Acting Review of Deathtrap

News-Record
Harrisonburg, VA
1982
"The next most important element is Cliff, the young writer, played by Ralph Tropf. Tropf begins as a student in awe of his mentor: nervous, anxious and pretentious. Since I shouldn't reveal the intricate plot, suffice it to say that Tropf constantly surprises with equally complex changes of character."

Shadow Hour
LA Weekly
Pick of the Week
September 11, 1998
"The political scandal depicted in Ralph Tropf's compelling courtroom drama shines like light through a prism, eliciting a rainbow of interpretations from the play's sundry characters, as well as from the audience." (Martin Hernandez)

Shadow Hour
LA Weekly
The Body Politic
October 2-8, 1998
"a provocative and suspenseful work of theatre that doesn't recline into lazy political positions and looks at both sides of a volatile story without sitting on the fence." (Steven Mikulan)

Shadow Hour
Backstage West Review
September 17, 1998
"what ciphers think and why they think it isn't particularly interesting. Furthermore, it's lazy; instead of deciding on a point of view, Tropf gives us 12." (Edward Shapiro)

Rebuttal to Backstage West Review
by Ralph Tropf
October 8, 1998
"Shapiro accuses me of 'lazy' writing, because in his opinion I do not decide "on a point of view." My point of view is that gender issues, which many people try to force into black and white boxes, are in reality gray areas of law and morality. Shapiro's review is not a denouncement of my play, but a vindication of it. He did not see what was portrayed on stage. He saw what he wanted to see." (Ralph Tropf)

Shadow Hour
The Star
Ventura, California
June 25, 1999
"Shadow Hour [is] a fascinating new play. This is one of 80 plays that were submitted in response to the Conejo Players' invitation for new material, and it's a real gem." (Chuck Thomas)

The 'House Arrest' Agenda is Showing
by Ralph Tropf
LA Times
May 17, 1999
"Both the Taper and the Times, each in their respective zeal to 'do the right thing,' have done the wrong thing. The Taper has staged a play that was not ready for production. They have done it not for the betterment of the community or the world of theatre, but because Anna Deavere Smith is a woman and a member of an ethnic minority. The Times has handled both "House Arrest" and the Taper with kid gloves for that same reason. And that's just not fair."