Ryan Knowles - Critical Acclaim

Critical Acclaim

Clifford Johnson III wrote in Back Stage on March 22, 2010, " wisest decision is in the casting of Ryan Knowles. He carries the entire production on his slim shoulders, imbuing with charisma, intelligence, tenderness, and a sense of irony."

Dan Bacalzo wrote on TheatreMania.com on March 21, 2010, "Knowles takes control of the stage... has a dynamic presence and an appropriately seedy charisma. He also has a deep baritone which he utilizes to good effect."

Mark Roberson writes on NYTheatre.com on March 19, 2010, "Ryan Knowles is perfect. Made up as a Jagger-Hedwig hybrid, Knowles moves between his songs and speeches with ease, hitting all the right moments. We are enthalled..with him, and always interested."

Jason Clark writes in Slant Magazine on March 23, 2010, "Playing the titular self-created deity with a cheeky, pervy, party-boy hauteur, not unlike Cabaret's furtive Emcee, the brave, highly attention-catching Ryan Knowles lords over a most unruly evening."

Lauren Wissot writes on TheatreOnline.com on March 22, 2010, "The Mick Jagger-resembling Ryan Knowles a charismatic performer who has both played villains and done time as a Nickelodeon TV show host... is one big, punk rock smackdown answer to sissy hippie 'Hair.'"

Mark Blankenship wrote in Variety on July 18, 2005: "For sheer solo star power, however, no one tops Ryan Knowles as Bottom. The dexterity in his voice is astonishing, gliding from a twitter to wall-shattering thunder. His body contorts into countless postures of clownish arrogance without signs of effort. His fluidity and precision make him captivating to watch, suggesting he has a major career in the making."

The New Yorker proclaimed on July 11, 2005: “Ryan Knowles steals the show with his braying, rubber-limbed portrayal of the vainglorious Bottom. His thundering voice, relentless moue-making, and mammoth charisma are a cartoony cocktail of Jim Carrey and Snagglepuss, with a little speed thrown in.”

Barbara and Scott Siegel wrote Theatermania.com on August 2, 2005: "Ryan Knowles is simply a dynamo of talent as Bottom; a combination of a young Peter O'Toole and Jim Carrey, he can seemingly do anything with his voice and his body... so electric that you know you are catching future star early in career."

Mark Dundas Wood wrote in Back Stage on March 31, 2005: “You’ll have to stop to applaud the gifted Ryan Knowles, perhaps the lankiest actor ever to play the role of Bottom. Knowles has a voice that fairly booms and a face that stretches like Dubble Bubble. He seems to have stepped out of lost footage from cartoonist Tex Avery.”