"...The scenes in the bureaucratic offices are easily the most enjoyable. Tom Hedlund plays the Bureaucrat with delicious indifference, and Stefano Genovese and Maria Riboli have directed with a sympathy that seems to make the madness logical...” Chloe Hughes , offoffonline.com 08/15/2007

“...Credit goes to Genovese and Riboli for not attempting to make this world make sense: they simply allow it to be...” - Chloe Hughes , offoffonline.com 08/15/2007

“...In one of the final scenes, the satisfaction of sticking it to the man is palpable as Ivan, aided by Dermendzjieva (a former bureaucrat played by the superb and captivating Maria Riboli), abandons all reasoned thinking in the face of roundabout bureaucratic logic...” - Chloe Hughes , offoffonline.com 08/15/2007

“...Hedlund and Riboli's performances are worth seeing, especially when combined with the fistful of laughs this production offers..." - Chloe Hughes , offoffonline.com 08/15/2007

"...Stefano Genovese and Maria Riboli do a commendable job of taking a difficult play and giving it a contemporary spin, all the while maintaining the magic and integrity of Stratiev's original...” - Josephine Cashman , NYTheatre.Com 08/12/2007

“...Actor Felipe Bonilla is more than up to undertaking Ivan's Herculean task. His confusion and exasperation evokes both sympathy and laughter as he goes toe to toe with the pompous and dry bureaucrat, masterfully played by Tom Hedlund. Other cast standouts amongst the fine ensemble include Michael Freeland as the Hanging Man and Maria Riboli as the passionately repressed Dermendzjieva, who bravely defies her boss to join Ivan and his friends... "
Josephine Cashman , NYTheatre.Com 08/12/2007


"...Ivan achieves his evolving goals makes for a sublime finish. All the little quirks add up to a charmer of a play.
Felipe Bonilla is at his nerdy best as Ivan, haplessly defending himself to the hilt.
Tom Hedlund is a perfect foil as Bureaucrat, with a supremely droll delivery that evokes laughter.
Jack Wallace is both chummy and chilling as Eugene.
Riboli makes Dermendzjieva's transformation unexpected and fresh, conveying all sides of her story.
...this absurdist yarn on the red-taped rat race keeps the audience absorbed with adventure and wit. Fans of Kafka and Orwell will surely be pleased...." Frank Marzullo, The Ticker 10/01/2007



"...Stefano Genovese, director, and Maria Riboli, executive producer/co-director/actress, have taken a difficult play by Stanislav Stratiev...and made a successful off off Broadway production, made even more poignant by what is currently occurring in the US.The nameless bureaucrat (Tom Hedlund) was a chilling reminder of what happens when government employees are given a little power over the citizenry. Felipe Bonilla (Ivan Antonov) played with verve the exasperated linguist caught in the bureaucratic nightmare, while Maria Riboli was very good as the repressed typist (Dermendzjieva) at the Ministry offices..."
Manos Angelakis, Arts & Antiques 10/10/2007

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