Lisa David Dean is a sharp writer who's adept at both acting and stand-up comedy. She makes fine use of these skills in her one-woman show consisting of autobiographical anecdotes, observational humor, and a variety of characters Dean performs with her distinct and versatile voice.
Dean is a brave and highly engaging storyteller who gets major laughs throughout her hour-long act….We're likely to hear more hard-fought stories in the future from Dean—who shows promise of becoming a major comedic force.
Hy Bender, New York Times
If you’re a fan of watching comediennes, you’ll enjoy this show. The material is easy to empathize with, and Dean draws in the laughs. She’s comfortable on stage, even when she reveals information that many of us would consider private. Her characterization of her sweetheart of a cousin, who appears throughout Lisa’s crises and demonstrates convincing concern while still remaining funny, proves that Dean can balance conveying believable emotions along with her comedy.
Jaime Robert Carrillo, nytheatre.com
Writer/performer Lisa David Dean surely has endured enough traumas for one so young. Bulimia and alcoholism are just two of the diseases she has faced, fought off, and found funny enough to dramatize in such a richly cathartic way. "Monster" is clearly tailored to Dean's standup skills: She rarely fails to land punch lines squarely, and there are easily enough of them to fill an evening. Rarely does onstage soul-baring feel so fecund or go so deep.
We are disarmed by her mimicry: Like a Whoopi Goldberg or Jefferson Mays, Dean sketches out figures using a minimum of strokes, making her performance as spare as it is emotionally lush.
Leonard Jacobs, Backstage
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