REVIEWSFIVE STARS “…a thoughtful, laugh-out-loud story based on one film icon’s descent into reality: hilarious, a little bit heartbreaking and really smart. Like all great comedy, it’s funny because it’s true—and even better because it’s so absurd.” Time Out NY “… a loving tribute to a dazzling character and an unforgiving political commentary.” Backstage “…the wry dialogue, a crafty play on Williams' poetic language, begins to work its manic magic… When Blanche declares, ‘even the kindness of strangers fails me now,’ we share her despair.” Gay City News “Rosenthal, with a mixture of dark humor and pathos, captures well the woman who thinks she's too good to share this fate with so many…” nytheatre.com "Funny and poignant… Deftly directed by Todd Parmley… a humorous yet bitterly sad meditation on the desperate conditions during a national disaster where government relief was inept at best, criminal at worst.” offoffoff.com “Rosenthal and Parmley have a feel for Tennessee Williams cadences and for Blanche, so rather than being just a really funny parody at Blanche’s expense, this show is an homage to Blanche and to Katrina’s victims.” curtainup.com “My favorite fringe show so far this year is Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Its strength is its brilliantly simple premise (why didn't I think of that!) and its funny and smart script that fulfills its premise to the nth degree.” offoffblogway SELECTED PRESSNew York Times – by Anita Gates
“The New York International Fringe Festival began less than a week ago, and already my heart is broken. For schedule-related reasons, I am sorry to be missing… Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire.” NYT UrbanEye (“…a free e-mail newsletter… giving you the best of New York City.”)
“…a rundown of some of the 200 shows [at FringeNYC] that are worth catching, like… Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire.” [Only four shows mentioned.] New York Magazine – by Boris Kachka
"If you're looking for something that encapsulates the Fringe's knack for mashing up tragedy, camp, politics, trannies, and cultural references, try Mark Sam Rosenthal's oneman show Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire." New York Observer – by Meredith Bryan
“…our personal favorite: Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire.” New York Daily News – by Joe Dziemianowicz
“Here's an A to Z guide [to FringeNYC]… B for Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire. Written and performed by Mark Sam Rosenthal. Nice title, Mark.” AM New York – by Matt Windman
“[One of] 12 Shows to Catch at Fringe Festival” New York Sun – by Tom Teodorczuk
“Only at FringeNYC would you find a play entitled Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire, written and performed by Mark Sam Rosenthal…” cityguideny.com – by Griffin Miller
“…that’s what makes so many of the shows irresistible to die-hard fans (one is called Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire, and you can be pretty sure the content matches the title).” broadwayworld.com – by BWW News Desk
“Highlights of FringeNYC 2008 include… Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire.” FEATURED ARTICLESTime Out NY (Feature Article & Picture)Just a Stage? – by Beth Greenfield “Here are six queer highlights that you won’t want to miss…. Writer and performer Mark Sam Rosenthal gives his interpretation in this sure-to-be campy, clever and possibly heart-wrenching blend of politics and over-the-top drama. ‘It’s like he was born to play Blanche,’ says [FringeNYC Artistic Director] Holy.” Back Stage East (Interview, Feature Article, & Picture)Reports from the DIY Fringe – by Leonard Jacobs “Here are eight actors who created their own works for this year’s Fringe… ‘I’ve always fixated on Blanche DuBois—she’s always in my head,’ asserts actor Mark Sam Rosenthal. ‘Oddly, I think my response to tragedy is comedy, so not too long after Katrina, an image popped in my mind: Blanche arriving at the Superdome as an evacuee. For me, it’s a way into the horror.’
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