Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...If you were a fan, give this one a look. You'll enjoy marveling at old-school TV writing at its best. "Cheers" was, I suppose, a hinge sitcom — one foot in classic bits and shtick not far removed from Mel Brooks and another in ambitious, "Seinfeld"-like absurdism. It influenced Larry David, for sure, and "Friends," but it also had a mostly working-class warmth entirely its own."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"....Erik Forrest Jackson was tasked with whittling down an entire season of an iconic sitcom into a two-hour stage show and it proves to be a bit insurmountable. The show’s witty dialogue, characters and humor are all there, but Jackson and director Matt Lenz never really answer the question of why the stage version of a popular television show should exist. Moreover, transitions between scenes (and, in some cases, episodes) are particularly jarring in the first act. The second act is a bit smoother, but it’s helped along by the fact that the plot, in which Diane begins to date Sam’s wealthier and far more successful older brother, is from the two-part episode “Showdown” which capped the show’s initial season."
Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended
"....Another TV-to-theater adaptation -- "I Love Lucy Live on Stage," which appeared at the same venue in 2012 -- offered something more with the theatrical conceit of being a studio taping complete with commercial jingle production numbers spliced in. With "Cheers Live on Stage," however, there just isn't as much on offer to lure audiences away from their screens at home."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Fans of the TV show will no doubt get a small thrill seeing the Boston bar lovingly rendered in three dimensions, and at getting to join in the collective bellowing welcome at every entrance of “Norm!” (Practically the entire opening night audience did so, instinctually, when actor Paul Vogt first showed up in the George Wendt role.) Superfans can even purchase VIP tickets that allow them to go on stage at intermission and belly up for a beer themselves. And it should be said that much of the cast is offering adept, technically precise impersonations of their televised forebears."
ShowBizChicago - Highly Recommended
"...Cheers, the iconic Emmy Award-winning NBC series where everybody knows your name, has brought that little bit of Boston to Broadway. When I first stepped into the theatre and caught a glimpse of the wonderfully detailed and realistic set by Michael Carnahan I was back thrown back to 1985. And...I...Loved it."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...It was very cool how they combined several of episodes into this 2 ˝ hour show. You know that time has passed when you come back from intermission and Carla is about 7 months pregnant. The story line solidifies a bit in Act 2 and seems to move more quickly than Act 1 and so, how does this episode end? You will have to see for yourself!"
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"....Director Matt Lenz and his staff have put together a talented group of actors who had the challenge of recreating icons of our history- TV-wise. They have done a solid job in casting Barry Pearl as the Coach. “Coach” was Sam’s old coach when he was a baseball player, before he owned the bar. I guess for those of you who are unfamiliar with the show (shame on you. Re-runs can be found all over the networks and via streaming), I will let you know that Sam is a powerful ex-pitcher, a ladies man who has a new date every night and he is also a recovering alcoholic (yes, who owns a bar) and his ex-coach is a bartender. They have a waitress, Carla (Sarah Sirota is a clone of Rhea Perlman in looks, voice and demeanor) who is a stitch and are in need of one more."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"....A very enjoyable evening of laughs with an entertaining, episodic plot and winning characterizations provide a welcome trip down memory lane. Baby Boomers, in particular, will find this stage version of one of television’s most popular situation comedies a real treat. With no violence or profanity, here’s a story populated with uncommonly kind characters all searching for a little love and respect in this crazy world. Within this microcosm of society, where the beer flows freely, it’s comforting to finally find a place where everybody knows your name."
