Deer And The Lovers presented by First Floor Theater at The Den Theatre

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...The two parts might coexist, and possibly entertain, despite Zemba's endless preoccupation with the fact that "deer" and "dear" sound alike. But not in Jesse Roth's staging for First Floor Theater. Failing to understand that even silly behavior should make internal sense, Roth tries to build comedy on free-floating wackiness. The result isn't laughs but puzzlement: Why are these people acting this way?"

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...The "deer" in Emily Zemba's title is dead from the start. Except when it's "dear," and then still it looks like it might be dead. Zemba's mildly metaphysical new play, receiving a mildly charming world premiere from First Floor Theater, is big on linguistic quirks including rhymes and homophones; it's a small wonder Zemba didn't write it in verse."

NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...That isn't to say that the play is successful. It's a mixed bag. Namely, the play has a talented, highly watchable cast-including Matt Nikkilia as Lenny, the aforementioned weirdo from animal control-that still cannot fix a flawed script or muddled staging. The play wants to be two things at once: An absurdist sex farce and a snarky deconstruction of an absurdist sex farce. Unfortunately, the actors are left trying to play both simultaneously, resulting in paralysis. Much like its characters, "Deer and the Lovers" doesn't seem to know who it is or what it wants to do."