Reviews

KIRKUS REVIEW OF THE HILL

“Rather than provide an overarching statement on homelessness, [The Hill] lets the author’s experiences speak for themselves—a powerful statement that doesn’t force an agenda. From Juan, a pushover crack addict, to Mr. Lee, who diligently tends to his own shack, the individuals are as unique as they are tragic… the material forms a highly readable firsthand account that is neither overly sentimental nor dismissive. A personal, informative portrayal of a unique New York community.” (See full review here.)

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE HILL… 
(For all reviews see Amazon…)

This is a book – and a story – unlike any you will read. It is a true story… that is at once harrowing and exhilarating, amazing in some moments and absurd in others, and ultimately both tragic and revealing… Seriously, get this book. You won’t read another like it.”

“This book is a revelation about so many things, history, New York City, the plight of the disenfranchised everywhere, but it’s made specific and memorable by the stories of the people of The Hill. Unforgettable and poignant, outrageous and thoughtful, this is a keeper for the ages.”

“This book is about an incredible project…to explore the deep divide in America between the Haves and the Have nots…”the unspeakables” that roam the streets of America.”

“I finished reading the book… it was very moving, I had to cry a lot, especially towards the end… [the book] brings this small chapter of NY history to life beautifully in its whole chaotic and brutal way, and also in its humanity, and as a loving and tender experience.”

ACTING REVIEWS…

“[Goulet] has… assembled a fine group of actors for the piece. Gabriele Schafer nimbly balances Marian’s alternately maternal and coquettish nature… [They play] has more than enough twists and turns to keep the plot exciting.” — StageBuddy

“Marian, played by the lovely Gabriele Schafer, is a powerhouse of raw feeling who made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. She rides Marian’s arc from a desperate woman on the verge of boiling over all the way down to the depths of her own personal hell without skipping a single detail along the way. Watching her play the role of Marian is like watching Michelangelo build a cathedral – one brick at a time.” — kevinfkelleher.com

“Goulet’s… skills as a director are evident throughout, particularly in the performances he has drawn from a solid ensemble of five. Most notably, Pivec and Schafer exhibit a genial chemistry as Adler and Marian that makes them instantly believable as a duo with a decade-long history.” — Theater is Easy

Schafer [is] impressive in the ground [she] must cover, not just emotionally, but in terms of status. I found myself much impressed with the meticulousness of the whole affair: scripts, casting, direction, acting, set design.” — Travalanche

Gabriele Schafer develops two completely different women, each stuck in dysfunctional ideas about mothering.” — Lancing Star

“Schafer is best known as one half of the company Thieves Theatre, which she ran for many years with her husband Nick Fracaro, and was most notorious for a theatre piece they did in the early 90s in which they lived in a teepee at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge for several months. More recently, I saw Schafer play both Hamlet’s father and mother in a Butoh-influenced version of the Shakespeare play (“Q1: The Bad Hamlet” — produced by New World Theatre). The hair-raising performances I saw makes me to think there couldn’t be a better person to do an “erotically transgressive” one-woman show about Oedipus’s mother.”  —  The Villager

Gabriele Schafer is phenomenal as both Gertrude and the Ghost.” — Indie Theater Now