Feedback From College Professors
After showing our plays - From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks and To Begin the World Over Again: the Life of Thomas Paine
The performance at Ocean County College of the Paine play packed our theatre, and Mr. Ruskin stayed an extra hour to answer questions from the audience. I received numerous emails from our faculty and our Foundation praising the performance and urging me to have Ian return. I am planning on having Mr. Ruskin back annually, to also perform as Harry Bridges and Nikola Tesla. I cannot say enough about the actor, the gentleman and the professional that Ian Ruskin is. I wholeheartedly and, without reservation, recommend that you make every attempt to have this man perform for any institutional you are affiliated with.
- Robert C. Marchie, Jr.
Program Chair, Liberal Arts Lecturer II, History, Ocean County College
Artistic, educational, entertaining and profoundly inspirational are adjectives that characterize Mr. Ian Ruskin’s portrayals of Thomas Paine in “To Begin the World Over Again: the Life of Thomas Paine” and Harry Bridges in “From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks”. Our student body consists mainly of working class students of Latin American origins and their challenges stem from centuries of social conditioning and poverty. Ruskin’s performance is the kind of motivational stimuli our students need.
- Walter I. Fernandez
Chairman, History Department at Cerritos College
Ian Ruskin’s mesmerizing live performance as labor leader Harry Bridges presents a man far removed from my students by time and culture, yet identifiable. Ian reveals Harry’s personal and professional entanglements in vibrant conversation as the man himself. My students implied that the drama on stage helped them visualize the drama of real lives. From this one event they were able to better intuit the purpose of art and the value of history.
- Michael Colling
Professor, History, Chair, Social Studies at East Los Angeles College
Mr. Ruskin's performance, which provides an introduction to the work of Thomas Paine through an accessible and entertaining telling of his life story, was one of the highlights of the fall semester not just for myself, but for the 150 students who were able to attend. I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from students and faculty alike, and await next semester when we can bring Mr. Ruskin back for an encore performance.
- Zachary Knorr
Professor of Philosophy at Los Angeles Valley College
Feedback from Students
From LA Valley College and LA City College
FROM WHARF RATS TO LORDS OF THE DOCKS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HARRY BRIDGES
His mastery of the information and love of story telling allowed me to follow him from moment to moment and thought to thought. It’s exciting to see a man so committed to acting and speaking truth he created his own niche.
I think the part that I found most interesting was when he was describing the strikes. I found this interesting because it enlightened me to how showing one’s numbers in a political movement it gives others morale to join the effort.
Amazing dialogue, I was drawn into the man’s world.
Mr. Ruskin’s one act play was entertaining and engrossing. I was absorbed by the play from start to finish.
I thought the play was very good. I enjoyed it very much and even more as we got further into the life of Harry Bridges… I thought it was great the use of pictures and music and the drinking… I’m glad I got to learn about someone who I never knew existed but had such a huge impact on labor today.
The play blew my mind. I wish the Hollywood industry could make movies like this. And I wish writers could write plays like this.
TO BEGIN THE WORLD OVER AGAIN: THE LIFE OF THOMAS PAINE
The performance that was given on Tuesday was awesome! I loved it. Everything was just simply amazing. The show gave me a better understanding of who Thomas Paine was.
I had never heard of Tom Paine, but now I want to know as much about him as is available. Mr. Ruskin’s performance was refreshing and perfect. The topics of Mr. Paine were just as timely today as then.
I loved the structure of the performance, set, costumes, and the style. It kept my attention for the whole time. It was very interesting and surprising, I would love to see it again.
I loved this performance! This actor is amazing- I at times forgot he was an actor and thought it was Thomas Paine. Thank you!
I don’t have much knowledge of the history of United States. However after seeing this play I was very interested in knowing more. I think the performance was perfectly done and I wouldn’t change anything.
Mr. Ian Ruskin’s play about Tom Paine was wonderful and very educational… He knows how to bring a lot of learning to the stage.