“Sneakily engaging solo play...A nicely understated Lisa Hodsoll...A big issue is that while Allen brings up several of the events that punctuated the Bush administration...he struggles to connect the private and public spheres. The Bushes are also presented as being pretty much ideology-free, which was not the case...But then deep down 'Laura Bush Killed a Guy' is not a political satire but a romantic comedy about mutual redemption."
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"Although she looks more like a young Cokie Roberts than Laura Bush, Hodsoll eerily conjures the political wife poise and Southern sweetness of the first lady we never really knew...Allen seems to want to say something about the blurry line between fact and fiction, and how lies twist and multiply in the kaleidoscope of the Internet. Unfortunately, it never expresses a particularly clear perspective on that phenomenon...Most damningly, this comedy is just not that funny."
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“Hodsoll is phenomenal as former First Lady Laura Bush in Allen’s kaleidoscopic solo play...For 95 mesmerizing minutes, Hodsoll gives a smashing performance that transcends mere impersonation or campy replication. Looking and sounding like Mrs. Bush, with her twinkling eyes and beaming presence, Hodsoll’s characterization is a dazzling amalgam of comedy, emotion and depth...A stimulating presentation on every level...A fascinating and provocative entertainment.”
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“While not as hard-hitting as it could be, this satire about former First Lady Laura Bush features a hilarious script from Ian Allen and an appealing performance from Lisa Hodsoll...Light on political commentary and analysis...Hodsoll is immensely appealing as Laura Bush...Her performance transcends mere satire or impersonation...As the show goes on, it gains momentum...Offers an opportunity to take a break from our current frustrations and laugh at our political past.”
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“This show is so well written. Hodsoll appears often to be utterly spontaneous and she does deftly improvise a few times in the show because she can — her tool box matches the brilliance of her author’s, especially when responding genuinely to audience reactions in this intimate space — but upon examining the script, I saw that many of the real juicy vulnerable moments I felt penetrate my skin were the result of just damn good writing. You have to see this show.”
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"A fascinating show, with minimalist materials other than the subject's life story...Directed by John Vreeke, this 85-minute one-woman show reveals sides to Mrs Bush that were rarely glimpsed in the media. She is charming yet snarky, likening circa-1993 Hilary Clinton to Benjamin Franklin, admitting to her love of smoking...Whatever your politics, you will learn a lot about our former FLOTUS, and the hardships and triumphs she has faced."
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"Turns out to be something of a stealth enterprise, generating sympathy for a woman who is presented as more complex than the public perception of her. At its best, Ian Allen’s play challenged me to think about my own political perceptions...There is some politics in 'Laura Bush Killed A Guy,' although little of it persuasive...More convincing are Laura’s sometimes poignant and pointed accounts of the toll that public life takes on any expectation of privacy."
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"Keenly written...Under John Vreeke’s astutely understated direction, the uncanny Lisa Hodsoll once again stars...Everything about her and her brilliantly-controlled portrayal screams white privilege...The Klunch’s provocative production of 'Laura Bush Killed a Guy' at The Flea will have you laughing out loud, then shaking your head and gritting your teeth at its mock nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ of the Bush years."
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