Lydie Breeze Reviews

Chicago Reader- Not Recommended

"...This muddled sense of place extends to nearly every element of director Jeremy Garrett's inert production. Of course, Guare's got his own problems with inertia; he presents the collapsing Hickman family, cursed with suicide, homicide, syphilis, and metaphoritis, almost entirely through exposition, memory, and reportage, rather than in-the-moment action. But Garrett's cast haven't made adequate sense of where they are-emotionally, psychologically, or historically-rendering their interactions superficial and their speech little more than florid, academic prose."

Centerstage- Somewhat Recommended

"...Though the second act features an uptick in onstage action, in the end, the show's bleak outlook and obvious shock tactics are too off-putting to pull the audience in."

ChicagoCritic- Not Recommended

"...The overly themed and overly symbolized work is a challenge for most theatre troupe. The story covers the exploits of a commune of former Union Army soldiers who strive for a simple peaceful life in Nantucket. We learn that the Hickman clan is cursed with suicide, homicide, syphilis, and illiteracy. The feebly attempts at redemption render as false as the play gets mired with too many long meandering speeches that never ring true. The combination of a troubled script and the decision to play it over-the-top doomed the work for me. Usually, Ka Tet Theater mounts stage worthy plays but not this time."