Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Building on a simple, solid, amusing insight—that Renaissance princes acted an awful lot like mob bosses—director Drew Martin has updated Shakespeare's problem play to the late 1950s and reimagined the king of France and duke of Florence as dons fighting it out a la The Godfather, Part II."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...The task of imposing dialects ranging from Little Caesar to I Love Lucy upon Shakespeare's classic prose meets with varied levels of success. Coming off the most verbally adept are Rich Logan's Royal Highness and Heather Chrisler's Diana, though Jeremy Trager lends a plummy swagger to the role of the boastful Parolles, Sean Sinitski endows the witty Lavatch with suave urbanity, as do Susie Griffith and Kimberly Logan as a pair of spritely matriarchs. The real star of the show, however, is Jeffrey Levin's ebullient score of Sinatra-era pop. Playgoers unafraid of revealing their age are welcome to sing along during the intermission."
Edge - Highly Recommended
"...Thankfully, skilled director Drew Martin, helming Stage Left Theatre's "All's Well That Ends Well," transforms the setting of the play to mid-20th century America, and in doing so explores the play's themes of power and gender politics in a remarkably refreshed way. Cemented by a capable cast, "All's Well" is a quality finish to Stage Left's 33rd season."
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...Flaunting his Tommy gun and snarling like Edward G. Robinson on a tear, Jeremy Trager, intentionally or not, leaves out the lovable side of roguish Paroles: Here he’s just a panderer and traitor to the troops, a foil for Sandy Elias’ gruff Lafew to too easily despise. Rich Logan’s King is more threatening than regal. Susie Griffith as Bertram’s feckless mother can only get caught in the crossfire. Recalling Rocky Balboa’s stentorian Adrian as Diana, Heather Chrisler gives the men the kind of payback they deserve–but it should come from Helena, not her. She could have been a contender."
ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended
"...Yet, Shakespeare patrons and those curious to see a rarely produced work may find this show worth seeing. Jeremy Trager is intensely hyper as the obnoxious Parolles. Melanie Derleth is effective as Helena while Luke Daigle, as Bertram is the manipulative rouge warrior. This 14 member cast works hard to make the play worthy. There are some fine moments among some of the baffling speeches. This uneven production is challenged by the show's trying to blend the comic elements and the dramatic twists. The ending is problematic."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...All's Well That Ends Well brings audience members into the world of the orphaned woman, Helena (Melanie Derleth). Helena is passionately in love with Bertram (Luke Daigle), son of the Countess of Rossillion (Susie Griffith), whom she is currently in the care of. Though the societally unacceptable difference in class between Helena and Bertram makes it clear that a woman of such a low class could never marry Bertram, Helena is determined to wed him. Audience members are taken on a wild ride as Helena devises her plot to obtain her beloved. It seems only natural that such a dramatic, secretive plot would be set within a mobster atmosphere."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...I love a great Shakespeare play, but I am not a snob. This version was enjoyable and fun, and isn’t that the point in celebrating someones Birthday? And just like that, “Bada Bing Bada Boom” they made it happen."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...If "All's Well That Ends Well" is, as some critics insist, a "problem comedy," then director Drew Martin, by setting the play in the Mafia-land of television's popular series, "The Sopranos," has smeared, if not completely erased, the comedy's challenges by darkening the dramatics and upping the merriment, giving Stage Left Theatre a most happy surprise."
