"Augmented by the inventive director Gabriel Barre and a terrific production team, Tom Jones is a feast for the eyes."
-Sally Cragin, The Boston Phoenix
"Strong direction"
"With strong direction by Gabriel Barre, the nearly two hour show, performed without intermission, zips by."
-Carol King, The Schenectady Gazette
"Sensational"
"Went to The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club. As I entered the lobby, I saw a sign that said, ‘Herbal cigarettes are used in this production.’ As it turned out, so are style, wit, melody, excitement, mood, not to mention lighting, performances, direction, and choreography that are just sensational.
Anyway, after seeing 14 seconds of the show, I knew I wanted to see it again and again. And again. I know I’m not alone. This version deserves a Broadway run, and it will seem wonderful there."
-Peter Filichia, Theatre.com
"Riveting direction"
"... with book, music and lyrics by a barely known major talent named Andrew Lippa, riveting direction by former actor Gabriel Barre, and smart, Fosse-inspired down and dirty choreography by a rising star of downtown dance, Mark Dendy..."
-Linda Werner, Newsday
"One hell of an imaginative party"
"You never see the seams between Gabriel Barre’s deft direction and the choreography by the brilliant Mark Dendy, a newcomer to showbiz. This great ensemble, along with the inventive settings of David Gallo, the stylish, yet campy costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, plus the consistently dramatic lighting of Kenneth Posner, all conspire together with Lippa, Barre and Dendy to give this Wild Party the mule-like kick of bathroom hooch. Here is one hell of an imaginative party you won’t want to miss."
-Clive Barnes, The New York Post
"Aggressive direction"
"…significantly aided by Gabriel Barre’s aggressive direction, as well as Mark Dendy’s Fosse-inspired yet airless choreography has gone full throttle in the opposite direction???"
-Sam Whitehead, Time Out
"Intelligent direction"
"Under Gabriel Barre’s intelligent direction, the ensemble work is solid and the four principals realize their less-than-ample opportunities."
-John Simon, New York Magazine
"Lavish"
"The MTC production is, in fact, an explosion of youthful talent that captures the work’s libidinous lyricism, like F. Scott Fitzgerald on Spanish fly. This is as lavish as Off-Broadway gets, with David Gallo’s cubistic set, Mark Dendy’s hot-blooded choreography and a terrific band led by Stephen Oremus, all marshaled by Barre into a crescendo of debauchery and death."
-Jack Kroll, Newsweek
"Strong stuff"
"Sweeney Todd is strong stuff, but you’ll probably not find it better served in better form than at Goodspeed."
-Chelsey Piemmons, News Times
"Ingenious direction"
"Ingenious direction by Gabriel Barre and clever lighting by Phil Monat make the tiny stage become one of seemingly endless depth and dimension."
-Bob Cumming, Weekly Reader Corp
"A landmark production"
"When it comes to musical theatre, it just doesn’t get much better than this. Goodspeed Opera House opens its new season with its first Stephen Sondheim musical, Sweeney Todd. A feast for the eyes and the ears, Goodspeed’s Sweeney Todd is ingeniously staged, beautifully designed, and exquisitely performed. It’s top of the line. It’s the crème de la crème. It’s a landmark production of a landmark musical."
-Mark G. Auerbach, Optimist
"A macabre tale told superbly"
"A macabre tale told superbly."
-Becca Shea, Mystic River Press
"Sheer theatrical magic"
"Sheer theatrical magic. Mark St. Germain’s script and director Gabriel Barre take us quickly and cleverly from one place to another…will bring you to your feet."
-Franklin Harris, Times News
"Bubbly and stylish direction"
"Thanks to bubbly and stylish direction by Gabriel Barre, sumptuous and scrumptious sets and costumes, and utterly winning performances, it is easy to predict that Seattle Repertory Theatre’s production of the Noel Coward classic Private Lives will wind up on many an audience member and critics ten best list by the end of 2006… Director Barre times this literate farce like a Swiss watch."
-TalkinBroadway.com
"Hits all the right notes"
"Fortunately, Seattle Repertory Theatre’s divine new revival of Coward’s Private Lives hits all the right notes, both comically and thematically. This is a production firmly grounded in the truth of it all, painting an imperfect portrait of the always curious human psyche…What is most impressive about Barre’s direction is his ability to allow the raucous physical fights evolve organically from the action. There is never an insecure moment where the actors step out of character to engage in obviously choreographed stage combat…Barre also provides a powerful ending that never seems as forced as it does on the page."
-Robbie Wachs, BroadwayWorld.com
"Beautifully staged"
"Beautifully staged by director Gabriel Barre, the NSMT amphitheater is used to maximum effect."
-James A Lopata, Newsweekly
"...keeping the show spinning"
"Director Barre does a solid job throughout, keeping the show spinning as fast as a stack of 45s."
-Frank Rizzo, Variety
"High octane energy"
"Gabriel Barre and Todd L. Underwood’s production is a spanking new ’57 Chevy with the windows down and the horns blaring and running on High Octane energy."
-Carl Rossi, The Theatre Mirror
"Brilliantly directed"
"Just be prepared for an experience you’ll never forget… Brilliantly directed by Gabriel Barre."
-Myrna Fearer, Danvers Herald
"Seamlessly, brilliantly staged"
"It dazzled, rattled, and shook me up…Director Gabriel Barre creates a seamlessly, brilliantly staged work."
-Rachel Rome, The Planet