Elemeno Pea at Citadel Theatre Company

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...While this play is considered a comedy, and has some very funny spots (often very "sit-com" funny), the dealings of sibling rivalry, class concerns, and human kindness and frailty are keys to the story line, which by the way is one-hour-forty -minutes with no intermission. Because of all the openings the past two weeks, I ended up coming to one of their Wednesday 11 a.m. performances (they are done with this run) and was very surprised to see almost 75% of the 140 comfy seats filled. This on a day when it is also 70 degrees in February!. Hats off to Citadel for having an active audience pool to support live theater on a Wednesday morning!"

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...In Citadel’s fine production, this entertaining, yet bitingly thoughtful play is both sophisticated, original and funny. It’s an Upstairs/Downstairs kind of story about the aristocracy versus the hired help, told with a contemporary bent. Costumed with superb taste by Katherine Pavlovna Goldberg, and played upon one of this company’s most beautiful sets, accented with realistic lighting and sound designs by Emma Magrady and Bob Boxer, this comic drama is a real gem."

Third Coast Review - Not Recommended

"...Truth be told, my conclusion is that the play itself is unenjoyable, and that's unfortunate for the cast and crew of Citadel. I feel like the materials they were given were nigh insurmountable in this case, and that's more on Smith-Metzler than anyone on stage. While I can't recommend this show, I am curious to see the actors and actresses involved in a different show and role with Citadel, and will be keeping an eye out for upcoming shows."

Picture This Post - Recommended

"...Maggie Kettering plays Devon with natural ease and confidence. After a glib start, Grayson Heyl as Michaela finds the soul of a lonely woman who has acquired much but loses much more. Sarah Hecht (Simone), Nic Fantl (Ethan) and Ray Andrecheck (Jos-B) tend to push the more obvious aspects of their characters. But Metzler's script is a mix of sitcom broad strokes and subtle interactions that are sometimes at odds with each other. Keeping up with those shifts must be challenging for director Ellen Phelps and her cast. Over time, they may all slow down a bit and discover more tears beneath the one-liners."

Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended

"...Still, the script’s compassionate treatment of all its characters--from the bitter Jose B. to the bright-eyed, ambitious Simone--is the show’s greatest strength. For all that Ethan and Jose B. play important roles in the storytelling, the story is, at its heart, about women--the connections between women, the choices women have to make between career paths and love, the ways that wanting children affects women’s experiences. In this way, Citadel Theatre contributes to a wider cultural push toward broadening the scope of voices being amplified in theatre and bringing the experiences of women front and center."