by Charles Culbertson

Staunton News Leader, July 29, 2010

"O'Keeffe painted his characters with the broadest brush possible, slapped on a couple of layers of burlesque and trimmed with copious quantities of ham, all toward the end of extolling the triumph of goodness and optimism. "

"...once audiences realize that what they're seeing is a grand send-up from start to finish, it simply becomes a matter of strapping themselves in and enjoying an unruly theatrical roller-coaster ride."

"And with the seriously comedic talents of Sarah Fallon, Rene Thornton Jr., Bob Jones, Jeremiah Davis, Daniel Kennedy, Benjamin Curns, Chris Johnston, Ginna Hoben and Andrea  Kelley in full swing, it's damned nigh impossible to misfire with a play such as Wild Oats."

"Before he goes onstage as Rover, John Harrell must surely hold a séance in which he channels the spirits of everyone who has ever faced the footlights. As he did with the character of Bottom in 2009, Harrell takes every opportunity to mercilessly and uproariously lampoon actors and acting, so much so that when he at one point actually says something serious, another character's line — "Ecod, he's not acting now" — draws a laugh from the audience. It's another brilliant performance from one of the ASC's most valuable players."

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