"Documentary detail is blended with theatricality in Filloux’s heartbreaking drama...Strum is towering and shattering as Mary. Strum mines all of the character’s pathos and humor with her charismatic performance that is the play’s centerpiece...Life behind bars has long been a dramatic staple and the inspiring 'whatdoesfreemean?' trods this familiar territory with fierce emotion and presentational verve."
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“Gut-wrenching theater...rooted in several years of research...In a tour de force performance, Strum fully inhabits Mary’s psyche. With wide eyes that refuse to turn away from life’s pain, Strum’s Mary is emotionally and physically complex, vulnerable and brimming with truth. Filloux’s anguished and at times poetic dialogue flows effortlessly in Strum’s interpretation...Superb and versatile six-member cast...who plays several roles with chameleon-like skill.”
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"The piece beautifully dissects a complex character whose criminality and morality should not be viewed as simply black and white and puts the effectiveness, as well as the inhumanity of our prison system under scrutiny...Though Filloux has written a sincere, provocative piece, I was at times distracted by its frequent tonal shifts, from realistic to absurd, from satirical to solemn...This thought-provoking piece provides a platform for a much-needed discussion."
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"Sometimes 'Theater with a Message' can be preachy or heavy-handed, but this show is far from that. Visceral and impactful, 'whatdoesfreemean?' approaches incarceration with depth and candor and a bit of whimsy...The performers are all excellent...Ms. Filloux’s text does a wonderful job of creating a fully-developed, likable, flawed character that the audience cares about, even during the short span of the play’s run time of 80 minutes."
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