God's Work Reviews

Chicago Tribune- Not Recommended

"...Had all these been adult performers, I think I would have been more, well, comfortable is not the right word, but the aesthetic boundaries would have been more certain and secure. In this case, I feared for these young people, even though these were actors of great dedication and focus and I have no doubt whatsoever they are being well cared for by their theater company. But that pulled me out of the show, constantly. I felt a similar resistance to aspects of the staging, which, in order to depict what was depicted, had to pull from the vocabulary of theatricalized fear. It is a very polished visual staging, and in that veneer, that edgy sheen, lay some of my discomfort."

Chicago Sun Times- Highly Recommended

"...Remarkable is the followup word for this work of intense spiritual exorcism being performed by actors ages 14 to 18 whose vocal, physical, dramatic and ensemble skills can easily compare to those of the professionals in such acclaimed international troupes as Kneehigh (now visiting the Chicago Shakespeare Theater) and Complicite."

Chicago Reader- Recommended

"...The atmosphere is oppressive and otherworldly, thanks to Izumi Inaba's prisonlike costumes, Stephanie Paul and Maggie Popadiak's ritualistic choreography, and Mikhail Fiksel's eerie sound design. Combined with the fear and emotional deprivation conveyed by the cast, the results are haunting and heartbreaking."

Time Out Chicago- Recommended

"...Strengthened by imaginative design choices, the overall ambition and emotion of the show helps to balance the fact that many questions are left unanswered. Even so, the little closure the audience does get is hopeful and heartening-a well-crafted reminder that as dark as things can get, there's always the promise of light."

Stage and Cinema- Recommended

"...As a factual recount of an urban crime, God’s Work raises too many unanswered questions. (Why didn’t Irene and Peter take action sooner, for instance, or did Rachel hide her plight?) But as a disciplined and stylized depiction of the topography of terror and the joy of liberation (what Rachel calls her “second story”), it’s very winning theater, rich with moving stage pictures worth far more than a thousand words."

Around The Town Chicago- Highly Recommended

"...The beauty of “live” theater is that at any given time anything can happen as a story is being told. On the stage now, at The Goodman Theatre, in the Owen, the smaller of the venues located at 170 N. Dearborn, is a work entitled, “God’s Work”, an all new production that was conceived, devised and performed by a young group of chicago artists known as APTP, which stands for Albany Park Theater Project. While they did this play back in 2006, this is the first time it has been performed in a venue such as The Goodman, a much larger performance place for these high school artists and they have accepted the challenge with reaching new heights. Bravo!"

Chicago Theatre Review- Highly Recommended

"...That this horrendously ugly incident could be turned into such a terrifying, yet touching 80 minutes of beauty and redemption is a tribute to the children's artistry and the guidance of directors David Feiner, Stephanie Paul, Maggie Popadiak and Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez. While not recommended for audiences under the age of 12, this beautiful, moving tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and love's redemptive power is a must-see for everyone else."

The Fourth Walsh- Highly Recommended

"...Albany Park Theatre Project first produced GOD'S WORK in 2006. This new production features an all new 22 person ensemble, ranging in ages 14-18. The directorial team of David Feiner, Stephanie Paul, Maggie Popadiak, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez effectively orchestrate the large, young and talented cast. The entire show has a lyrical rhythm. The children line up for the father's role call. The appointed snitch recites his siblings' violations with a poetic cadence. Their punishments are illustrated by a paint stroke. The absence of the actual violence adds to the overall artistic feel of the piece. This is more performing art than drama."

Splash Magazine- Somewhat Recommended

"...This show had very mixed reactions on the opening night I attended. I noticed that some audience members behind and beside me got up and left after the first fifteen minutes. Those who stayed got swept up in the emotions and gave it a standing ovation.  Still a third group just sat there and politely applauded the notable effort at the end seeming thankful that it was finally over. Like most theatre, seeing God’s Work is a gamble: you will probably either like it or dislike it. But balcony seats go for as little as $10 and main floor seating is at most around $25, so it’s not an outrageous price to pay if you end up going and not liking it. A lot of it will depend on how much of a connection you’re able to make with it despite its problems and uneasiness of subject matter.”