Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...For 2014, Graney has turned to the only other Gilbert and Sullivan operetta that is popular enough to merit this kind of populist treatment from The Hypocrites: "H.M.S. Pinafore." (Maybe I speak too soon; perchance Chicagoans soon will frolic to the Graney version of 1866's "Cox and Box." But there is no Little Buttercup there.)"
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Traditionalists who favor the sort of D'Oyly Carte Opera Company productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas that were "state of the art" from their Victorian era origin until 1982, might be horrified by Graney's playful warping. But as with "All Our Tragic," his marathon take on the existing Greek tragedies (a huge hit earlier this year), the more you get into the swing of his approach, the more you realize he has captured the spirit, if not always the letter of the material. With "Pinafore" you need look no further than those moments when the entire audience is urged to make wavelike gestures with their hands and gleefully plays along."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...The result is a production that Gilbert and Sullivan purists might not even recognize. To my mind that's a good thing. Traditional Gilbert and Sullivan productions are too often staid and stuffy, with lots of bad British accents and late-Victorian affectations. Here the performers are relaxed; they let the comedy flow out of their characters. And Graney has packed his cast with singer/actors who know how to have a good time onstage."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...As with the two prior shows, Pinafore is performed in immersive promenade, with audience members free to roam the set throughout, mixing with the cast or claiming perches in the sailors' bunks or the central "pillow pool" (though in the repertory's new venue at the Den Theatre, there's much more off-set seating provided for those who'd prefer not to promenade). The pillows are no accident—the whole aesthetic here is slumber-party chic, with costume designer Alison Siple outfitting the actors in wildly patterned pajamas to counter the circus-themed Mikado and beach-party vibe of Penzance."
Theatre By Numbers - Somewhat Recommended
"...Where this production falls apart for me is the promenade seating. It doesn't add to the production at all. I've seen other shows where promenade style works well, because the play couldn't really function without it. That sort of seamless integration of audience and staging was prevalent in last year's "Dorian" at The House. The Hypocrites employ it much less effectively. None of the staging/blocking that constantly relocated the audience served any true purpose in supporting the rest of the show. In fact, when during the curtain speech the actor who explained how the audience was going to be moved about, he stated that it would be "because the director told me to stand there". And that's how the action seemed. Seldom did it seem like there was a well thought out reason for the movement, other than the director having said so."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...Alison Siple's childish costumes blend classic sailor garb with colorful pajamas in a variety of textures and patterns. Heather Gilbert's lighting design adds to the festive atmosphere copious strands of Christmas lights criss-crossing the ceiling. Erin Kilmurray's creative choreography sees the cast dancing across the benches, climbing the bunk beds and sliding down with instruments in hand. Stage manager Miranda Anderson keeps everything moving like clockwork. The result of all this talent is an uproariously enjoyable and highly entertaining production. It's not your grandparents' H.M.S. Pinafore!"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...HMS Pinafore is another great work by The Hypocrites. Whether you are a Gilbert and Sullivan fan like myself, or someone who has never been exposed to their work, this is a production that needs to be on your must-see list."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This sensational, creative company, one of the jewels in Chicago’s shimmering crown of theatres, continues to impress, show after show. With their completion of Gilbert and Sullivan’s trilogy of popular operettas the group has achieved the impossible, thinking outside of the box. Thanks to Sean Graney’s inspired and imaginative adaptation and direction, this production adds spirit and pizzazz to the holiday season. Don’t be surprised to find yourself involved in a pillow fight or discover a teddy bear tossed into your lap. It’s all good fun. This is a must-see production for everyone, young and old alike. While the script is older than a holiday fruitcake, in the Hypocrite’s capable hands, it’s become as fresh and sparkling as new-fallen snow."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"..."H.M.S. Pinafore" would make a great date evening for the twenty-something attendees who apparently are a major segment of the Hypocrites audience. On opening night, the young men and women all were enjoying themselves thoroughly and nobody got disruptive. That's maybe the ultimate tribute to the production's success. The show isn't for all tastes, especially for viewers who like their theater presented in a more conventional manner. But the Hypocrites should be congratulated for making such a daring project look so effortless and inevitable. The players clearly were having as much fun as the audience, and that made the evening pretty irresistible."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...I know this might be shocking to hear, but hijinks do ensue. And ensue. And ensue. The show is approximately ninety-five-percent hijinks. And fifty-percent of those ensue solely from Stulik as Admiral Dame Jo-Ann. She is the ideal Graney performer: electric and kind of mad, with a vaudevillian's flare for the comedic. Her performance of "When I Was A Lad" (alongside Matt Kahler as Cousin Heebies) brings down the house and then holds it down and gives it a noogie."
