Reviews Divine Intervention
From the 2015 Production, Philadelphia/FringeNY:
Imaginatively conceived, passionately written, and well structured, Mr. Smith’s play dramatizes the clash between the actor and his creation. Fueled by marijuana and cake, the two battle about the future of their life and career while reenacting past events during many compelling flashbacks. It is a shattering behind the scenes of show business.
—Darryl Rielly, theatrescene.net
“…the behind-the-makeup approach is admirably sincere: The show is less interested in reproducing Divine comedy than in chasing Divine revelation.”
—Adam Feldman, Time Out New York
Smith’s play also reminds us to treasure our early Gay Explorers. You’ll enjoy the effortless, 90-minute evening as a straight-up bio and for its sometimes anarchic, filthy mouth fun. I know I did!
—Bob Stewart, nytheatre.com
“We see a man unraveling… The exchanges between the two are guttural and cruel, sad and clichéd, confusing and enlightening. Divine/Glenn is deeply complex… Glenn wants to be respected, admired, and loved—as Glenn. Yet Divine is the reason for the respect, admiration, and love.”
—Shawna Cormier, theasy.com
This piece honors his struggle for legitimacy and his legacy. The concept is genius.
—David Kinnerley, Gay City News
“The electric dialogue of playwright E. Dale Smith [is] undeniable. The show grabs you right away.”
—Hy Bender, hyreviews.com
This is one of the best International Fringe Festival events and even if you don’t recall Divine you will be constantly entertained and touched by this remarkable play.
—Joe Reagan Jr., theatrepizzazz.com
“…a serious and often moving bio drama about the counter-culture icon known as Divine. She feels threatened; he feels trapped. This divided self –-obese or not, transgendered or not–may be a problem that is universal if not so extreme as it is here.”
—Toby Zinman, Philadelphia Inquirer
Despite lots of comic one-liners, a laff riot this is not. They duel with their duality. Together they touch sore points, continually exploring sensitive issues in variations: personal victories, insecurities, and slights endured. Divine has the killer lines. Glenn carries the heart, finesse and pain.
—Kathryn Osenlund, curtainup.com(Philadelphia)
“In short, even if the only thing you know about Divine is the utterly gross film Pink Flamingos, you should see this deliciously dark production.”
—Bryan Buttler, Philadelphia Magazine