Inana Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Somewhat Recommended
"...With a cast that also includes Frank Sawa, Arya Daire, Behzad Dabu and Anish Jethmalani, TimeLine's take on "Inana" conveys the bravery of those who risked their lives for all that had gone before. But it still needs to forge empathetic characters who remind us of more courageous Iraqi versions of ourselves."
Chicago Sun Times- Somewhat Recommended
"...As with all TimeLine productions, "Inana" is expertly acted, directed (by Kimberly Senior) and designed (with Collette Pollard's set and Samantha Jones' costumes easily conjuring two worlds). But sadly, despite the immediate relevance and importance of the subject, Lowe's play is overly contrived to the point of disbelief. And despite the fact that most of the damage to national heritage sites and other cultural monuments throughout "The Fertile Crescent" in recent years has been self-inflicted, Lowe predictably saves her most obvious scorn for the Americans."
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
"...These multiple dimensions-did I mention the flashbacks and the double-casting?-could easily descend into vertigo-inducing chaos, but director Kimberly Senior ensures that all transitions are executed cleanly and crisply. She is assisted by the precision reflected in the environmental design, and by an ensemble delivering unexaggerated, immediately sympathetic, portrayals of lone individuals caught up in extraordinary circumstances demanding courage, however microcosmic the range of its expression."
Gapers Block- Recommended
"...Timeline Theatre's Chicago premiere of Inana by Michele Lowe is a ripped-from-the-headlines love story. And it also reminds us that Americans are sometimes the barbarians at the gates. In this case, the gates of an Iraqi museum of cultural artifacts. Kimberly Senior's direction succeeds in making this a lesson in recent history as well as a memorable personal story."
Time Out Chicago- Somewhat Recommended
"...Yet despite some poetic imagery in Lowe's script and committed performances by Kimberly Senior's cast, none of the characters in the piece feel quite true; they all seem to speak in the author's voice, with actions in service of the desired metaphors rather than plausibility. An alumna of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, Lowe has written a play that's highly researched but dramatically inert, making for an experience something like watching a public radio program."
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...Apart from the prevention of plunder and the intrigue of disappearing idols, Lowe's love story captivates our curiosity. The scenes where Shali comes to understand her arranged husband-and how his devotion to her is part of his pride in Iraq's past-are exquisitely nuanced. In this modern Pygmalion and Galatea, Shali comes to incarnate the body and soul of an exiled Inana. The deal that saves the statue works wonderfully, both as metaphor and plot device. Few plays sort stuff out as satisfactorily as Inana. As with many plays from TimeLine Theatre, this is valuable make-believe, reminding us that there are kindred souls among our supposed enemies."
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
"...This play effectively puts faces on those who desire to both preserve ancient artifacts and those who are determined to save loved one's from the brutal societal norms against woman and the harsh rule of a dictator. We care about these folks as we empathize with their plight. We see that most Iraqis are not our enemies, only the dictator and his gang. This play is worth a look."
Chicago Stage and Screen- Recommended
"...With Inana, TimeLine Theatre Company and playwright Michele Lowe set out to tell a story of love and hope. Thanks to a fantastic script, outstanding performances, and Kimberly Senior's deft directorial hand at the helm, this production absolutely delivers on that. Unfortunately I was unable to land in the emotional realm the piece was driving for between Yasin and Shali. Despite that feeling of distance, with a story so innately fascinating, there is still plenty to enjoy from beginning to end."
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
"...Timeline Theatre Company is known for bringing us stories that are based on actual stories and historical facts that are meaningful and will create discussion. In their current production, the Chicago Premiere of "Inana", Michele Lowe's tale of Middle East culture that looks at the destruction that took place during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Lowe has created a love story of sorts with some exotic icons for us to view. "Inana" was the most prominent female deity in ancient times. She was considered the very soul of Iraq. What happens when the statue, the very last statue of her, is destroyed, or lost or stolen?"
Chicago Theatre Review- Recommended
"...Once again TimeLine Theatre has made a forgotten, little understood event from the recent past feel relevant and immediate. This play is a fascinating puzzle box of events and involvements, peopled with quirky, likable characters who, thanks to Kimberly Senior’s astute direction, bring humanity to the anonymity of history. Flavoring this obscure event from the past with love, loss, real individuals and precious, priceless works of art, TimeLine has brought history to life once more."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews- Recommended
"...Credit the playwright with portraying Arab characters who are human and sympathetic rather than caricatures, though the startling revelations about the fate of the Inana statue almost got by me in the rush of plot resolutions during the show's final minutes. We wish Shalid well in his new career in England and hope for marital happiness with the fetching Shali, even if their closing romantic clinch comes across as too pat. But the core of the play remains absorbing for audiences who care about the modern destruction of centuries of history in the name of either art market profit, battlefield expediency, or religious fanaticism. Whatever its defects, "Inana" is timely and thought provoking."