“The Prince of Providence”...opened this month to critical acclaim and feverish box-office demand. It has become the Passion Play of Providence.
New York Times
"Not surprisingly, the show has broken all box office records save for holiday offerings...And it’s worth it...Bottom line, 'The Prince of Providence' has all the story you love to hear, but a twist that will leave you stunned."
The Providence Journal
“…as quick-witted, sharp-edged, unpredictable, unstoppable, unsettling, and generally complicated as Cianci himself.”
The Boston Globe
“Scott Aiello as Cianci delivers a career-defining performance, all in a show that jolts for its exquisite perceptiveness.”
WGBH Boston
“With the exception of Aaron Sorkin, very few dramatists can find a way to make even the dirtiest of politics interesting, but Brant does so with panache..”
Motif Magazine
No show this year has been more anticipated than Trinity Repertory Company’s “The Prince of Providence.” Does the play live up to the hype? Absolutely….A wildly entertaining exploration of the life and times of legendary Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci….Scott Aiello (from TV’s “Billions”) turns in a powerhouse performance in the lead role.
Warwick Post
Buddy Cianci may not have had a pristine record, but the play about him is perfect.
WPRO
“Capturing the life, times and personality …Buddy Cianci Jr. is a high bar…Trinity Rep more than clears it. In fact, it soars above it.”
Sun Chronicle
“Opening night for “The Prince of Providence,” the story of Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci Jr., attained a Hollywood glamour…”
The Providence Journal
“In life, Buddy had an overwhelming need to be, as the saying has it, the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. And surely, that’s how “The Prince of Providence” is showing him to cheering, sold-out crowds. God, he would have loved it.”
The Providence Journal
"The Prince of Providence" is already Trinity Rep.'s highest-selling show of all time that's not "A Christmas Carol."
ABC 6
“Nothing less than a bodacious riot of a man of great ability but unfortunately, also great anger and inability to play the game both well and fair.”
The Public's Radio
“It's epic. It's big, bold, brazen and bursting with brilliance. It's bound to be a blockbuster. What a show. It's also hilarious, sweeping, touching and surprisingly emotional.”
The Westerly Sun
“Buddy Cianci is back, at least through the end of October. His life is being told through performers on stage at Trinity Rep in Providence.”
NBC 10
"Aiello spent much of August 'in full Buddy mode' — he’s listened to tapes, watched video, read the books. He’s trying to get the posture ('sort of a stocky hunch') and the vocal inflections. He’s also going to the gym every day at 6 a.m. to prepare for a physically demanding part that has him onstage for virtually the entire show."
The Boston Globe
"His actions were very troubling, and I don't want to ever erase that," Magar said. "I see him as a fascinating character inside a fascinating city at a fascinating time. His story brings up really potent questions about politics and politicians. What came first: the chicken or the egg? Are politicians corrupt, or does politics corrupt them?"
Associated Press
"Not surprisingly, the show has broken all box office records save for holiday offerings...And it’s worth it...Bottom line, 'The Prince of Providence' has all the story you love to hear, but a twist that will leave you stunned."
The Providence Journal
"Scott Aiello, who portrays former Providence Mayor Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci in the Trinity Repertory Company production, promises a creative interpretation, not an impersonation. “We will create a character, a living and breathing figure, on the stage that has both good and bad parts,” he said."
The Providence Journal
"I think Buddy’s story will always be incredibly captivating, no matter the time."
Rhode Island Monthly
"Spending time with and getting to know Sheila Bentley (formerly Cianci) has been one of my favorite parts of taking on this role."
Motif Magazine
"We are all such complicated people, and Buddy surely is a hyper-version of that."
ArtsFuse
"This is the world premiere that Rhode Islanders have been clamoring for. "
East Side Monthly
