Lifeboat Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
"...McCartney's play gives us richly detailed portraits of the pre-sinking lives of the two. Bess is a comfortably middle-class Londoner with a "Great War" veteran father, a circumspect mother, and a pesky younger brother, who lives in a house with an "inside, not outside, bathroom" and a "not-allowed-to-touch wireless" in the parlor. Beth is the youngest child of a widowed working-class mother in Liverpool, for whom a trip to the cinema to see Garland with fish and chips afterward is a luxury. Both girls harbor show-biz ambitions. Bunder's Bess breaks her dad's "do not touch" rule to sing along to Vera Lynn's sentimental "Faraway Places" on the radio, while Beth hopes to occupy an opera stage someday."
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
"...Bunder and Dale are magnificent, playing multiple roles as the story moves back and forth between their present predicament at sea and their unremarkable lives prior to the events that led them to the ship. Despite its nonlinear structure, this is a suspense-filled and cathartic tale of survival. Lighting, sound, and design combine to transcendent effect, and the small space renders the tale even more urgent, putting us up close, witnesses to its testimony. "We don't forget," the two young women say in conclusion, speaking of the many children who perished aboard the ship—and now we won't, either."
ChicagoCritic- Somewhat Recommended
"...Lifeboat is a tragic story with an uplifting resolve. The production’s playful nature and captivating characters make it best suited for a younger audience (8-12). With its ability to entertain, the play serves as an opportunity to introduce children to some WWII history. I recommend taking your children to see this show, at your discretion. Be sure to give them some context before viewing and be prepared to answer questions afterward. I do not recommend the play to someone seeking a deep and more involved WWII drama."
Chicago Theatre Review- Highly Recommended
"...Despite its relatively short runtime, Lifeboat does a lot with minimal cast and time. Ultimately, Lifeboat is the great marriage of an amazing true story and the amazing immersive capabilities of theatre."