Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...This is, for sure, a very juicy play, a savvy discussion-starter and a cleverly self-protected drama offering an ample dose of schadenfreude as one watches Pulver's once-enviable life unravel as the pathetic extent of his sins, sexual and otherwise, are revealed in all their naked disgrace. The basic situation, of course, has plenty of referents in realpolitik, whether they be married congressmen using text to dispatch images of their naked body parts or the famous visual pastiche involving Mark Sanford, former governor of South Carolina, following an extramarital fling. That news conference, wherein Jenny Sanford stood stoically at her husband's side and (in public, at least) professed forgiveness and support, was, I suspect, the main inspiration for the early Norris scene. (Jenny Sanford later filed for divorce.) But Norris was hardly short of comparatives for his antihero - in terms of the sinning politicians, if not so much the resigning ones."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Directed by Norris, who has gathered a sensational cast of 14, "Domesticated" puts a more diverse 21st century twist on Edward Albee's emasculating "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." And the whole thing - irritating as it might be at moments - is shot through with a tabloid juiciness, rage and sick humor that, in a perverse way, keep you listening. To be sure, Norris can easily be indicted as a world class misanthrope and misogynist, but he will never be accused of being politically correct. Just why he is so angry is beyond my pay grade to analyze."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Bill's apology for the scandal differs from the usual televised mea culpa, however. He can't quite bring himself to perform the rites of self-flagellation expected of him, choking on the text of his speech and eventually going off script. He regrets being dishonest and causing pain, but when it comes right down to it he isn't sorry."
Windy City Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...Whatever the motive, it leaves playgoers no recourse but to commiserate with an excellent cast ( nobody projects "Iron Lady" better than Mary Beth Fisher ) assigned the task of refereeing comic-book confrontations designed to spark conversation, outrage and divorce proceedings."
Gapers Block - Somewhat Recommended
"...Finally, the climactic arguments between Bill and Judy clearly meant to shock and provoke those "dinner table conversations" feel tired and predictable. I'm glad playwrights continue to combat outdated attitudes and gender roles through dramatized misogyny, but Domesticated too often feels like a conversation we've already had."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Bruce Norris's 2013 satire about a politician brought down by a sex scandal is framed by a school presentation given by the pol's middle-school aged daughter, Cassidy (Emily Chang). The topic: Sexual dimorphism in the animal world. The device, along with Norris's title, parallels the argument that Bill (Tom Irwin), disgraced, increasingly frustrated but never really contrite, eventually makes: that marriage and monogamy are unnatural and misery-making behaviors."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...It's up to the audience to choose between Domesticated's feminist first part and its revisionist second part. More specifically, the question of whether Bill shoved Becky or if it was just a sad mishap remains artfully unanswered (and ultimately dismissed). It's not the prosecution that Norris intends. Bracing, infuriating, hilarious and deeply disturbing, Domesticated is a theatrical thrill ride. It's no accident that the book Judy writes about her humiliating marriage is called "You Have To Be This Tall." A dramatic roller-coaster, Norris's declaration of independence asks no less of its target audience."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Bruce Norris isn't a fan of the idea that audiences have to identify with or root for a character to enjoy a show. As far as acting goes, there are several impressive performances here, particularly Irwin and Fisher as two screwed up, vitriolic individuals. Irwin's character is the nastier one, of course. While it is possible to interpret his monologue as an attempt to goad the bartender into proving him wrong, his description of how women use men to get pregnant, and then transfer all their love to their babies, leaving men with nothing, implies he thinks it is normal for fathers to place no value on their children."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Bruce Norris is a familiar name in Chicago. In particular at the Steppenwolf Theatre where he is a member of their brilliant Ensemble of actors, directors and writers. The current production linking these two Chicago landmarks in the theater community is "Domesticated", written and directed by Norris with a cast of marvelous actors bringing life to a story of what happens to a family when their lives hits a snag."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...The events that grow out of the opening news conference are cleverly interspersed with Cassidy’s science presentation about the superiority of the female of the species. This intelligent play is biting and sometimes funny, while driving home the theme that users, men like Bill, must learn that this is no longer simply a man’s world."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...Audience opinion may divided on "Domesticated." I found it continuously entertaining and stimulating. But it's very graphic in its language and some viewers may not be clear on precisely what the play is about, or disagree with the playwright on perceived attitudes toward the balance of power in male/female relationships. But this is a Bruce Norris play and he always manages to get under the audience's skin, whether it's race, domestic tensions, or sex. Not since the heyday of Davis Mamet have we heard dialogue so incisive and ferocious."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...Norris navigates the gender exploration with raw honesty. His superb ensemble grapple with love and lust and getting fecal matter underneath a fingernail. The first act is an assault on Irwin. He gets verbally smacked and kicked in the balls. And it's not just from his personal female relationships. Mildred Marie Langford, channeling her inner Oprah, uses her television show to convince her audience of Irwin's guilt. She coerces them with the slick upbeat appeal of media. I found myself empathetic to Irwin in the first act. He silently endures the private berating and public beating."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"...When it comes to sharp and biting social commentary, no one gets to the gut like Bruce Norris. Domesticated is a strong, horrifically funny script executed deliberately and beautifully by the best of the best. It’s not pretty. It’s not pleasant. It is absolutely something you should see."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...But for all of the talking that takes place, none of it is heard and, of course, talk is cheap when no one listens. As the play progresses the characters don’t. Instead, they become more entrenched in the words they’re saying. While it all seems very funny from the distance of the audience, it’s disturbing to think that such bloviating is familiar to most of us."
