Reviews for Burn This have been mixed: most have noted strong performances by actors appearing in the productions, but they have also faulted the play as weak in elements of plot and character development. Wilson has stated in interviews that he waited to premier Burn This until John Malkovich was available to play the role of Pale, and in reviews of the play it was Malkovich's performance that was cited as one of the play's strengths. Frank Rich, writing for The New York Times, assessed Malkovich as a "combustive figure on stage, threatening to incinerate everyone and everything around him with his throbbing vocal riffs, bruising posture and savage, unfocused eyes." Rich continued to describe Malkovich, whom he declared,"delivers the firepower .. while he is equally busy tossing a mane of long dark hair, hoping to arouse the carnal interest of the very pretty young woman...