"The best courtroom dramas are exciting, compelling and intriguing, using the testimony of witnesses and each side's legal strategies to grip us from start to finish. How, then, do we judge "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," a sort of metaphysical courtroom drama in which the Bible's most infamous sinner is given a trial in Purgatory long after he's been consigned to Hell?"
"Slay gleans several notable individual performances. Toner's portrayal of lawyer Cunningham as a spunky, sexy New Yorker is matched by Rutowicz, who uses his tall, thin, angular frame, ponytail and gold chains to augment the exuberant, relentlessly cheerful personality of prosecutor "El Fajita" (the Judge's sarcastic name for him)."
"The consecutive testimonies of St. Peter, St. Matthew, St. Thomas and Simon the Zealot are a highlight, given distinctive traits and credible personas by, respectively, Scott Keister, Jeff Martin, James Bean and José Zazueta. Though her role amounts to a walk-on, Sara Mashayekh's portrayal of Mary Magdalene (called "Mary Mags") is honest and real. Likewise, Daniel Panilla's brief turn as Jesus is in a direct, naturalistic style well suited to Christ's benevolent, compassionate nature."
"Last Days" is ripe to be stolen by the actor best equipped to command our attention. Here, we're given two: Bob Tully, who lends Pontius Pilate a credibly earthy, streetwise demeanor and pointed anti-Semitism, and Mike Martin, whose sardonic Satan (called "Lou" for Lucifer) is played for laughs yet who is terrifyingly perceptive and impressively wily – and who nearly steals the show late in Act Two with a wonderfully written rant.
"... a lighthearted romp through history, religion, philosophy and psychiatry; a serious examination of such themes as fate versus free will; a look at how man's actions fit into the big picture."
- Eric Marchese, OC Register
"Daniel Penilla’s Jesus is a wonderful synthesis of supernatural grace and earthy presence."
- Joel Beers, OC Weekly
"Joseph Tostado... delivers a performance that is both fierce and heartbreaking."
-Joel Beers OC Weekly
"The Last Days of Judas is both hilariously funny and deeply moving. The cast is first rate, the set and lights were beautiful."
- Goldstar Review
"Wonderful attack. The play is quite the beast, however this production displayed it nicely. Good use of the space. Neat little theater. Gonna try to bring some people to see it again before it closes. Powerful ideas, topics, discussions, arguments."
- Goldstar Review