Estrella Cruz [the junkyard queen] at Halcyon Theatre at Christ Lutheran Church

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...But the mix of anachronism, mythological allusions and advertising (Aurelia's beauty products are among her vaunted inventions) doesn't settle into a cohesive tone. The pacing feels purgatorial, which doesn't serve the emotional stakes. Smith (whose "Feathers and Teeth" played at the Goodman last fall) has a supple imagination and a poet's sense of how we invent love and then watch it fall to pieces. But "Estrella Cruz (the junkyard queen)" can't quite pick its way through the fascinating narrative shards to show us deeper allegorical treasures."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Smith lines up scattershot quirky oddities for 80 minutes without establishing a coherent stage world where such peculiarities might convey meaning. It's all tangent with no center. Director Tony Adams's moody, visually satisfying production features some engaging performances but could benefit from more varied pacing."

Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...The story is confusing as we are learning about a young woman’s “coming of age”. This is a far cry from Marriott’s “Spring Awakening” and is based on the Greek myth “Persephone” and her journey to the underworld (also known as Hell). This version has the story about a young Cuban-American girl becoming a woman. Allyce Torres does a fine job bringing this character to life and watching her go from girl to woman works."

Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended

"...Parody works best when strong nods are given to the original work, but when the adaptation doesn't feel too constrained by its basis. Estrella Cruz balances the two qualities admirably and, in doing so, presents a fun and unusual story. At times the tone isn't navigated well enough to allow the important moments to land, getting overshadowed by the play's humor. Because of this, the ending isn't as powerful as it otherwise could be. Nevertheless, this production has a lot to offer, and its refreshing to witness a theatre company hold fast to its mission statement and core values as well as Halcyon does."

NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...Paradoxically, the very physical reality carries none of that tempo; the actors pick up cues slowly and the space between them isn't filled with much of anything. None of the actors create a solid perspective in their characters; they are each disparate enough to seem accidentally lifted from alternate versions of the same play. Sometimes these perspectives may be oriented around a specific quality or moment of the play. When these instances arise, the actors' choices make sense, but they fade quickly."