"Critic's Pick!...Chen shows an innate understanding of the intimacy of small spaces, and of how the clutter strewn about amounts to an intensely personal ecosystem. Here, Ben’s fuzzy neon pillows and “My Little Pony” throw blankets are paraphernalia that can be quickly hidden, should a judgmental outsider arrive."
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"A timely allegory of identity and belonging, Meyer’s story about a group of lonely outcasts reminds us that acceptance and community can indeed be magical—but sometimes magic can be dark."
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"Brony-bonded and fully invested in cosplay camaraderie, the diverse ensemble of actors in Dutch Kills Theater Company's THE ANTELOPE PARTY at The Wild Project take playwright Eric John Meyer's prescient character-driven dramedy on a wild ride."
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"You've got to admire the skill with which Meyer spins his unlikely premise into a blackly comic psychological thriller that eerily mirrors this country's tribalized state. Chayes hustles us past any implausible plot points, skillfully ratcheting up the tension she goes. The standouts in the cast are Will Dagger as Shawn, a milquetoast who develops increasingly Hitlerian tendencies, and Lindsley Howard as Maggie, whose casual, offhand manner masks an iron will. Quinn Franzen, Edward Mawere, and Caitlin Morris all have their moments, too, but special mention goes to Anna Ishida as a 9/11 truther who mistakes the MLP fans for fellow travelers and lives to regret it."
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Meyer’s darkly comic script is ultimately terrifying, a nod to Orwell and a brilliantly satirical parable which is uncannily prescient in today’s political climate. Director Jess Chayes brings the best out of each of the actors, and finely shapes the delicate arc which begins with laughs and rainbows and descends into fear and suspicion.
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"lthough it sometimes eschews character development in favor of politics, The Antelope Party is thoroughly compelling with strong performances and innovative set design."
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"The hollow rhetoric of safety is a big theme of the play. This isn’t surprising for a generation of adults raised to fear everything from Halloween candy to stranger danger and who now find comfort in playing pony. And I think it is obvious this is what Meyer critiques. These are characters who without ponies or antelopes could relate to and help each other cope in truly magical friendships. I asked an audience member after the play their thoughts. They said they could relate to the polarization in it that reflected our own times. They then made the comment that “all attempts at creating utopia end in dystopia.” I disagree."
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"The Antelope Party is well paced and directed by professional Jess Chayes. The playwright, Eric John Meyer brings the action from farcical to deadly serious in a manner that is internally consistent, and externally frightening. It is another great production by the Dutch Kills Theater Company. The stage of the Wild Project is small, but the intimacy works perfectly in the venue."
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