“Watching these four talented young men (Raes Calvert, Devin Estes, Mack Gordon and Sean Hewlett) on stage was a pure pleasure; the ferocity, the layering, the willingness to immerse and give themselves over to Director Sean Oliver.”
-Mark Robins, Gay Vancouver
“It is clear that Hardline seeks to establish itself in the industry via none other than blatant display of raw acting talent.
“(. . .) this crew’s commitment to art goes unquestioned. From the harshness of an industry so dependent on withering outside funding, sprouts a flower of entrepreneurial spirit.”
-Eric Thomas, Theatre Review Consortium
“[Twelve Angry Men is] definitely an ensemble piece with each of the actors delivering.
“Juror #3 (played by Sean Oliver) (. . .) brings some of the most tense and emotional moments of the evening.
“Along with this incredible cast, director Genevieve Fleming has worked hard to give us some wonderful visual moments throughout the play.
“That this young company continues to provide the ultimate access to some great theatre with all performances pay-what-you-can (. . .), should mean not an empty seat in the house. But while the price might be right, you will certainly not be short-changed.
“I predicted after Hardline Productions’ last show that this company was destined for great things. Based on Twelve Angry Men, I am confident this prediction is coming true.”
-Mark Robins, Gay Vancouver
| HEPTADEMIC: REDUX |
“…this play sweats out originality and risk, and for anyone considering three years at Studio 58, there is no better showcase for the kind of talent you’ll find there.”
-DAVE DEVEAU, Sad Mag
“Heptademic Redux is a powerful and creative exploration of the limits of sanity, inner vulnerability and the deterioration of boundaries”
“The flexibility of the actors is impressive.”
-Leslie Palleson, Plank Magazine
“Vancouver’s Hardline Productions is at it again. In their self-described mission to produce “theatre that punches you in the face” this talented group has mounted an entertaining and wildly imaginative hour with their 2010 Vancouver International Fringe entry, Heptademic Redux.
“(Heptademic Redux is a) fast-paced hour of clever dialogue, spot-on acting and some great theatricality.
-Mark Robins, Gay Vancouver
“Hardline Productions establishes itself as an indie company well worth watching.”
- Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
“Director Genevieve Fleming brings an almost ballet-like quality to some of the proceedings and the intensity and precision from Calvert and Oliver is unrivalled.”
- Mark Robins “[...] all of this requires virtuosic performers with amazing timing and great articulation. Hardline's cast did not disappoint, with narry a dropped line or missed cue, and with great presence and physicality to back up their delivery. It is a credit to the performers--and to director Genevieve Fleming--that Bill and Frank and the Referee do not remain mere ciphers, and that they convey a range of emotions throughout the tightly paced 50-minute show.
Calvert and Oliver, Hardline's Co-Artistic Directors, along with Fleming and Goebel and much of the crew, are products of Studio 58. Once again we have that venerable institution to thank for gifting to the city another amazing upstart local theatre company.”
- Peter Dickinson, Performance, Place and Politics
“While powerful on their own, the crescendo that was created as the three stories played out together was proof once again that this young company is willing to take risks”
“Another winner for Hardline Productions, I’m pretty sure it will take me a little while to heal from this one.”
- Mark Robins, Gay Vancouver
“Hardline Productions is a modest but bold new company that is proving quite capable of great things. (. . .) There is not only a love of storytelling here - but also a lot of innovation.”
“This young company excels at acting and sharing and the show is by donation so you know they are in it for love.”
- David C. Jones, outtv
“Given the intimacy of the space and the youth and passion of everyone involved with this fledging company, look out for more in-your-face theatre.”
- Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
“Under Raes Calvert’s direction, the evening includes movement passages that look like a kind of Apache dancing for the two men; Gui Fontanezzi (Rodrigo) and especially Sean Harris Oliver (Jacob) execute the choreography with athletic
precision.”
- Colin Thomas, The Straight
“The torture scenes are gripping (. . .) they are evocative enough to be highly disturbing. The intimate venue makes the audience immediate spectators.
[T]he 55-minute production pass(ed) in a flash. (. . .) The experience of the play is so absorbing that minor quibbles are forgotten.
This is the third Hardline Theatre production that I have seen, and all have been thought-provoking, intensely well-acted, and absolutely worth the time to see.”
- Lois Patterson, hummingbird604.com