"The Irish National Ballet first night at the Abbey Theatre brought the acclamation of an enthusiastic audience. Domy Reiter Soffer is a well established choreographer of world stature. His balletic interpretation of "The Turn of the Screw" (his title is Shadow-Reach) is as dramatically gripping as the Britten Opera, while John McCabe's score is immensely effective for the dance idiom in an eerily spooky setting. The Henry James story is most ably condensed in this version, and most ably danced by Ric Abel as Miles, Victoria Lee as Flora, and Anna Donovan as Mrs. Grose. Richard Collins is effectively evil as Quint, and Kathleen McInerney brings a sort of lyrical innocence to Miss Jessel that makes one wonder if that poor lady was all that she was painted. But the star of the show is Kathleen Smith, whose governess, in her tortured night-mares, takes over the whole blood-boltered atmosphere of James' weird story, and embodies in dance all that it is about. The effect is startling and the choreography is powerful".
Seamus Kelly-(The Irish Times).
" Domy Reiter Soffer's new ballet based on The turn of the Screw under the name "Shadow-Reach". This a complex production involving ghostly images, Multiple gauzes, lighting effects. The consummate skill of the choreography that created a ballet of spine-chilling effect. The music by John Mc Cabe work extremely well. Richard Collins created thoroughly nasty Peter Quint with fine, dramatic performances from the rest of the cast including an outstanding performance by Kathleen Smith as the governess, and Anna Donovan danced Mrs. Grose. Reiter Soffer's style is well known to the Irish audiences, in "Shadow –Reach he has caught all the evil subtleties of James' tour de force. As in the opera he has created actual parts for the ghosts but still captures the strange ambivalence of the story-did it really happen or was it all in the governess mind? It is a work of genius that stunned the audience in their seats".
Ian Fox- (The Stage).
With "Shadow-Reach" Last night at the Abbey Theatre, Domy Reiter Soffer again proved what a brilliant and inventive choreographer he is, and both an asset and inspiration to the Irish National Ballet Company. "Shadow-Reach" based on the celebrated Henry James tale "The Turn of the screw" in which a frustrated Victorian governess imagines that her young charges, brother and sister, are being possessed of the evil ghosts of a former governess and a valet. The choreographer has devised a most dramatic and riveting work, with as its climax, a dance that is startlingly erotic and which superbly performed by Kathleen Smith and Richard Collins. Kathleen McInerney as the former governess, Ric Abel as Miles, Victoria Lee as Flora and the superb Anna Donovan as Mrs. Grose the House Keeper. John McCabe's second symphony seldom has a score, eerie and strange, fitted a ballet as well as here.
John Finegan- (The Independent).
"Domy Reiter Soffer" ballet "Shadow-Reach" based on Henry James' The Turn of the Screw with Music by John McCabe has skillfully evoked the nightmarish nature of the tale with six principal dancers representing the governess Kathleen Smith, Anna Donovan as Mrs. Grose, Victoria Lee as Flora, Ric Abel as Miles and Richard Collins danced Quint. The ballet gives a firm story telling basis while allowing it to express its nature through the choreography. In the first section we are introduced to the governess, the house keeper and the two children, followed by the ghosts that supposedly control them, and a manifestation of Quint as potential object of the governess's interest. In the Middle section there is much more apparently direct corruption of the children by comparison with Britten's opera, with even a hint of incest between them as they observe the erotic duet of the former governess Miss Jessel and Quint. He seeks to possess the new governess as he already possesses Miles and Flora in the final scene, but she repulses him. Whereupon the nursery hobby horse, which has earlier represented the children's playful innocence, makes an eerie self propelled entrance bringing the dead body of Miles spread eagle over the saddle. The choreographic interest alternates between the children's playful seemingly innocent spirit and the confrontations of the governess and ghosts with their erotic overtones. Was truly stunning directed with imagination. The ballet was danced with eloquent assurance by the six principals, Kathleen Smith brought a vivid sense of character and dancing style to the governess, with Richard Collins forcefully intense as Quint and Anna Donovan a house keeper of benevolent but firm propriety, Kathleen McInerney made Miss Jessel a figure of more than passing interest, and Victoria lee and Ric Abel gave a high spirited character to the two decidedly wayward children, Flora and Miles. It is highly entertaining resourceful ballet that captured the essence of Henry James' tale with power and gusto, thereby another strong addition from Reiter Soffer to the company's repertory".
John Percival-(The Times)