CHRISTOPHER SUTTON

Christopher recently starred as CPO Alex Stone in RULES OF DESIRE, a startling new 3 character play by William Mastrosimone (EXTREMITIES, THE WOOL GATHERER, BANG BANG YOU’RE DEAD.) World Premiere opened Off-Broadway in 2020.

REVIEWS FOR “RULES OF DESIRE”

"A terrific production...it goes in directions you don't expect it to. It is a powerful, powerful, powerful evening. Your heart is in your throat. Quite a play indeed. You will feel like you've been punched in the gut, but you'll keep it down because the writing and the performances are so great. Christopher Sutton is magnificent in the part, he really is such a fine actor." -Peter Filichia-BroadwayRadio.com

“Rules of Desire is incredibly well written by William Mastrosimone. Christopher Sutton quickly leaps into the sickness within Alex and leads us to his fateful end.” -Front Row Center

“Creepy psychosexual hijinks aboard a U.S. naval aircraft carrier abound in this adept three-character creepy thriller from the author of “Extremities.” The play’s centerpiece is Christopher Sutton who offers a raw, commanding and intensely theatrical performance as the unhinged Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Sutton delivers smutty speeches, engages in physical aggression and conveys pathos with aplomb. Echoing Extremities’ setup, in Rules of Desire Mastrosimone creates a creepy pulp fiction-style opus with lurid twists and turns that holds the interest.” -TheaterScene.net

“When his sadistic commanding officer Alex, (a fabulous Christopher Sutton (God Shows Up, Spamalot)), discovers the breach, he blackmails the two. Mr. Sutton instinctively knows how to play this role.” -Times Square Chronicles

“Christopher Sutton is excellent in this despicable role, tearing into Alex’s obnoxious rapid-fire harangues and his physical torment with intensity and chilling authenticity.” -OffOnline.com

“William Mastrosimone’s gripping Rules of Desire is a tale of toxic masculinity, this time told from a man’s point of view. Matt, a 20-something sailor, falls in love with Felicia, a young woman with an uncertain past. When his aircraft carrier is ordered back to sea, the two of them cook up an improbable, but not impossible scheme. Matt smuggles Felicia aboard and stows her away in a tiny space below decks. An aircraft carrier is basically a floating city, as long as three football fields with over 5,000 inhabitants. The chances of being caught are slim, and, of course, it’s done in the name of love. But, like so many bad decisions made in moments of unreasonable passion, it’s totally illegal—a court marshall offense—and neither Matt nor Felicia have given any thought to the possible consequences. Enter Chief Alex, an uptight petty officer, widely disliked by his subordinates because of his unbending disciplinary demands. He catches them in the act and threatens exposure unless Matt shares Felicia with him whenever he’s on duty. Reluctantly, since they have no choice, they agree. Thus, for twelve hours every day, Alex is “free” to do whatever he wishes to Felicia. It’s sexual slavery, pure and simple.

THE PERFORMANCE As a former Navy officer, I was extremely impressed by Mr. Mastrosimone’s command of the military vernacular. It was remarkably similar to the language one hears every hour of every day on a ship, not to mention that the level of anger expressed by Chief Alex, powerfully played by Christopher Sutton, is more common than it should be. Mr. Sutton is an intense actor, to say the least. His portrayal was right-on in so many aspects—up to and including the emotional suppression needed to support Alex’s facade blocking the extravagant humanity trying to break through—that I was extremely moved. It’s not easy being a man in 2020. Mr. Sutton’s vivid performance does a fine job suggesting why. McKenna Harrington gives us a Felicia seemingly oblivious to whatever Alex is trying to achieve. She is so tightly locked into herself that she can’t appreciate what he’s talking about, which saves her in the end. Matt, sympathetically played by Tristan Biber, is appropriately helpless. He’s an ordinary seaman, after all. He belongs to the Chief. In a very subtle way, he is also a slave.

CONCLUSION This was an entirely engrossing performance of a viewpoint we don’t see often in this day of #MeToo. It was refreshing to see an honest picture of the things contributing to “toxic” masculinity. There are multiple sides to every story. We need to understand the other guy’s viewpoint or risk becoming what we accuse him of being. I want to apologize for not getting this review up before the play closed on March 7th. I saw it late, and several performances were cancelled. It should not have closed early. It was too good for that. Christopher Sutton fell apart with heart-rending skill. For that, and all those appropriately dirty words, Rules of Desire gets a REAL HAPPY FACE.” -Jan Ewing-Hi!Drama

“The play gets very interesting when Alex, a Chief Petty Officer enters the play. This is where the show becomes both interesting and intense. Alex is not well liked, he is arrogant, abrasive and crude. He is by the book, almost. He first appears to care nothing about anyone, nor anything. The ship has rules, and the rules must be carried out fully. Christopher Sutton portrays this role with such certainty. A talented actor who I saw last year in "God Shows Up, " he is as strong in this serious role as he was comedic in "Spamalot". In "Rules of Desire", we hate him, until we get to know him. Like Felicia; Alex is damaged goods. Rather than go to jail, he chose the Navy. As the play progresses, the audience seesaws as to whom we feel most for. Life has not been easy for all three characters and Mastrosimone holds nothing back in showing us just how ugly this world can be. At times we are mortified at what we hear and see; other times we see the humanness that comes out of the dark. Despair sometimes fades to hope and then back again. A meticulous build-up in the writing is what makes "Rules of Desire" a force. This is a thinking persons play; one that will have an audience member making recollections and re-examining the plot over and over. a lot to take in over 90 minutes, some things were very clear; some left you with many interpretations. These three characters all have a story to tell, nothing in their lives are particularly interesting, however, the human side of them; all survivors of horrible things bring a softening to a play that is a two handed combo to the audiences bread basket.” -Robert Massimi-Vocal Geeks

WHAT AUDIENCES ARE SAYING ABOUT RULES OF DESIRE:

“Great acting, great writing, intelligent, edgy, and gut wrenching. Christopher Sutton is spectacular as Alex.”

“Ambitious. See this if you enjoy the works of William Mastrosimone, who often explores the psycho-sexual dynamics between men and women from broken backgrounds. As the Officer, Christopher Sutton effectively portrays one of the most awful human beings I've ever seen put up on stage.”

“Masterful, entertaining, and clever. This play definitely went in a direction which no one could imagine. Christopher Sutton was awesome. His character was surprisingly multi-faceted. The play was really good and should be seen by a larger audience.”

“What makes it worth seeing is a spine-chilling performance by Christopher Sutton.”

“Desire on fire. Christopher Sutton capably anchors Rules Of Desire as a psychotic maniac. Chris Walken type; Christoph Waltz also comes to mind.”

“Still thinking about this show days later. Really interesting and intense performance by the lead Christopher Sutton. Very effective.”

“Christopher Sutton's strong, intense performance carries all here, finding humanity in the coarsest lines he'll ever have. Sharp, graphic and honest writing.”

“Fabulous acting-totally engaging.”

“This is a dark drama with topic matter that may be very uncomfortable for people. The actor Christopher Sutton who plays Alex is excellent.”

“You will be transported to an unusual setting. The play grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.”

“My girlfriend & I saw this. We both agreed that we liked it, and that it was disturbing. Christopher Sutton, the most interesting of the 3 characters, is a legit monster, but a compelling one. There's talk of sexual violence & it's a scary premise. I'm usually triggered by this, but wasn't here. Worth seeing.”

“Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Edgy, Raunchy, Intense. See it if layered performances exploring sophisticated issues is your idea of good drama.”

“An exceptionally good actor, Christopher Sutton plays an unstable sexual predator in this suspenseful psycho thriller.”

“Intense psychodrama. Uncomfortable subject matter. Excellent performances & stellar writing. Characters and scenarios will catch you off guard.”

“Ambitious, intelligent, riveting, great acting, absorbing. See this if you like an intense, sexually divergent drama that grabs your imagination and compassion for 90 min.”

“Christopher Sutton ( the most twisted character) was chilling.”

“Rules of Desire has some fascinating elements and interesting twists. The bulk of the story consists of a woman finding herself, through highly improbable means, alone with a crude, unstable sexual predator. Christopher Sutton, as the deranged antagonist, gives the strongest performance, seeming absolutely vile without being over the top.”

“Both my wife and I were drawn into the drama more than we expected, which was aided by the excellent acting and tight script.”

“Masterful, intelligent, great staging, great acting, absorbing. A three-person play in which a depraved sex addict meets with - and is ultimately undone, if not saved by - grace.”

“Edgy, Intense, Relevant, Great staging, Ambitious. See this demanding performance by Christopher Sutton as Alex.”

“As Alex, Christopher Sutton is top notch and holds the show together.”

“Thought provoking. Christopher Sutton is excellent as the psychotic Alex.”

“High stakes drama with intense character study. See it if you liked "Extremities" and want to see William Mastrosimone's new piece about a twisted man and the woman who outsmarts him.”

“I appreciated the twist in the action of this play that changed the whole trajectory of the story. Where everything pointed to yet another woman possibly being victimized and blackmailed into prostituting herself for a desperate if stupid prank of a teenager, how the story ends is possibly dictated by the me-too era we are experiencing. I expect even the military is trying to clean its own toxic male environment and this was a good story to tell, moving in the direction of empowering females to say, “No more.” Mr. Mastrosimone was able to create a portrait of a young and feisty woman, Felicia, who in spite of a terrible hand dealt her by the lottery of birth (meth-addicted parents), stood her ground against blackmail and drugs. He didn’t sugar-coat it, but chose instead to keep it real. There is always a price to pay in the realm of human travails. And sometimes a woman can stand up for herself with integrity, grit, a nice pair of brass balls, and emerge unscathed, at least this time.”

Christopher is currently starring as “The D’Ysquith Family” in “A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER” at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. “Based on the 1907 novel The Autobiography of a Criminal and Sir Alec Guinness’ 1949 comic film Kind Hearts and Coronets, Gentleman’s Guide is filled with unforgettable music and non-stop laughs…not to mention a tour-de-force performance as one actor plays all nine members of the ill-fated D’Ysquith family.” -Brian B. Crowe-STNJ

REVIEWS and PICS:

"Saving the best for last…Christopher Sutton should be the highest-paid member of this cast. He plays all of the D’Ysquith heirs — from a tipsy minister to the pompous earl. At the very least, his breakneck costume changes deserve some sort of award. To say Sutton died on stage is no insult. Like Sir Alec Guinness in the 1949 film version, he meets his maker multiple times in this production. And he does so with aplomb. Clearly, he brings some chops from his time in Monty Python’s Spamalot, directed by Mike Nichols." -MorristownGreen.com

"The incredible Christopher Sutton plays all eight of the ill-fated D’Ysquith heirs who fall prey to the charming and murderous Monty Navarro. Sutton creates nine totally different characters and is a delight. Sutton needs to assume multiple characters with multiple costume changes. Truly astonishing how that happens. See it and delight in it. Remember that he dies eight times a performance. Christopher Sutton as eight doomed individuals creates a tour-de-force performance ably abetted by a uniformly fine cast." -PhillyGayCalendar

"As if eight murders aren’t enough, Robert L. Freedman (book and lyrics) and Steven Lutvak (music and lyrics) employ the conceit of having one actor portray the entire D’Ysquith family, a veritable smorgasbord of wacky English nobility, a feat pulled off splendidly by the very talented and funny Christopher Sutton. He zooms on and off stage, appearing in a different costume, wig and gender, a change often effected within seconds by the dressers offstage (kudos to that plucky crew). Every time Sutton appears onstage as a new character, the audience howls. His comedic timing is so spot-on that he never misses a beat or runs into other actors as he cavorts around the stage! He is onstage much of the time, singing and delivering dialogue nonstop. The long standing ovation he received at the curtain call on Saturday night was a testament to his talent and craft. I look forward to seeing him on the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre stage in future productions!" -NJ ArtsMaven

"Christopher Sutton plays all eight of the ill-fated D’Ysquith heirs. Mr. Sutton does an amazing job taking on all these roles. All the costume changes alone would be enough to say he is amazing, but his humorous takes on the characters are absolutely terrific." -New Jersey Stage

"The STNJ’s cast is a veritable dream team with their superb acting and musical talents. Christopher Sutton comically plays all eight of the ill-fated D'Ysquith heirs without missing a beat. His ever-changing, distinctive characterizations are amazing." -BroadwayWorld.com

"Each of the eight male and female D'Ysquiths ahead of Monty to succeed to the Earldom are played with delightful comic madness by Christopher Sutton." -TalkinBroadway.com

"The family members who stand in his way are comically unsympathetic (one number, sung by Lord D’Ysquith, is “I Don’t Understand the Poor”). These odious men and women are all played to high comic effect by Christopher Sutton, who has some of the fastest costume changes in show business." -Front Row Center

"Christopher Sutton is the protean embodiment of all the D’Ysquiths. Sutton is excellent as he moves rapidly between increasingly exaggerated costumes and increasingly bombastic D’Ysquiths. The show asks him to find unique characteristics in each branch of this peculiar family tree, and Sutton succeeds in the send-up. Whether called on to be a drunken priest, a dignified banker, a flamboyant beekeeper or a variety of other eclectic goofballs, Sutton has a great deal of fun stealing scenes." -NJ.com

"I really appreciated the brilliance of the actors, especially Christopher Sutton’s ability to create a distinct personality for each of the many characters he plays. Sutton is the designated scene-stealer, and he lives up to the challenge. He plays ALL of Monty’s victims — members of the aristocratic D’Ysquith family, one more bizarre than the next. It is a treat to watch him reinvent himself, over and over, with each character getting a different costume, a different way of carrying himself or herself (one of the potential heirs is female) and, in some cases, a different body shape." -NJARTS.net

"The cast is an inspired group of zanies. They are led by Christopher Sutton’s virtuoso performance as all of the members of the D’Ysquith family: Ezekial, a tipsy Anglican clergyman; Asquith Sr. and Asquith Jr.; fey beekeeper Henry; social reformer Hyacinth; bodybuilder Bartholomew; actress Salome; and eccentric Lord Adalbert. Changing costumes and sexes as required, he creates eight individual people with their own foibles and eccentricities." -Out in Jersey

"The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey starts off its 62nd season with a clever, hilarious musical, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” The talented cast keeps it all moving along with stylized panache with Christopher Sutton playing an assortment of roles as the D'Ysquith men and women, including a pompous beekeeper, a world traveler and more. He’s especially droll in “I Don’t Understand the Poor.” -TAPinto

Christopher recently created the role of Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan in Peter Filichia’s new play GOD SHOWS UP at The Actors Temple NYC- 2019

REVIEWS FOR “GOD SHOWS UP”

“We’re in a hushed studio witnessing the opening of a live televangelist broadcast. Our hero, Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan (Christopher Sutton) has the perfect wavy hair, impeccably tailored suit, crucifixion cuff links, comforting voice, dimples, and engaging pearly white toothy smile rehearsed to bring heathens to the Lord. Even his nom de plume is a perfect amalgam of Christian, Jewish and Muslim for mass appeal. His repartee soon effectuates to pitch religious wares to his TV audience flock.”
The Front Row Center

“Christopher Sutton, as Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan, is a glove-in-hand fit. Sutton delivers all of his lines with conviction and celestial verve.”
Theaterscene.com

“The play has potential, especially with the stunning performance put forth by Christopher Sutton, who literally speaks for almost ten minutes at the opening, and to his credit, we never lose interest. Go to this show to watch Sutton. As Dr. Rehan, Sutton is so damn charismatic and gentle, with every word he speaks feeling measured and alive. There’s such an earnest lightness to his work, and Sutton alone is worth the price of admission.”
TheaterThatMatters

“The telegenic Christopher Sutton hilariously portrays the sharpie man of faith with gusto, shifting gears with dramatic flair.”
TheaterScene.Net

“Christopher Sutton, in particular, excels as the puffed-up Rehan, a man who is seldom at a loss for words and who will never forego an opportunity to shill for donations even when chatting with God. And while he may be as phony as a three-dollar bill, the minister seems to be an expert on the Christian Bible, the Torah, and the Qur'an, all of which he can readily quote, chapter and verse.”
Talkin' Broadway

“This hysterically amusing look finds Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan (Christopher Sutton), a Joel Osteen clone waiting for God to show up. He makes the perfect televangelist and you can not help but see the resemblance to the latest TV screen con men.”
Times Square Chronicles

“It is one of the charming conceits in God Shows Up that while the minister (convincingly Osteen-ish Christopher Sutton) expects humanity to be chastised for its wickedness, God is instead impressed by man’s ingenuity, with big cities and the invention of music garnering particular praise.”
Theater News Online

“Christopher Sutton plays the televangelist with the easy cadence and charm of a snake-oil salesmen. He handles an obnoxious role extremely well, bringing a genial confidence even when he is discovered to be lying.”
Reviews Off Broadway

“Dr. Rehan (Christopher Sutton) embodies the smooth-talking, telegenic, snake oil salesman type who speaks in puns with a Southern accent, and always sports a grin. All three actors give fine performances under the direction of Christopher Scott, particularly Mr. Sutton, who nails the televangelist archetype without leaning on caricature”
Stage Left

“God Shows Up recently opened in New York City, combining comedy and faith into one hilarious yet timely play. Created by Peter Filichia, the story centers around the question of whether there is a God, and if so, does humanity have the right idea about the Almighty? In terms of the latter question, probably not. We meet Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan (Christopher Sutton), a seemingly devoted faith worshipper who has dedicated his life to God (Lou Liberatore) with his talk show, where he asks the audience for heavy donations in order for God's love and special gifts, such as “Jesus Loves You” flip-flops. But when God shows up on the show as a guest, Rehan's faith is tested to the extreme, and his real self slowly begins to unfold. Between the light-hearted comedy, especially the playful banter between Rehan and God, there are real issues of today sprinkled throughout, including equality, gender, sexuality, and the act of worshipping another identity. The audience leaves the show with not only a good laugh but compassion for others, and a better sense of what we hope God really is and wants us to be.” Broadway World

“When the action starts and we first meet Dr. Thomas Isaac Rehan (played with believable conviction by Christopher Sutton), his preaching is instantly recognizable to anyone who has channel surfed since cable television exploded back in the 1980s. He is one of those types who can’t get through more than three minutes of speaking to his worldwide congregation on the air without a commercial pleading for contributions and offering stuff to sell, like “Jesus Loves You” flip-flops. All to fill the coffers of his church—and of course—line his own pockets. It reeks to high heaven, but not to those who “believe.” This is a theatre piece with not only clever intent and genuine wit, but the smarts to back it up. God Shows Up, folks… let the games begin!”
Theater Pizzazz

Christopher recently starred as Jerry in The Full Monty at theRep directed by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill