Miss Buncle's Book at Lifeline Theatre

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...Lifeline's latest is adapted from D.E. Stevenson's novel, set in World War II England, about a woman who under a male pen name writes a tell-all novel about the people in her small town, exposing much hypocrisy and pathos."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...Long-time Lifeline Theatre subscribers require no more recommendation for this production than its inclusion of Christina Calvit, Peter Greenberg and Jenifer Tyler, though newcomers may have to be told that Calvit's page-to-stage adaptations have made her a five-time Jeff award-winner and that the duo of Greenberg and Tyler have been kindling slow-burning sparks since 2001 in literary romances ranging from Jane Austen to Dorothy Sayers. Add in a tech team savvy in small-space environments and a supporting cast of ensemble regulars in multiple roles, and the results are precisely the kind of engaging entertainment constituting this company's hallmark for more than three decades."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...Which is not to say the well-worn groove the story follows isn’t a comfortable one. With humor and mystery, romance and relatability, it would be hard not to call Miss Buncle a crowd-pleaser. Like the scones fanned across sterling tea service in the first act, the production may be unremarkable but it’s undeniably sweet and ultimately satisfying."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...The rapid shifts in roles also contribute to Miss Buncle's Book's sense of playful theatricality. In roles of varying wackiness, the actors are aided by Izumi Inaba's costumes, which include Barbara's steadily more striking coats and hats as her confidence improves, and by Alan Donahue's scenic design, which is elegantly abstract and easy to shift. "Fun" is the best word for the whole evening's affair; there's a strong comedy of manners flavor to the story, though it is more expansive in scope. Thanks largely to the main character as written and played, the production also retains a sense of lightness."

The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended

"...I'm already fond of Lifeline's zestful Brit-Lit adaptations. This playful romp is more of an English com-rom. I thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted buffoonery. Lifeline's versatility as a storyteller is physically illustrated by Scenic Designer Alan Donahue. This time, Donahue dangles lacy curtain remnants from long poles. It gives the stage a neighborhood feel while reinforcing the secret lives and lies behind the sheers. It's a simplistic look yet visually engaging. Everything about MISS BUNCLE'S BOOK makes it another collector's edition in Lifeline's repertoire."