Tyler Cochran adds Edward Gorey-like black humor to his menacing but bumbling evil Wizard and gives a wincingly memorable lullaby rendition as the squawking “Nightingale of Samarkand”.
- Alexandra Bonifield of CriticalRant.com
"Tyler Cochran was perfectly cast as Jimmy. All Jimmy’s characteristics were there, the moodiness, the child-like behavior and the smart-aleck mouth. Mr. Cochran delivered amusing facial expressions and a giddy, exuberant but muted excitement."
- Larry Ukolowicz of The Column
"It is joy to see Cochran, who has long labored in minor parts while he learns his craft, step up to the plate in a substantial role and knock it out of the park. It is a special pleasure to watch an actor work that hard to grow and improve, and then reap the benefits of those efforts."
- Punch Shaw of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Tyler Cochran, as Buster, was another character that was fun to watch and kept my attention every time that he was on stage. Cochran has some of the fewest lines in the show but developed and brought a character that through witty use of costume and clever “busy work” in the background constantly stayed engaged with other actors in the scenes and became a fun focal point in the show. Buster is the advance man, or rather the bodyguard, for Lizarde.
Cochran put just the right attitude, whether verbal or non- verbal, into his character and scenes to make Buster very relevant. When Buster first enters Coka’s apartment we are introduced to a character that appears intimidating, clothed in a trench-coat, hat and sunglasses. His engagement with Sal and Billy during this scene gave a taste of the skills that Cochran used to take what could have been a minor character into one that the audience wants to always pay attention to when he is on stage."
- Joel Taylor of The Column
"Finally, Tyler Cochran played a small but important role as a police officer trying to arrest Ma Rainey when she first entered.
His story about Rainey and Sylvester attacking a cab driver set the tone for Rainey’s reign of terror. Cochran looked like a Chicago cop in a 20’s gangster movie, with wide-eyed stare at his accused criminal and a tough-on-crime refrain. Yet the policeman was open to bribes and this allowed the story to move on."
- Amber Gipson of The Column
"Tyler Cochran provided several moments of needed humor."
- Chris Jackson of The Column
"Scrappy young Tyler Cochran steals quite a few moments as Eddie the Comic. He has the eager stage door NY patter down, kid.
Cochran’s got a great bit in Act II that shows off some nice vocal dexterity. Even when the scripted joke is weak, Cochran manages to sell it on sheer goofball looks alone. Well done."
- Clyde Berry of The Column
"Tyler Cochran as the unhappily married, unhappily parenting landlord/buddy/neighbor Jason stumbles into an intriguing and touchingly believable confession at a key moment."
- Wayne Lee Gay of TheatreJones