REVIEWS

BOSWELL

“A fresh wind has swept in from the Midwest, by way of the 2019 Edinburgh Festival … With characters so witty, sparkling dialogue is all but guaranteed…” – New York Stage Review, November 2022

“...one of the very best plays I have seen recently!” – Arts International, November 2022

“Triumphant … historical eras artistically collide … The level of acting here is exceptionally high.” – Shepherd Express, November 2022

“Little by little she (Joan) realizes that there is great worth in historians. And that’s the crux of the play – that becomes so fascinating … the way Marie Kohler peels away the layers to get to this point is very, very, very skillful…” – Broadway Radio, November 2022

“…an excellent example of history being brought to life and it undoubtedly is a fabulous platform for the talent it showcases.” – The Edit, August 2019 (4 Stars)

“Marie Kohler’s writing is sublime, as are the costumes.” – The Wee Review, August 2019 (4 Stars)

“The action cuts nicely between the two time periods…The script is well-written, with witty dialogue and an energetic pace.” – Bouquets and Brickbats, August 2019 (4 Stars)

“There is an infectious energy and clear commitment to detail in this production: it is very well loved and immaculately researched...and playwright Marie Kohler certainly seems to enjoy the opportunities to draw out elements of bawdiness and humour to lighten the earnest literary tone.” – Broadway Baby, August 2019 (4 Stars)

THE DIG

"Marie Kohler's ambitious new drama THE DIG is teeming with symbolism... The plot turns on a question of what happened during an archaeological excavation in Lebanon in 1968. Like the different strata of artifacts found at ancient sites, THE DIG has many layers... a compelling mystery that Kohler builds quite skillfully..." – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 2009

"The convoluted landscape of the human psyche can be a real challenge to bring to the stage, but Milwaukee playwright Marie Kohler does an admirable job of conveying the complexities of the mind…" – Shepherd Express, January 2009

"…a family mystery that holds the audience's attention until the final curtain... a must-see show that deserves to have a long life after this first production." – Total Theater, January 2009

BOSWELL'S DREAMS

"BOSWELL'S DREAMS has a richness of texture and epic sweep befitting its characters. Kohler writes with a comfort and fluidity that suggests she was a fly on the wall during Boswell's time in London. The play's voice is not only genuine, it thrives in the period, tossing off little jokes and humor with a natural ease." – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 2005

"…encompasses two generations of James Boswell...wrapped into one enlightening and comedic escapade." – OnMilwaukee.com, March 2005

"Kohler certainly makes these historical figures come alive. It makes me want to go right out for a copy of Johnson's dictionary and Boswell's diaries." – Time Out Reviews, March 2005

"Marie Kohler has done it again...One of the best voices in American theater." – Milwaukee Magazine, October 2005

MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS

"…a clear, sure-handed adaptation that stays true to Defoe's story while emphasizing the question of what most influences a person's life - circumstances or free will." – Backstage, The Performing Arts Weekly, Feb/Mar 2000

"Hands down, the surprise of the theatrical season … an expertly written and skillfully staged joint production … Kohler's brilliant structure and use of language combined with a great cast and strong direction, making it a lively, engaging night of theater. With MIDNIGHT, Kohler moves to the forefront of new voices in Milwaukee theater." – Milwaukee Magazine, August 2000

"…the work of a sure-handed and deft writer who succeeds where many better-known dramatists have stumbled - adapting a sprawling, large-canvas novel to the stage… [MIDNIGHT] establishes Milwaukee writer Marie Kohler as a playwright to be taken seriously." – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 2000

"Kohler's work brims with intelligence, solid development, good language and colorful characters." – Shepherd Express Metro, February 2000

COUNTING DAYS

"Worthy of a wide audience" – Backstage, The Performing Arts Weekly, June 1995

"[COUNTING DAYS] is solidly conceived theater. Kohler's writing is as full of well-developed recurring themes as a finely-tuned symphony." – Shepherd Express, May 1995

"COUNTING DAYS deserves productions beyond Milwaukee." – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 1995

"Marie Kohler has written a delicately funny play with a serious foundation and an upbeat ending." – City Edition (Milwaukee), May 1995

A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST

"A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST … is full of stories … It is a time capsule. By drawing from source material ... Marie Kohler creates a sense of harsh challenges people faced ... It is an appreciation of the environment." – WeAreGreenBay.com, July 2019

"Local author Marie Kohler has done a fine job adapting the 1909 classic by Gene Stratton-Porter, which just may have been one of your mother's favorite books when she was a girl … The story is poignant and hopeful without being hokey. Its passionately pro-environmental message makes it very timely." – The Capital Times, October 1993

"The Children's Theatre of Madison has given Kohler's touching adaptation of the popular Gene Stratton-Porter classic a solid production... " – Milwaukee Sentinel, October 1993

"Milwaukee writer/actress Marie Kohler has taken that turn-of-the-century book by Gene Stratton-Porter and brought it to the stage for the first time..." – The State Journal, October 1993

"Marie Kohler's A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST... is a morality tale for children - and their adults" – The Isthmus, October 1993