Miles Away Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Somewhat Recommended
"...Things perk up considerably when a third player finally enters the dynamic - a naive prepster (Dan Wilson) who intends to fund their scams - and Ellison morphs from a childish malcontent into a seasoned and cagey reader of people, sizing up this J. Crew catalog of a man who seems too good to be true. The play feels alive for the first time. Suddenly this young woman has dimension. And agency. She's actively thinking, not just reacting. And you're not sure how any of this is going to go down."
Chicago Reader- Somewhat Recommended
"...Director Scott Weinstein misses opportunities to improve matters, as does Josh Odor, whose Ron would be way more interesting if his weakness weren't quite so apparent from the start (and if he didn't drink such impossibly large amounts of vodka that you find yourself wondering why he doesn't fall down dead)."
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
"...The twists and events sure contribute to making these hustlers losers but will Sissy finally get the nerve to leave? See this well acted show to find out. Is there poisonous relationship strong enough to endure? The haunting characters are effectively presented as playwright Whitley captures the mood of desperation that traps these folks into the limited world of hustling. The pity is that they don’t know anything else. Josh Odor’s performance anchors this dark drama."
Around The Town Chicago- Recommended
"...Director, Scott Weinstein, clearly understood Whitley's play, but the production does have its shortcomings. John Odor and Isabel Ellison seem slightly miscast: They are too glamorous and, at least at the beginning of the performance, have slightly upper-middle class accents and mannerisms. Moreover, sometimes it is all too clear that they are reciting a script. These problems become significantly less pronounced as the play goes on, especially after the entrance of Dan Wilson, who gives a consistent and almost comically adept performance as the preppy Giles without ever falling into caricature."
Splash Magazine- Not Recommended
"... I found most of this play just downright unbearable to sit through. Unless you're an insomniac looking for a good nap I cannot in good consciousness recommend this play to anyone. This is nothing against Side Project Theatre Company which undoubtedly has produced some very well done plays in the past. Nor is it a slap in the face to these three gifted performers who are all very talented. But even badly written plays, such as this one, should still be emotionally engaging or at the very least remotely entertaining. Yes, there is a vicious cycle to abusive relationships, but this play doesn't develop it enough for us to really care about the issue the way we should."