Letter of Love (The Fundamentals of Judo) at Trap Door Theatre

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...Dejected Mom, voiced by Marzena Bukowska, gets her say, while Halie Ecker, another incarnation of Arrabal's mother, this time at her most smothering, tangles suggestively on a mat with Mike Steele, who plays Arrabal. Then we get scenes from the biography of Yves Klein-for instance, Klein declaring that his newest paintings are henceforth "immaterial" yet still for sale-interlarded with quotations from his writings on color and martial arts. A confusing play."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Is Arrabal's text improved by the merger of Klein's? The focus is certainly shifted, since instead of only the mother, we see her son as an equal presence and have a sense of the long-term societal consequences of her compromises. Klein provided Barriere with a fully-formed visual vocabulary to draw from, and that makes an arresting and exhausting experience. This is a production that rewards an audience for having some prior knowledge of art history, but for novices, there's plenty of exciting judo to watch, as well as a twisted psychological drama."

Picture This Post - Highly Recommended

"...Letter of Love is perfect for anyone looking for adventurous new theatre. In particular, this production is a good match for artists of all persuasions who wish to be inspired to create bold new pieces to try to understand the world around them. For most of us, this piece will challenge what you thought theatre should be, and show you all the possibilities it truly has."