PEARL RHEIN (she/her)

THE WINTER’S TALE
By William Shakespeare, directed by Melia Bensussen
April - May 2023, Hartford Stage

Connecticut Examiner: “…John Maddaloni, who plays the Clown…carry much of the story’s humor in the last two acts, along with Pearl Rhein, who plays Autolycus, a rogue who handily swindles and fleeces the residents of Bohemia in magnificent comical fashion.”

New Haven Review “…the winning figure of the Bohemia segments is Pearl Rhein’s memorable Autolycus. Rhein has the full measure of this engaging, theatrical, slippery pick-pocket, so that the Bohemia segments have not only the requisite comic feel but also the welcome musicality—as Autolycus is a tuneful rogue…”

Berkshire Eagle: “Music is a key element in this production, especially in the second half and particularly in the skills of Pearl Rhein, a hugely talented, versatile instrumentalist whose abundant skills are evident throughout her overall performance as the roguish Autolycus, an impressively masterly pickpocket and former servant of Florizel.”

Hartford Courant: “The most musical is Pearl Rhein, who when not picking pockets as the comic scoundrel Autolycus is responsible for several mood-shifting violin interludes.”

Talkin’ Broadway: “Actress and multi-instrumentalist Pearl Rhein (also playing the character of Autolycus later in the show) enlivens throughout, playing exquisite violin. Rhein, who was in the original cast of Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway and who also has a credit for appearing on television's "Succession," is distinctively talented.”

Broadwayworld.com: “Most winning is Pearl Rhein, who provides beautiful violin music throughout the production and then in Bohemia becomes Autolycus: the consummate comic, pickpocket, and philosopher.”

Berkshire Edge: “Pearl Rhein has a field day singing Shakespeare’s witty lyrics as the character Autolycus.”

Patch.com: “Pearl Rhein is a delight as Autolycus, a roguish peddler, vagabond, and pickpocket, who in this case is also a musician. Rhein was part of “The Great Comet” and is credited with additional music in the digital program.”

BECOMES A WOMAN
World-premiere of the 1930 play written by Betty Smith, directed by Britt Berke
February - March 2023, Mint Theater at City Center Stage II

NY Times: “You can almost hear Barbara Stanwyck saying this line, and Rhein, who has a feel for the rhythm of the period’s language, gets close enough.”

THE NEW YORKER: “…brilliantly accompanied by the stride-piano stylings of her co-worker Florry (an acerbic and worldly-wise Pearl Rhein)”

CITITOURNY: “…Francie mostly banters with sarcastic co-worker Flory (Pearl Rhein, practically channeling Bebe Neuwirth)"

TheaterMania: “the Jazz Age-era store where Francie works (complete with an old upright piano for showcasing Rhein's ivory-tickling talents)”

Talkin’ Broadway: “Excellent character work is also provided by…Pearl Rhein as another of Francie's co-workers.”

LITTLE WOMEN
adapted by Kate Hamill from the novel by Louisa May Alcott, directed by Sarah Rasmussen
Feb - April 2020 at The Dallas Theater Center then at The Old Globe

Dallas Morning News: “Jo, in an alternately lighthearted and fiercely uncompromising portrayal by Pearl Rhein, is a jokester.”

BroadwayWorld.com: “Rhein's performance was pure boldness, punctuated by moments of vulnerability: in short, she embodied the spirit of a fascinating and complicated character.”

Katy Trail Weekly: “…Ms. Rhein’s charismatic portrayal…”

culturemap Dallas: “Rhein, who is a great fit for Jo with a husky voice and a go-for-broke personality…”

TheatreJones: “Pearl Rhein’s charismatic portrayal of funny, self-defended, angrier-than-she-knows Jo is a gift to the play and the audience.”

ONCE
based upon the motion picture written and directed by John Carney, music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, book by Enda Walsh
June - July 2022 at Berkshire Theatre Festival

Splash Magazine: “Pearl Rhein’s Reza steals her scenes as a would-be siren intent on marrying an Irishman and becoming a citizen”

Nippertown.com: “…Pearl Rhein (Reza), and Adam Huel Potter (Billy) offer the breakthrough performances in a stellar cast.”

Berkshire Fine Arts: “The very tall and imposing Reza (Pearl Rhein) romped the stage with abandon while singing and playing the fiddle…With exuberance she even scrambled up to tower above us.”

ECO VILLAGE
by Phoebe Nir, directed by Chloe Treat
Feb - March 2019
Off Broadway at Theatre at St. Clements

Theatre Scene: “Pearl Rhein gleefully swaggers her way through the part of Ursula, has nice emotional outbursts and cracks a mean whip.”

SUCH THINGS AS VAMPIRES
by Mary Tuomanen, Jessie Fisher, Zak Berkman & Stuart Carden
Directed by Stuart Carden
Sep 2018 - Oct 2018
People’s Light Theatre in Malvern, PA

Talkin’ Broadway: “A darkly animalistic Dracula (Pearl Rhein)”…“Henderson, Lydon, and Rhein are appropriately loathsome as Lucy's suitors…”

The Philadelphia Inquirer: “…Pearl Rhein (as a dim-witted Texan) rounds out a strong ensemble who play their own instruments. Rhein, in particular, impresses on the violin…”

The Reporter: “As played by energetic newcomers to the People’s Light stage Isa Arciniegas (Lucy), Crystal Lucas-Perry (Mina), Sam Henderson (Van Helsing) and Daniel Croix (R.M.Renfield), Alex Lydon (Jonathan Harker) and Pearl Rhein in several roles the cast are accomplished musicians a well as experienced actors who deliver an awesome level of sustained energy…”

NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
by Dave Malloy, directed by Rachel Chavkin
Dec 2015 - Jan 2016
American Repertory Theatre in Boston, MA

WBUR: "It's a large ensemble, and they are all, from Natasha and Pierre to the young woman plucking out violin pizzicato in her 19th-century skivvies, terrific." 

TRANSPORT
by Thomas Keneally & Larry Kirwan, directed by Tony Walton
Feb-April 2014
Off Broadway at The Irish Repertory Theatre

TheatreMania: "Rhein offers a...multifaceted approach to Riordan; her relationship with the surgeon [has] real chemistry.” 

Theatre Is Easy: "Rhein…is a particular standout, possessed of a strong, clear voice (plus, she plays the violin)." 

StageBuddy: "Pearl Rhein as Bride Riordan was also a standout: the deep, soulful quality of her voice carried the musical along its voyage." 

Wolf Entertainment Guide: "…the skeptical but hopeful Bride Riordan, played fetchingly by Rhein…" 

COWGIRLS!
by Mary Murfitt & Betsy Howie, directed by Heidi Cline McKerley
May-June 2014
Horizon Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Most versatile is the New York-based Pearl Rhein as an uptight snob who undergoes the biggest transformation, not so much letting down her hair as putting on a silly bouffant…" 

Creative Loafing Atlanta said: "...a serious scene between Jo and Mary Lou strives for more emotional truth than the play's jokiness, with Baggett and Rhein emerging as the most charismatic musical performers." 

Edge Boston (why were they there??): "Pearl Rhein, who plays Mary Lou, the violinist, stands out as an amazing musician. She plays the violin, mandolin, accordion and (I think) the bass and piano...Rhein plays her role with great verve and conviction."  [editor's note: Pearl played violin, mandolin, accordion, steel guitar, accordion & piano.]

THE ROAD TO WHERE
by Cass Morgan, directed by Steve Stettler
August 2014
The Weston Playhouse in Weston, VT

The Rutland Reader: "Pearl Rhein was a particularly fine fiddler, but she also sang, danced and played the whistle with flair."

ArtsFuse.org: "The young musicians respond to [Cass] Morgan eagerly, and they turn to each other as they play, trading lines of music and instruments with the casual, warm skill of a jam band, as though they have played at this pub every Friday night for years." 

AH, WILDERNESS
by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Kyle Donnelly
March 2012
Arena Stage in Washington DC

The Washington Post: "...a hooker, played by the terrific Pearl Rhein…"

DC Metro Theatre Arts: “She’s crass and speaks poorly as you would expect a strumpet of the street to speak; a real tart as she flings herself about the bar in a very un-ladylike manner…belting out threats with over the top anger to Flanagan and trying to charm her way into Riley’s pants with sultry teasing comments and shifts of her body over the table and into his chair. She makes for a truly entertaining character even if she isn’t a part of the family.”

Washington City Paper: “That tart…may remind you of O’Neill’s poor, doomed Anna Christie, but there’s a lot of sass left in her this time around.”

ShowBizRadio: "...a thoroughly unpleasant prostitute (Pearl Rhein, who doubles nicely as the violinist in several musical sequences)…" 

We Love DC: "Pearl Rhein has an underrated role as both a prostitute that Richard encounters and a violinist who anchors much of the show’s soundtrack."