THE DROWN'ED BOOK:
Or, The History of William Shakespeare, Part Last

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I felt as though I was watching a play the English-speaking world has been waiting 400 years for... Stewart weaves a rich tapestry that even The Bard would delight in... Though I was watching a slice-of-life biography, in many ways I felt like I was encountering a long-lost and newly rediscovered Shakespearean play... the true magic of Stewart’s play is that he successfully replicates Shakespeare’s uncanny ability to peer into and convincingly play with timeless human nature.  Fortunately, that timelessness also makes the play accessible and even enjoyable for a modern audience."
-- Hillary Stirling,
Dawning of a Brighter Day

I was genuinely impressed...the writing of this piece is remarkable.  Stewart has taken great pains to stay true to Elizabethan language and verbiage, even down to the beauty of the soliloquy.  Devotees of Shakespeare will enjoy the high language, the verbal sparring, and the witty repartee.  Casual theater goers will love the puns, the putdowns, and the situational humor.  We groaned, chuckled, and laughed long and loud.  It was a delightful evening for any lover of words."
                    - Andrea Johnson, Front Row Reviewers

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The result is a delightful play."
- Harlow Clark,
A Motley Vision

Lovers of words will find themselves immersed in language that exceeds the tweet, elevates the senses, and enlarges the mind."
- Andrea Johnson,
Front Row Reviewers

LEGENDS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

A wonderful, haunting classic. Because it was such a popular event two nights were added which were both sold out. Award-winning playwright Mahonri Stewart brought fear out in the open in his newest play.”
-Windy Hinks, The College Times

Stewart is really good at gothic storytelling and playwriting. He understands the mannerisms and language..."
- Christopher Clark, UVSC HASS Newsletter

Stewart skillfully wrote in each account... Although the story was set in early American history, I felt as if this story have a place in today’s world, as chills ran up and down my  spine periodically throughout the story.”
- Windy Hanks, The College Times

THE DEATH OF EURYDICE

The Death of Eurydice was the last play and the shining achievement of the evening... Retellings that bring to life new ideas in ancient stories are some of my favorite things in the world, and Stewart pulls this off beautifully!"
-Bianca Dillard,
Utah Theatre Bloggers Association

For all the intellectual depth of the play, it is the human element that is most powerful. Even knowing the outcome, I was moved to tears."
- Hilary Stirling, A Motley Vision

JIMMY STEWART GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

I found myself engaged from beginning to end thanks to [Mahonri Stewart's] well-crafted script. Stewart’s natural and conversational writing style accentuated many of these great moments in [Jimmy] Stewart’s life... It was very evident that Stewart had done a lot of research in order to create such a detailed story.”
- Johnny Hebda, UTBA

We can’t stress enough how you really are missing out if you don’t come see this touching, insightful, entertaining play about one of movie’s true icons.”
- Chelsea Benjamin and Robert Craig, Front Row Reviewers

SWALLOW THE SUN

Stewart is a master writer of rich dialogue, clever and scintillating in the style of Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. This is a very good play, befitting a fascinating, worthy protagonist in the historical C.S. Lewis.”
- Nan McCulloch, Irreantum Magazine

 And the playwright pulls no punches... Stewart doesn't gloss over such things but allows them to find their own level. He lets the audience decide what to think...I liked even more the notion that writers and playwrights are no longer giving us ‘dual versions’ of religious souls — one version where the subject can do no wrong and a ‘revisionist’ version where he or she sins at every turn.”
- Jerry Earl Johnston, Deseret News

Stewart also has a deep knowledge of the writings and biography of C.S.Lewis…This accuracy is an authorial choice that respects the people and that ultimately adds to the believable and unique characterization and setting of the plays.”
- David Allred, AML List

Well-written, funny, and thought-provoking… Swallow the Sun is a captivating journey...”
- Scott Hales, The Low-Tech World

RINGS OF THE TREE

“Rings of the Tree is definitely daring—in subject matter, execution, technical effects, and a shocking and potentially controversial resolution... the plot was interesting, unconventional, unpredictable, and definitely trending right now... It’s innovative and bold... I’d definitely recommend it to those who appreciate a show that experiments and takes risks. This show is full to the brim with risks... a truly daring show.”
- Paige Guthrie, UTBA

Rings of the Tree has broad appeal. Folks from 8 to 80, especially feminists and young women will enjoy the play. The thought provoking twists and turns make the play interesting and keep the audience fully engaged. This is a play you can’t leave at the theater, you take it home with you. Stewart has a gift for writing dialogue. His conversations are well thought out and go a long way in developing the characters... I was sincerely moved by Stewart’s play, which left its unique ring around me.”  
- Nan McCulloch, AML List

THE FADING FLOWER

Stewart is ever the writer of brilliant dialogue. This piece is so powerful and beautifully written it demands competent actors to match the material. These talented and sensitive actors are up to task and are superb… I am appreciative of Stewart’s courage in writing this bold, candid, historically authentic work honoring Emma Hale Smith. The play is an important historical achievement.”
- Nan McCulloch, Association for Mormon Letters 

I’m drawn to work like The Fading Flower that uncover previously untold stories from Mormon history. I think Mormon literature need works that probe these unseen corners of the Mormon past, works that try...to get at the truth behind the mysteries and obscurities or go mad in the attempt.”
- Scott Hales, The Low-Tech World

Poignant and tragic.”             
- David Allred,
The Association for Mormon Letters

Anyone can write about the subject of Mormon polygamy (just ask HBO), but looking at the issue through the lens of David becomes a powerful and uniquely Mormon reflection on the peril and promise of living in such close proximity to our historical legends. Of course, with such a controversial and painful topic at the heart of the play, Stewart could easily have veered into advocating a particular conclusion or lesson, but the play remains too sensitive and nuanced to be reduced to simple morals...it only succeeds in so accurately reflecting a Mormon sensibility by having the main characters all view Mormonism (as we know it today) from the outside... Stewart succeeds in capturing the historical Mormon sense of longing and exile even in a play about our own history.”
- Nathaniel Givens, Times and Seasons

EMPEROR WOLF

I was attracted to the challenges posed by Mahonri’s script (realizing the scale of the mythic world with minimal resources; taking the audience on an epic  journey in a small blackbox), and the ultimate triumph of mercy over justice...”
- Brian Foley, director of the ASU production

Mahonri Stewart feels quite comfortable giving his plays mythical or fantastic settings. Indeed, a Sphinx is a character in his play Emperor Wolf: A Post-Apocalyptic Fairy Tale, which feels to me a lot like The Road, a listen I found surprisingly tender... I'm impressed with this breadth of Mahonri's work, history, scripture, fantasy, contemporary drama, social issues, children's theater, and more."
-Harlow Clark, A Motley Vision

JINN

 It is cathartic to experience a play like Zion Theatre Company’s portrayal of Mahonri
Stewart’s Jinn and Other Myths. This performance does not just entertain, but also
challenges you to analyze the artistic material and also yourself ... the plays were well acted, always well staged, and left me with questions and a lot to discuss with my date. I recommend this show as a stimulating experience for all.”
- Jocelyn Gibbons, UTBA

It’s a powerful commentary on us as a society and as individuals ...the play artfully captures the human elements that make it so hard for Calypso (and symbolically us as a society) to make the healthy choice... even after Calypso makes her choice, I was none too certain that I would have had her courage.”
- Hillary Stirling, A Motley Vision