The Lathe of Heaven - Reviews

“A striking theater piece, optimally staged...Upstage right, a stalwart singer (John Gallop III) has been delivers, in pure, strong tones, the haunting plainsong of Henry Akona's score, accompanied by piano and cello...beautifully delivered here, by means of enchantment, rather than didacticism.”

Sandy MacDonald
Read the full review at TheaterMania

“All four actors turn in crackling performances. As Orr, Robert Honeywell finds the anguished human being trapped inside an extraordinary hero. Carolin Samaan's Heather is a person first and a love interest second. As Dr. Haber, Eric Oleson gives us both a ruthless mad scientist and a genuine seeker of truth. John Gallop's sweet-natured, shambling alien is irresistible...Jane Stein's bare set provides a lot of open space for the actors to fill with human presence, a must for a show in which projections are omnipresent. Fortunately, Kate Freer and David Tennent provide flowing, poetic video that serves the plot and eschews flashiness for its own sake..”

Clifford Lee Johnson III

Read the full review at Backstage

“For the third time Edward Einhorn and company have demonstrated that great science fiction can make great theater.”

Jim Freund

WBAI radio

“Einhorn’s play captures the essential elements of Le Guin’s book...adding and subtracting where needed, adapting it in a true sense, fitting it to the specific situation of 3LD Art and Tech Center with music and video.”

Read the full review at New York Review of Science Fiction

“The dialogue that Einhorn utilizes follows a precise arc of passion that certainly draws you into the characters’ dilemma. His direction is sleek and seamless. His vision of a crumbling dystopia is brilliantly reinforced by eye-popping, floor-to-ceiling video projections designed by Kate Freer. This is the perfect way to show a world of dreams! Henry Akona composes a delightfully gloomy score for just a cello and a piano. Cellist Michael Midlarsky and pianist Melissa Elledge play with warmth and impact that mirrors the action. Singer John Gallop III’s voice soars into play with lyrics inspired by the Tao Te Ching. The music is incredible!


Equally incredible is the cast. The always rousing Robert Honeywell plays Orr. Honeywell crashes into this role, beginning as a neurotic nut job and slowly becoming more resolved and confident. Eric Oleson plays Dr. Haber much more static and unchanging in his convictions even as he sees the world falling apart. Caroline Samaan is Heather Le Lache. Samaan delivers a commanding performance of a woman trying to find balance between nature and technology, race and culture, peace and conflict. Her monologue at the end of Act One is compelling and sends us baited into intermission.

The Lathe of Heaven is yet another jewel in Einhorn’s crown of sci-fi adaptations. It is well conceived and the acting, music, video and script come together to create high production value. I highly recommend checking this one out. The concepts are thought-provoking and may cause you to think about the reality you occupy in a different way.”

Richard Hinjosa

Read the full review at nytheatre.com