BENJAMINBRISENO.COM

HomeResumeBioPhotosPRESSContact

PRESS

Reviews from much ado about nothing

The walls seem to stretch - the atmosphere is so rich, and hardly a word of the 
scintillating text is lost. Credit for that must go first of all to the principals. 
Benny Briseno is superb as the handsome, witty devil-may-care Benedick, 
a young lord of Padua, full of himself and his supposed philosophy. 
Briseno has a powerful, clear voice that delivers every line with authenticity. 
John Farrell, Long Beach Press Telegram, September 15, 2009
Read entire review


photo by Henry Josefsburg

Even the morning after seeing William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” 
directed by Helen Borgers for the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, 
the memory of Benny Briseno’s Benedick, a young Lord of Padua love-dueling with 
Erica Simms’ Beatrice, the niece of Leonato, the governor of Messina, 
makes me wonder if I was dreaming.  They so perfectly nailed the roles of a 
Why-do-I-insult-you-so-much?/Because-I-love-you couple, 
you might as well cancel all future auditions for the two roles: this one’s it.
James Scarborough, Grunion-Downtown-Uptown Gazettes
Read entire review


photo by Henry Josefsburg

Benny Briseno and Erica Simms fully animate Benedick and Beatrice's "merry war."
Gregory Moore, The District Weekly, September 23, 2009
Read entire review


photo by Henry Josefsburg
 

REVIEW FROM Julius Caesar

Briseno delivers the strongest performance, both forceful and passionate. 
Joe Segura, Long Beach Press Telegram, July 21, 2009
Read entire review


photo by Henry Josefsberg

Reviews from Rancho Pancho

2008 Festival Highlights
Olympia Dukakis wowed the crowd at the Ptown Art Association
Coffee with Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson
Jaimi Paige fascinated audiences in the world premier of TW's sexiest play
Benny Briseno gave a passionate performance as one of William's Cape Cod lovers.
Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival Board
in their Year End Campaign Newsletter, December 30, 2008
photo by Sofia Piel

Briseño hits every high and low note of a character who realizes he is a “kept boy” 
while still insisting on retaining his dignity, and family autonomy, in the face of 
vulture-like authors who built lucrative careers writing about the lives of others less fortunate. . . .
Briseño and Frederick brought to life the conflicted relationship between Pancho and Tennessee through tense 
domestic scenes, where intense erotic love lingered just above a deep well of 
resentment at one another’s frequent betrayals.
 B.V. Olguin, San Antonio Current, September 10, 2008
Read entire review

"Briseño vividly captures Rodriguez's growing frustration as his role in Williams' life 
seems to become more subservient. . . .  Frederick and Briseno have definite chemistry--
there is genuine heat to their scenes together.  And the expertly choreographed fights have a scary,
anything-can-happen feeling, especially in the rapidly escalating scenes in the second act.
Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express News, September 9, 2008
Read entire review


                  
         Pancho Rodriguez & Tennessee Williams, ca. 1947                         Benny Briseno & Rick Frederick in Rancho Pancho
                                                                               photo courtesy of Gregg Barrios                                                                                                    photo courtesy of Rick Malone