What Are Reviews Saying About Marcel on the Train Starring Ethan Slater?

Written by Slater and Marshall Pailet, the work sees the Wicked film star taking on world-famous mime Marcel Marceau.

February 23, 2026 By Meg Masseron, Andrew Gans

Ethan Slater and Maddie Corman in *Marcel on the Train* (Emilio Madrid)

The reviews are rolling in for Classic Stage Company's world premiere of Ethan Slater and Marshall Pailet's Marcel on the Train, which officially opened February 22. The Off-Broadway company recently announced a one-week extension for the limited engagement, which will now continue through March 22. Previews began February 5.

Slater (SpongeBob SquarePants, Wicked films) leads the cast as world-famous mime Marcel Marceau with Maddie Corman (Accidentally Brave), Max Gordon Moore (Tammy Faye), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), Alex Wyse (Good Night, Oscar), and Tedra Millan (Leopoldstadt) as Berthe plus understudies Harrison Bryan (A Patron of the Arts), Rora Brodwin (A Modest Proposal), and Josh Odsess-Rubin (Miracle on 55th Street). Pailet also directs.

The work follows Marceau in the years before his worldwide fame, during his time in World War II-era French resistance saving Jewish children from the Nazis. The play received a developmental workshop at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2024.

Read the reviews below.

amNY (Matt Windman)

Cititour NY (Brian Scott Lipton)

DC Theater Arts (Deb Miller)

New York Magazine/Vulture (Sara Holdren)*

New York Sun (Elysa Gardner)*

New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)

New York Theatre Guide (Joe Dziemianowicz)

The New York Times (Elizabeth Vincentelli)*

Talkin' Broadway (James Wilson)

TheaterMania (Zachary Stewart)

TimeOut NY (Adam Feldman)

The Wrap (Robert Hofler)*

*This review may require creating a free account or paid subscription.

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

The production also features set design by Scott Davis, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Studio Luna, and sound design by Jill BC DuBoff. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.

Slater will not appear in Marcel on the Train February 24–25 and March 1. The role of Marcel is understudied by Bryan.

Marcel on the Train is presented by special arrangement with Mix and Match Productions' Maxwell Beer and Mitch Marois.

Visit ClassicStage.org.