Review by Kathryn Osenlund of CurtainUp.com
Feud: Fire on the Mountain

Creighton James's earnest play tells of the woeful blood feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys, addressing the futility of retribution. This fits the mission of NY Theatre Experiment, which intends to stage powerful stories about the complexity of the human condition. At first a homespun tableau, things pick up when the going gets really rough in this compelling tale of violent backwoods Americana in the 1860s. Nancy McCoy declares, "All stories ain't peaches and cream." No kidding. Good performances are turned in by all -- some outstanding -- although the movement of the whole ensemble would benefit from more physical theatre training. Feud becomes melodramatic and overwrought by the end; however, along the way it illuminates intra-family conflicts that complicate the inter-clan warfare. Fine original music by Jon Rowan, well played by actors, complements the Appalachian mayhem. At Village Theatre. 2 hours with intermission.