaking my head. In a teeth-gritting way I really enjoyed this production. All the acting is of a very high caliber, and the play—whatever its politics—takes on serious issues in a mostly serious way.
(JERRY WASSERMAN – VANCOUVER PLAYS)
Heroes of the Fourth Turning has a brilliant and thought-provoking script that feels extremely relevant now, despite having been written in 2019. This specific production is filled with mesmerising performances and a surprising number of belly laughs.
(SHERI RADFORD – SHERIRADFORD.COM)
Heroes of the Fourth Turning is a challenging play, both for the actors and the audience. This production turned the challenge into a riveting experience. The arguments, which the actors conveyed with conviction and immense skill, were entirely relevant to the weird and chilling universe we are all watching as it unfolds south of the border. This is the kind of theatre I’ve come to expect from Mitch and Murray productions. I’ve been thinking about this play ever since I was fortunate enough to see it.
(VIRGINIA COOKE – Professor Emeritus, University of The Fraser Valley)
Mitch and Murray’s production of HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING delivered a masterfully directed and acted rendering of a challenging and vitally important play. In both its choice of material and execution of that material in production, Mitch and Murray continues to provide Vancouver audiences with dynamic, contemporary, character-driven theatre of ideas that would hold its own on any stage anywhere. In presenting the best of contemporary realist drama often from the American stage, Mitch and Murray fills a vital niche not occupied by any other company in Vancouver’s theatre ecology.
(TOM SCHOLTE – PhD, Professor / Department of Theatre and Film, Faculty Lead at UBC)
This play in which 5 people talk and argue about faith and politics leads to much discussion about these topics among the play’s attendees. I’m still thinking about it days later. I appreciate Mitch and Murray’s commitment to intellectually challenging—and entertaining—theatre.
(ALICE KLASSEN)
Simply amazing! Go see this show. Superb performances. And a subject matter that is not often seen on the stage. Timely. And thought provoking.
(JANE WESTHEUSER)
Kudos to the team at Mitch and Murray Productions for producing a well-paced, thoughtful, and provocative piece of theatre that has left me thinking deeply about its messaging days after watching it. What an experience, to sit in an audience and have everyone collectively take a breath before the curtain call as they processed what they just witnessed! I can’t wait to see what’s next.
(DANICA KOBIYASHI)
Fantastic show. An important , intelligent and thought provoking production. We talked about it for a long time .I admire Mitch and Murray for the work you are doing.
(DOLORES DRAKE)
Thank you for bringing this incredible production to Vancouver audiences. What a play! Riveting, challenging, and beautifully complex. And what a cast! Incredible, nuanced, inspired performances all around. Thank you to Mitch and Murray Productions for continuing to bring us compelling, unforgettable theatre that speaks urgently to the times we live in. Bravo!
(MICHAEL D SMITH)
Upon leaving the theatre I thought, “now THAT is the why.“ Thank you for a thinky show that had us talking all evening.
(ANDREA HEALD)
Mitch and Murray’s outstanding production of Heroes of the Fourth Turning contained some of the highest quality, riskiest, most embodied performances I have seen on stage. And one of the most intriguing, compelling, and also baffling plays…When the lights went down at the end, my jaw fell and I whispered WTF? I’m so glad we have a company like this in our city doing timely, thought provoking, high quality work.
(SHAUNA JOHANNESEN)
The quality of the performance of Heroes of the Fourth Turning was exceptional and entertaining. The cast engaged the audience from the minute it started till the end. Double thumbs up.
(REISA SCHWARTZMAN)
Thank you for staging this play. Thank you. The excellent cast and relatively simple plot and staging allowed the audience to be really present with the dialogue. The ensemble was riveting.
.It was hard to look away yet almost impossible to watch in places. I guffawed, squirmed a lot, closed my eyes for grief, often felt like cheering. I’d have to say I haven’t been as wrung out and pierced through and uplifted and felt such conflicted compassion as a play goer for ages. It was the kind of play where I wanted to shout STOP to absorb ideas for a few minutes before shouting GO again.
Afterwards I longed for a talkback, yet realized it would be so intense and complex…sort of what we’re living through in real life in the second reign of Felon 47 and tbe Muskrat. (Oh yeah, a sequel would have to include the oligarchs.)
W deep thanks and so much respect for what you create.
(ABEGAEL FISHER-LANG)
A first Class production. The evening flew by. The play itself was defined by crisp rapid-fire dialogue, sharp , often caustic consequences of the schism between conservatives and liberals and more tellingly conservatives and conservatives with religious and (self) righteous overtones shading every encounter. Stunning for Vancouver talented well cast ensemble. Just enough staging to carry the show and not overburden it. We will be on the lookout for this groups’ next production for certain.
(ALVIN WASSERMAN)
I am writing to let you know how much I enjoyed this play. I have never contacted a production company before on any play I have ever seen and I have seen a lot. This play was spectacular in so many ways that I cannot do it justice with my words. The content, the acting had me mesmerized. My friends and I could only say Wow over and over as we left and all through dinner.
(SUSAN SIMONE)
I can spend hours talking about the Heroes Of The Fourth Turning or fill hundreds of pages, but a word that comes to my head instantly is BEST. It is one of the best plays I have seen lately. The set design, sound and performances were awe-inspiring and kept you on the edge of your seat until the end . Aaron and team always manage to bring relevant plays to the community which provoke questions. With the political and economical environment around us the timing to mount this play could not have been better. Looking forward to your next production!
(SIDDARTH SHARMA)
I was utterly captivated. The direction and performances were top notch. Mitch and Murray under Aaron Craven’s consistently brave and exciting programming always delivers a punch and brings smart, polished, thought provoking theatre to our community. BRAVO!
(SARAH RODGERS – Artistic Director, United Players of Vancouver)
We were blown away by the acting, set design and production quality of the show. So thankful to have been able to experience this thought provoking play.
Four days later, Heroes of the Fourth Turning remains in my mind and heart. Yours was a riveting production – strong performances from all the cast – of a piece of theatre that does what I want theatre to do: affect me. Thank you.
(ELAINE SPILOS)
I attended this play last week and was completely blown away. It was well done and the actors were amazing. I had no idea what the play was about and went in without any preconceptions. I could not have been more surprised. The content was profound and the performers delivered the message both thoughtfully and powerfully. Thank you for a very entertaining and thought provoking experience.