"As the emotionally barren Dorian, Max von Essen turns a potentially contemptible character into a deeply moving portrayal. He belts out his soulful laments with passionate conviction and projects a sexy, dangerous magnetism that makes his tragic journey riveting."   

- Les Spindle for BACKSTAGE

"Max von Essen is physically ideal casting for Dorian, Wilde's example of "exquisite" beauty. Dorian is a tricky part to play, and von Essen has a sweetness that makes his early naivete believable. He also sings superbly, with an actor's instinctive understanding of lyric interpretation. Von Essen is, in fact, so pure that it takes time to adjust to him as a vice-addicted, unfeeling monster.

- Joel Hirschhorn for VARIETY