more reviews

Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ
and
Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, FL

Paul Kropfl and John Lloyd Young
in The Chosen
photo: Gerry Goodstein, courtesy Paper Mill Playhouse

"Beautifully acted."

"An embarrassment of riches!"
 
"[The] themes of father-son communication, friendship, faith and personal destiny are universal, and this production... explores them with an admirable subtlety."

"...David Ellenstein's sensitive direction [is] combined with five exemplary performances....As Danny, JOHN LLOYD YOUNG beautifully conveys sincerity and dignity.  He captures the boy's thirst for knowledge, and the excitement when encountering a new idea....THE CHOSEN would look better in a more intimate setting.  How about one of those half-dozen Broadway theatres that's looking for a booking?"

"...a moving experience...a strong production..."

"The performances are uniformly excellent, with JOHN LLOYD YOUNG and [Paul] Kropfl beautifully delineating their characters' respective emotional issues..."

"Paul Kropfl and JOHN LLOYD YOUNG have real chemistry as two teenage boys who come...from the opposite sides of the fence....The friendship of the two teenagers, the pain of their quarrels, and joy of their reconciliations are all utterly believable and touching."

"Paper Mill has assembled a top-notch group of actors for this production.  Under David Ellenstein’s careful direction ...JOHN LLOYD YOUNG and Paul Kropfl charm as Danny and Reuven, respectively. YOUNG’s eyes beautifully communicate the pain this boy feels because of his father's seeming indifference.  At odds with the peyes that curl around his ears is the odd twist of a smile that signals the boy’s quick wit and ironic worldview.  Kropfl brings an equal measure of charm to his role.  The actor’s performance contains a certain brash exuberance, which nicely complements YOUNG’s quiet desperation as Danny."

"Director David Ellenstein and his strong cast deliver a graceful, moving production....YOUNG's Danny is (a) study in contrasts: furious with his father yet deeply respectful, fiercely hungry for knowledge of the wider world yet yearning for his father's approval.  His turbulence plays well off [Paul] Kropfl's easy-going charm..."

"Bikel delivers a masterful performance....Happily, the rest of the cast are up to their tasks as well, with JOHN LLOYD YOUNG a standout as (Bikel's) troubled son Danny."

"Aaron Posner's lovely 1999 stage adaptation of Chaim Potok's THE CHOSEN has arrived at Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse in good hands....YOUNG's portrayal of the intense, troubled rabbi's son and Kropfl's assimilated, more easygoing young man are perfect complements. They...hold their moments confidently when in the presence of the dapper [Mitchell] Greenberg and the taciturn [Theodore] Bikel."

"Particularly effective in the two leading roles are JOHN LLOYD YOUNG as Danny and Paul Kropfl as Reuven...there is a natural flow and camaraderie in their scenes together. YOUNG strongly conveys the weight of the heavy burden under which his father has placed him as well as the passion for knowledge which might lift it from him."

"Danny (is) played with careful gentility by JOHN LLOYD YOUNG..."

"An exquisitely balanced ensemble....JOHN LLOYD YOUNG as Danny and Paul Kropfl as Reuven are well matched, bringing both humor and pathos to their portrayals....a provocative and inspiring bit of theater."

"Make the right choice: see THE CHOSEN!"

"If there is a God...Paper Mill will have to rent Giants Stadium to manage the overflow.  I dare even an atheist to sit through this powerful drama and not be moved....The cast is uniformly terrific....Kropfl and YOUNG...work well together, making their unlikely bond seem quite believable."

"JOHN LLOYD YOUNG gives a powerful performance as Danny, handling linguistic and emotional transitions with polished ease."

"I will be watching for both of these young men's names — if real talent still means anything, they will both be seen on many more stages and screens in years to come."

"...never have I seen a play of such resonant beauty and poetic power as THE CHOSEN.”

"JOHN LLOYD YOUNG layers a veneer of gentility over the burgeoning passion boiling within the character, at once creating a palpable internal conflict suited to a young man who needs to please his father while pursuing his own path. And in the play’s latter scenes, when Reb Saunders “talks to Danny” while addressing Reuven, YOUNG’s silent performance is heartbreaking and beautifully played out on his face."

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