REVIEWS

…As Little Sally in “Urinetown”

"But, then, as the ingenuous Little Sally (an inspired turn by Ashley Blasland that alone is worth the price of admission) asks at several points, “What kind of musical is this anyway?... The company is one of the strongest The Theater Barn has fielded in some time. It ranges from…(to) Blasland’s utterly irresistible Little Sally." -- Jeffrey Borak, Berkshire Eagle

"The biggest scene stealer is Ashley Blasland as Little Sally, the “young girl” who both participates in the action and offers frequent meta-textual observations. Blasland’s mix of kid and adult, naiveté and omniscience, is a treat." -- Jonathan Levine, The Pittsfield Gazette

“It’s made even funnier by the fact that much of the deconstruction is done by Little Sally, who is, of course, a young girl being played by an adult woman—the hilarious Ashley Blasland, who channels Christina Ricci and Bebe Neuwirth simultaneously." -- Michael Eck, Albany Times Union

"And then there is Ashley Blasland as Little Sally. Blasland looks about 10 years old, but she gives the impression that she's spent all of them on stage. Each of her line readings comes as a complete surprise, and with her quirky, understated manner and with her floppy stuffed teddy bear, she practically steals every scene she's in."-- Charles Kondek, The Independent

"Leading the cast is Ashley Blasland, who makes the precocious waif Little Sally one of the funniest characters to grace area stages this summer." -- Bob Goepfert, The Troy Record

"The show begins with our genial narrator, Police Officer Lockstock (Kyle Fichtman) and his sidekick Little Sally (Ashley Blasland), a delightful urchin…The diminutive Blasland makes an adorable tyke, the very essence of a determined child for whom all the world is still black and white." -- Gail M. Burns, The Chatham Courier

"Kyle Fichtman is Officer Lockstock,…surviving no matter what else happens because, as he tells Little Sally—deliciously portrayed by Ashley Blasland—he is also the narrator.” -- J. Peter Bergman, Berkshire Bright Focus

"The dialogue…is often hysterical, particularly as delivered by the narrator, Officer Lockstock (Kyle Fichtman); Little Sally (Ashley Blasland); and Hot Blades Harry (Matthew Daly)." -- Paul Lamar, The Schenectady Gazette

 

…As Young Violet in “Violet”
"There are moments in which Violet travels back to her youth, her life with her father, to the accident. In many ways, these are the most affecting sequences in (this) production, especially as they are played by Matthew Daly as Violet's father and Ashley Blasland, who virtually stole Urinetown out from under everyone last summer at the Barn, as Young Vi." -- Jeffrey Borak, The Berkshire Eagle

"As (Violet’s) younger self, Ashley Blasland does a fine job with her scenes and her songs. She is a bright young talent and she could use better material." -- J. Peter Bergman, Berkshire Bright Focus

"Blasland and Daly, both wonderful in last season’s Urinetown, do right by this show’s vocal and acting demands." -- Paul Lamar, The Schenectady Gazette

"This is a large cast, each member of which offers good moments. Especially effective are Ashley Blasland, who as young Vi shows us who Violet could have been…" -- Bob Goepfert, The Troy Record

"Highlights include... “Look at Me”, a duet featuring Violet and her younger self. Ashley Blasland gracefully complements her as the younger version of Violet, especially in scenes coupled with Daly’s strong portrayal as the father." -- Jonathan Levine, The Pittsfield Gazette

"It is nice to see Blasland play a girl past puberty this year. She does a fine job as Young Violet, and her scenes with Daly are very moving…One of my favorite scenes and songs was Luck of the Draw when we saw Father teaching Young Violet how to play Poker." -- Gail M. Burns, The Chatham Courier

 

…As Little Red Riding Hood in “Into the Woods”

"Impish rather than sympathetic describes Ashley Blasland's Little Red Riding Hood, who's really a tougher cookie than the Wolf. Blasland makes every gesture, even the rise of an eyebrow, pack its own wallop. Blasland shows very grown-up talent in one of the few solos in the first act, ‘I Know Things Now.’ Oh, doesn't she." -- James MacKillop, Syracuse New Times

"Ultimately, five performers, although scrupulously blended into the ensemble, stood out with their vocal work. Casey J. Ryan as the prince; Dani Gottuso as the witch; Carmen Viviano-Crafts as the klutzy Cinderella; Ashley Blasland as Little Red; and Lilli Melnikow as the baker’s barren wife are simply a joy to hear, as well as watch." -- Joan E. Vadeboncoeur, The Post-Standard

"Fellow Jamesville-DeWitt graduate Ashley Blasland joins director David Witanowski on stage for ‘Into the Woods’, starring as the production’s Little Red Riding Hood. ‘I saw her as [Little Red in her school production] and thought, “If I’m ever looking to do ‘Into the Woods,’ this is my girl,”’ Witanowski said. ‘She’s just so perfect for it.’" -- Alaina Potrikus, The Dewitt Times

"Blasland is perfectly cast as the not-so-innocent Red, and shows she’s no pushover for the likes of the Wolf or any of the “threatening” characters. Her sarcasm and facial expressions were never lost on the enthusiastic and appreciative audience." -- Tony Curulla, The Post-Standard

 

… As The Girl in “Veronica's Room”

"Ashley Blasland is a compelling heroine, seemingly innocent and naive at the outset. Faced with horrific circumstances, however, Blasland’s Susan doesn’t react like a simple damsel in distress. As with the other performers, Blasland has to reboot a few times and she does just as demanded." --Jonathan Levine, Pittsfield Gazette

"It is also acted beautifully by a quartet of actors who give new meaning to the word "ensemble". Blasland, as The Girl, is appealing even as one wonders how the character could be dumb enough to accept the terms of the old couple’s plot." --Carol King, Schenectady Gazette

"Ashley Blasland is The Girl...Are we meeting Blasland or the character she plays so neatly?...Blasland's final collapse into reality is done with spirit and feistiness and climaxes in the only way possible. Blasland has the subtlety to play the moments in this play and she handles her transitions from one state of mind to another with elan." --J. Peter Bergman, Boston Edge

"With such a small cast, every performance matters. Blasland is fine as the innocent Girl, putting up a strong fight in body and spirit. I have enjoyed her previous performances at the Barn-- an excellent Little Sally in Urinetown, a moving Young Vi in Violet, and a peppy Patty Simcox in Grease...Kudos to Blasland for projecting over the torrential rain pounding noisily on the roof of the Theater Barn the night I attended. She has obviously had good vocal coaching..." --Gail M. Burns, The Chatham Courier

 

… As Patty Simcox in “Grease”

"Ashley Blasland makes more of Patti Simcox, the total opposite of Rizzo, than most people have done in the past. These two women are hilarious in their few scenes together. Such amazing opposites, Schauer keeps Rizzo an unsympathetic character and yet she still makes us like her and root for her...Blasland manages the same sort of minor miracle as she pines for Danny and works to make him her own. We know that nothing can come of such a union and it doesn't matter because Blasland moves her character in and out of the morass of men musing on her frigidity, a quality this young actress knows how to move across the stage and out into our consciousness." --J. Peter Bergman, Boston Edge

"Ashley Blasland contributes fine work to the production." --Bruce G. Hallenbeck, The Independent

 

… As Salome in “The Robber Bridegroom”

"Like [Vile as Goat, whose] impressive physical comedy pushes hilarity to the limit, Salome is funny at face value, with Blasland making an epic witch of the tiny, tortured woman." --Stacy Smith Segovia, The Leaf-Chronicle

 

… As Babe O’Day in “Good News”

"The singing in the show equaled the quality and creativity of the dancing. The three female leads demonstrated their considerable talent…Pert Ashley Blasland (Babe) offered a distinctive boop-boop-de-doop twist to her songs. When the three women team up on ‘Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,’ they’re a terrific trio." -- Suzanne Connelly, The Post-Standard

"Ashley Blasland brought the same life and love to her character, Babe…‘Button Up Your Overcoat,’ another well-known standard, was cute and cuddly. Scott Austin and Ms. Blasland made it an anthem to teenage love." -- Mel Buttorff, Syracuse New Times

"Flapper Babe O’Day (Ashley Blasland) is one of the fine comics on display." -- John LaCasse, The Dewitt Times


… As Woodstock in “Snoopy”

"… and Ashley Blasland, who can speak only in birdish, is very funny as Woodstock."--Clare Aukofer, Daily Progress

 

… As a featured soloist in Ocean City Theatre Company's “I Love NY Cabaret”

"There were many outstanding performances. Ashley Blasland's singing Trip to the Library had hilarious lyrics and Blasland made the most of them."--Ed Wismer, Ocean City Sentinel

 

… As a principal performer in “Ocean City's Holiday Spectacular: 'Tis the Season”

"It would be impossible to single out any cast member for kudos, because all nine were exceptional...An arrangement of Mel Torme's "Christmas Song" [sung by Ashley Blasland] sounded new once more." --Ed Wismer, Ocean City Sentinel