PRESS REVIEWS- New York 2013
THE NEW YORK TIMES:
" ...a compelling figure...Crutchley rides a wild, sharply edged energy...
by turns funny, caustic and...poetic... it is difficult to be unmoved."
INFINITE BODY: Eva Yaa Asantewaa, NYC:
"..masterful, intense ...an experience you cannot escape"
USHERNONSENSE: Jervelle Frederick, NYC:
"The list of words that could be used to praise Jeremy Crutchley’s one man performance is endless. ... perfect direction... an event to be experienced and not just read about."
NYC SKYLINE: Carole Di Tosti, Ph.D.
"This U.S. Premier and all that Crutchley embodies in the role must be seen and witnessed to be believed.
It is magnificent....devastating...
The message is potent. The production delivers. See it to see The Other."
NEW YORK THEATRE BLOGSPOT: Steve Capra
"...the majestic performance of Jeremy Crutchley. He finds diversity where another actor might find sameness. Geoffrey Hyland has directed subtly...It’s marvelous to see a solo show, the most delicate and vulnerable of all stage forms, made so magical and elegant."
David K O'Hara: (Twitter)
"...The @Sacred_Elephant @LaMaMaETC ...is one powerful, guttural, soulful piece of work. Jeremy Crutchley will floor you."
STRAIGHT UP/ Arts Media & Culture News with 'Tude: Jan Herman
" I haven't seen much theater lately - so much is dull dull dull- but the dramatization... 'Sacred Elephant' has got my attention as nothing has in years."
" ...a compelling figure...Crutchley rides a wild, sharply edged energy...
by turns funny, caustic and...poetic... it is difficult to be unmoved."
INFINITE BODY: Eva Yaa Asantewaa, NYC:
"..masterful, intense ...an experience you cannot escape"
USHERNONSENSE: Jervelle Frederick, NYC:
"The list of words that could be used to praise Jeremy Crutchley’s one man performance is endless. ... perfect direction... an event to be experienced and not just read about."
NYC SKYLINE: Carole Di Tosti, Ph.D.
"This U.S. Premier and all that Crutchley embodies in the role must be seen and witnessed to be believed.
It is magnificent....devastating...
The message is potent. The production delivers. See it to see The Other."
NEW YORK THEATRE BLOGSPOT: Steve Capra
"...the majestic performance of Jeremy Crutchley. He finds diversity where another actor might find sameness. Geoffrey Hyland has directed subtly...It’s marvelous to see a solo show, the most delicate and vulnerable of all stage forms, made so magical and elegant."
David K O'Hara: (Twitter)
"...The @Sacred_Elephant @LaMaMaETC ...is one powerful, guttural, soulful piece of work. Jeremy Crutchley will floor you."
STRAIGHT UP/ Arts Media & Culture News with 'Tude: Jan Herman
" I haven't seen much theater lately - so much is dull dull dull- but the dramatization... 'Sacred Elephant' has got my attention as nothing has in years."
PRESS REVIEWS- Cape Town 2012
THE MAIL & GUARDIAN
“If there’s one thing you do this week..(see) Sacred Elephant”.
48 HOURS
“In … his touching portrayal of The Elephant…The actor somehow manages to exude both serenity and an almost cosmic level of anger at humanity’s darker side…a requiem for Man’s lost moral compass. From the moment he steps onto the stage…Crutchley is utterly captivating”
“…endearing…vulnerable…unhinged… a deeply touching theatregoing experience.”
“Geoffrey Hyland…one of our most imaginative and wildly passionate directors… the result is utterly watchable…You are unlikely to leave 'Sacred Elephant' without having been touched.”
THE ARGUS TONIGHT
“amazing…beautifully expressed…he evokes all things elephant.”
“It’s all in the delivery and with Geoffrey Hyland’s direction Crutchley’s every move becomes laden with meaning, pregnant with the possibility of what it means about ourselves.”
THE CAPE TIMES
“…he seems to invoke the spirit of the animal… Crutchley does more than sketch an elephant, he sculpts the being before your eyes…"
“Crutchley is a consummate performer and while weaving his sobering narrative he bewitches as the shaman and enchants as the fool.”
“…a testament to his theatrical ability that he delivered such a captivating performance…"
“…a deft directorial hand..Hyland’s signature…”
BUSINESS DAY
“…the tall, lean and grey-looking Crutchley… performs Williams’s hauntingly beautiful and highly emotive tale about “nature’s greatest masterpiece” with the kind of grace, passion and power one expects of an elephant.
"...the production...is without theatrical gimmicks"
“…the adaptation relies almost entirely on the text, severe, uncompromising but always lyrical; and Crutchley’s tireless performance to captivate the audience.”
“…it’s Crutchley who breathes life into the interesting, beautifully chosen and arranged words. For 70 minutes, the actor is all pachyderm; shuffling, loping, crouching, reaching, nuzzling and balancing for the circus crowd. He rages, cries and reprimands. But he is also often quiet, teasing and funny. For much of the performance, I found myself leaning forward in my seat, not wanting to miss a word. It’s a flowing piece of narrative and Crutchley doesn’t miss a step..”
“…you’re unlikely to come away from Sacred Elephant without marvelling at actor, writer or director — or all three.”
“If there’s one thing you do this week..(see) Sacred Elephant”.
48 HOURS
“In … his touching portrayal of The Elephant…The actor somehow manages to exude both serenity and an almost cosmic level of anger at humanity’s darker side…a requiem for Man’s lost moral compass. From the moment he steps onto the stage…Crutchley is utterly captivating”
“…endearing…vulnerable…unhinged… a deeply touching theatregoing experience.”
“Geoffrey Hyland…one of our most imaginative and wildly passionate directors… the result is utterly watchable…You are unlikely to leave 'Sacred Elephant' without having been touched.”
THE ARGUS TONIGHT
“amazing…beautifully expressed…he evokes all things elephant.”
“It’s all in the delivery and with Geoffrey Hyland’s direction Crutchley’s every move becomes laden with meaning, pregnant with the possibility of what it means about ourselves.”
THE CAPE TIMES
“…he seems to invoke the spirit of the animal… Crutchley does more than sketch an elephant, he sculpts the being before your eyes…"
“Crutchley is a consummate performer and while weaving his sobering narrative he bewitches as the shaman and enchants as the fool.”
“…a testament to his theatrical ability that he delivered such a captivating performance…"
“…a deft directorial hand..Hyland’s signature…”
BUSINESS DAY
“…the tall, lean and grey-looking Crutchley… performs Williams’s hauntingly beautiful and highly emotive tale about “nature’s greatest masterpiece” with the kind of grace, passion and power one expects of an elephant.
"...the production...is without theatrical gimmicks"
“…the adaptation relies almost entirely on the text, severe, uncompromising but always lyrical; and Crutchley’s tireless performance to captivate the audience.”
“…it’s Crutchley who breathes life into the interesting, beautifully chosen and arranged words. For 70 minutes, the actor is all pachyderm; shuffling, loping, crouching, reaching, nuzzling and balancing for the circus crowd. He rages, cries and reprimands. But he is also often quiet, teasing and funny. For much of the performance, I found myself leaning forward in my seat, not wanting to miss a word. It’s a flowing piece of narrative and Crutchley doesn’t miss a step..”
“…you’re unlikely to come away from Sacred Elephant without marvelling at actor, writer or director — or all three.”
