Lolita de Lares presented by UrbanTheater Company at UrbanTheater Company

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Cruz lets flights of poetic fancy lead her anywhere except into the heart of the matter, and her politics are simplistic and reductive (Lolita is little beyond a zealous patriot). Director Marcela Muņoz struggles to makes sense of the fundamentals-like who or where half the characters are-and her exuberant but unpolished cast can't extract convincing psychological states from Cruz's needlessly florid dialogue."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...The story was well told in no small part due to the rich acting. Lolita, depicted both as a young girl (Tricia Rodriguez) and a grown woman (Tamika Morales), never leaves the stage as she plays through the memories of her life: as a child on the island, playing with her friends (Carlos Servin, Mario Guzman, Christian Valdivieso), as an adult in prison, with only a priest (Andrew Perez) to call a friend, and everywhere in between and beyond. Mixed in with her life's story are the fragments of others, such as the priest's and his family (Andrew Perez, Linsey Falls, Carlos Servin, Mario Guzman) and a guide who acts as a stand-in to U.S. Colonialism (Hilary Jimenez). The story isn't told chronologically, which led to some confusing moments at the start as everything didn't quite make sense, but the confusion resided early enough that it didn't feel overdone."

Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...I am thrilled that The Urban Theatre Company has returned to the Chicago stage. Despite the plethora of theatre companies in the city, another voice always adds to our cities theatrical vibrancy: the vibrancy that a number of years ago led the London paper The Guardian to proclaim Chicago: "The Theatre Capital of The World:" an accolade in which we rightly continue to relish. I am even more thrilled that they decided to set a play about Latin America, and the Hispanic-America experience in their new venue in the traditionally Latino neighborhood of Humbolt Park in a season in which it could not be more timely."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"..."Lolita de Lares" is ensemble-driven story at its finest and most thoughtful. Everybody does the job that needs to for the story to get told and they're all doing it well. The cast drifts in and out of scenes, but they seem omnipresent, always there, sharing a history."