Chicago Tribune - Not Recommended
"...But Steinhagen's format here (a multitude of brief, drive-by scenes of mundane domestic discord) never really clicks into gear. You don't get to know these people as individual characters worth caring about, nor is the writing strong enough to carry you through regardless."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...The cast members who dive headfirst into this character cesspool include the ever-morphing Mary Jo Bolduc and Matthew J. Lloyd, whose physicality is a show in itself. Steinhagen's loose script at times threatens to become scattershot, but mostly that openness allows for beautiful, bold moments—like a monologue about god delivered in five languages. Melting pot, Chicago style."
Windy City Times - Recommended
"...A hazard with this kind of live-action collage is the efficiency with which players must orient audiences to each new dramatic locale. On opening night, not all of these had been wholly developed. ( To be fair, some of Steinhagen's minimalist exercises also need to reveal significant information earlier, especially when the actors are of near-uniform age and attire. ) That said, the effort required in the creation of 61 instant plays, executed over 90 minutes by only 13 actors, is certainly laudable, as is the commercial appeal of the assemble-it-yourself concept. Anyone who's ever gone slightly bugflake under Mother Nature's merciless wrath—and who among us hasn't?—will likely find their sentiments echoed during this last chance to remember sweat and sunshine before the snow arrives."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Despite able performances, the stories themselves are interesting morsels, but don't really build to anything impactful. There are through-lines, to be sure; a man (Matthew J. Lloyd) comes to terms with his schizoaffective disorder. A couple (Tyler Rich and Nelson Rodriguez) bicker themselves into serious relationship reevaluation. By dropping in to characters so sporadically, it's easy to understand the purpose of each scene, but difficult to feel for anyone."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...The program includes a note from Steinhagen saying the play is meant to be flexible and can be rearranged. Since he’s a company member and I doubt director Ronan Marra shut him out of the rehearsal process, I think you could call this as close as any production to the playwright’s intent. Buck Blue’s scene design is so resolutely blank the frames don’t even have pictures, they’re just painted over. There are a few locations-a stoop, some grass, rooms with mismatched chairs-but generally it’s up to the actors to make the scene. Their skill and costume designer Elsa Hiltner provide the only way to differentiate between characters, which isn’t terrible. I like that the people are a little mysterious. Give this show a look if you want a slice of life sampler platter or to support new work. Some of the stories could have been plays on their own, but combined with the other scenes, it creates a loving snapshot of the city."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...At a glance you may be expecting a overly lengthy series of melodramatic soliloquies, but Devil’s Day Off is the complete opposite. Humorous in its honesty, Devil takes a look at people’s interactions when they are forced to put down their cellphones and make eye contact for the first time. The content is both relevant and insightful, you may even be surprised to hear your own conversations and conflicts in the mix. Jon Steinhagen’s world premiere is a splendid stepping stone to a more fully-developed world of characters where we can start to delve deeper into what makes humans flawed and so damn interesting."
The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended
"...I love Steinhagen's sentiment for his creation. I wish I had read it before the show began. I would have appreciated it on a different level. Still, a play should convey its intent during the theatrical experience without the aide of the playwright's note in the program. DEVIL'S DAY OFF has all kinds of possibility. Steinhagen should provide more instructions for the director and less explanation for the audience."