Diamond Dogs presented by The House Theatre of Chicago at Chopin Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...In the theater, this premiering work plays out a bit like you're watching participants in a maze or in one of those now-popular escape rooms. If you'll forgive the drastic simplification, you're basically watching a group of diverse adventurers - chosen for various specialties and played by Abu Ansari, Elana Elyce, Katherine Keberlein, Chris Hainsworth, Joey Steakley (not that you can see Steakley's face) and Roberts himself. This crew of voyagers lives on the planet Yellowstone, which is where we neo-colonist earthlings headed after our own joint froze and enjoyed a kind of nouvelle belle epoque."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...On the slightly more positive side of the ledger, the show's effects and general design are impressive by typical storefront standards. And even those don't really measure up, because the House's audiences are used to that. They do mise en scene better than any company in this town that doesn't have a Regional Tony (and even better than some of the ones that do)."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...I never understood what all the movements by the characters through the arched doorways was for until someone a day later explained to me that was how the cast moved up to the top of the tower. That is an example of how difficult Diamond Dogs was to follow. I wonder just who is the target audience for this show? Maybe fans of sci-fi, especially fans of Alastair Reynolds and fans of “hard sci-fi will find this play worthy? The lighting effects by Lee Keenan were excellent adding eye-popping scenes. Too bad that only happened late in the show after most audience patrons had zoned-out on the play. Unfortunately, for once The House Theatre of Chicago, Diamond Dogs simply didn’t work on stage for general audiences."

Buzznews.net - Somewhat Recommended

"...The six actors also do a fine job with broadly written characters. Steakley, in particular, has mastered an odd movement vocabulary, which he relies on because Dr. Trintignant always wears a mask and may not even have a face. Roberts is also a stand-out in a role which requires the audience to become increasingly disillusioned with his character. For fans of the Revelation Space series, Diamond Dogs is a must-see, and The House’s production values are used here in service of an interesting aesthetic rarely seen elsewhere. But the aggravating nature of the story makes it important for anybody who is not a hard sci-fi fan to know what they are getting into beforehand. Certain plot points late in the play which seemed too convenient or didn’t make sense made me even more frustrated. Diamond Dogs has its strong points, but is firmly situated within its niche."

Picture This Post - Recommended

"...Creative design and an exciting story make DIAMOND DOGS a show you do not want to miss! If you have a passion for science fiction, get your tickets before it is too late."

NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...If there is a case to be made that “Diamond Dogs” is actually attempting to be critical of its seemingly glaring misogyny and thinly veiled racism, it would take some Kellyanne Conway-level spin. The closest we get is a vague line of questioning regarding the morality of the pleasure dome of affluence. However, even this is buried beneath expository jargon and bald stereotypes. At one point, a character suggests that the rest of the team needs to “try harder.” On the whole, I couldn’t agree more."