Reviews: Here's What Critics Think of Gun & Powder at Paper Mill Playhouse

The new musical Gun & Powder opened at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse April 14, and the reviews are in. Inspired by the true story of sisters Mary and Martha Clarke, the musical will continue through May 5.

Directed by Stevie Walker-Webb and choreographed by Tiffany Rea-Fisher, the cast is led by Liisi LaFontaine (West End's Dreamgirls) as Martha Clarke, Ciara Renée (Waitress) as Mary Clarke, Jeannette Bayardelle (Girl From the North Country) as Tallulah Clarke, Aaron James McKenzie (A Beautiful Noise) as Elijah, and Hunter Parrish (To Kill a Mockingbird) as Jesse Whitewater. Jisel Soleil Ayon (Hamilton national tour) is the standby for the roles of Mary and Martha.

The ensemble includes Rickens Anantua, Reed Campbell, Carrie Compere, Meghan Olivia Corbett, Joann Gilliam, Francesca Granell, Aaron Arnell Harrington, Mary Claire King, Malik Shabazz Kitchen, Rayshun LaMarr, Zonya Love, Tiffany Mann, Tony Perry, Adam Roberts, Hank Santos, Christine Shepard, Katie Thompson, Aurelia Williams, and Jason SweetTooth Williams.

Read the reviews below.

BroadwayWorld (Marina Kennedy)

The Jewish Voice and Opinion (Sue Weston and Sue Rosenbluth)

The New York Times (Naveen Kumar)*

Theatrely (Juan A. Ramírez)

*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

Featuring a book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri, who is a descendant of the Clarke sisters, and music by Ross Baum, Gun & Powder follows Mary and Martha Clarke, Black twin sisters who take extraordinary measures to settle their mother’s sharecropper debt and save her home in 1893 Texas.

The production also has musical direction by Austin Cook, orchestrations by John Clancy, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Adam Honoré, sound design by Connor Wang, wig, hair, and makeup design by J. Jared Janas and Tony Lauro, fight direction by Sordelet, Inc.'s Rick Sordelet, and intimacy direction by Crista Marie Jackson.

Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting. Jakob W. Plummer is the production stage manager.

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