Variety’s review calls Pasadena Playhouse’s “The Visit” lively but predictable. Melinda Page Hamilton captivates as Claire, who offers the town one billion in unspecified currency if residents kill her former lover; Jefferson Mays makes Anton compelling.
The reviewer’s main objection is how quickly the townspeople change: after initially rejecting Claire’s offer, they appear to accept murder by the next morning. The critic says the shift leaves little suspense and makes the play’s bleak view of human corruption feel overly self-satisfied.
Director Darko Tresnjak’s staging adds contemporary touches, including sneakers that glow to signal complicity and, later, cameras and video screens. The critic praises the sneaker motif but says some choices are jarring, including an early disco cue. The revival runs through Oct. 4 at Pasadena Playhouse.
