Comrades Mine at City Lit Theater

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Gallagher's "Comrades Mine" covers some of the same ground as Frank Galati's take on E.L. Doctorow's "The March" at Steppenwolf last season. It's not nearly as magisterial in its staging, but it provides a warmhearted take on the sometimes-surprising intersections of race and gender in the most defining conflict of the American experience."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...The nine-person cast, including Justine C. Turner as Emma, deliver honest, grounded performances, and the atmospheric music marks sound designer Gaspard Le Dem as a significant new talent on the Chicago scene."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...Maureen Gallagher opts to focus on her heroine's struggle, not only against the enemy, but the prejudices of her countrymen as well. Justine C. Turner contributes another of her understated cross-dressing turns as the courageous Edmonds, flanked by an ensemble ably invoking their milieu while never exceeding the scope of their narrative. If the conclusion-with the fraternal acceptance of her fellow veterans constituting Edmonds' most cherished reward for the hardships she suffered in combat and afterward-strikes you as a little too Hollywood biopic, you'll just have to write your own sequel."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Emma's story is one of bravery, loyalty and commitment as well as a glimpse into the sexist attitudes of 19th Century America. The Congressional Committee denied Emma's request to vacate the desertion charge when overwhelming evidence that she only left the Union Army to recuperate from war related injuries and sickness. This is a story that needs to be told and it is presented as well stage and acted stage theatrical event. Kudos to City Lit Theater for presenting a little know story of bravery that was apart of the American Experience."