PRESS: NEW YORK

What Yara Arts Group accomplishes in Capt. John Smith Goes to Ukraine is to shed light on a lesser-known aspect of Smith's adventuring career: how he became a captain and his travels to Ukraine, before he ever helped found the Virginia colony. This at times extremely delightful musical-experimental work of theater gives its history lessons a much-needed makeover with fun, liveliness, and an accordion… Capt. John Smith Goes to Ukraine" is a fun theatrical experience. The ending, in particular, is worth the price of admission. So set sail with Captain John Smith at La MaMa; he and this production will take you to a brand new world, one you'll be glad to have visited.

“A New World” by Kelly Aliano, New York Theatre Wire, March 4, 2014

 

Bob Holman represents Smith, transitioning nimbly from history to humor. He performs a beautiful love poem as Smith woos that Turkish mistress. Julian Kytasty plays an instrument beautiful to hear and to look at – bandura, a sort of lute with no fewer than of 34 open strings. It sounds like a harp, and it graces the evening even as the audience enters. Throughout, the show projects graphics on the back wall, and they’re usually marvelous, particularly the detailed maps.

Steven Capra, New York Critic, March 12, 2014

 

In Captain John Smith Goes to Ukraine,

a multimedia performance piece, the explorer John Smith's

pre-Pocahontas years receive a comical, musical,

dreamlike treatment worthy of an August Strindberg play.

Pete Hempstead, Theatre Mania, Feb 28, 2014