Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Under Kendra Miller's direction, the four actors generally deliver solid and truthful work (though I wish Pizzi's Clare could find a few more levels for her chatty neurotic). But when the dialogue turns to the romantic problems in each couple's relationship, Fortenberry's script begins to feel strained."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...With Partners, which premiered at the Humana Festival earlier this year, playwright Dorothy Fortenberry has found her way into an interesting chamber of the human heart and painted the walls in bright, contemporary wit. But she's also over-furnished it, introducing lots of poetic gimcracks--Clare's immaturity, for instance, suggested by a case of acne--that ultimately just clutter things up. Similarly, Kendra Miller's staging for Livewire Chicago Theatre offers engaging performances (particularly by Will Von Vogt as Ezra) while never getting a handle on what a mess Clare really is."
Windy City Times - Recommended
"...It would be easy for audiences to become similarly dazzled by the dollar signs, blinding them to Fortenberry's assertion that what threatens-or strengthens-loyalties is not the lucre itself, but the individual's attitude toward it. LiveWire director Kendra Miller delivers the playwright's sermon with a light touch-indeed, except for the temperamentally centered Brady, the characters often come off as so ingenuous that you wonder why they don't just consult their parents. The importance of exploring and, even more importantly, assessing the link between material values and domestic values cannot be denied, making this play mandatory viewing for those contemplating marriage, whether het or same-sex."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...No one on stage can be faulted for not trying to build a believable relationship—in fact, the solid performances almost do more to highlight how unnatural and absurd some of the statements and decisions Fortenberry's characters make are. After a letter containing hundreds of thousands of dollars for Clare arrives courtesy of Deus Ex Machina Mail Service, Act I ends on such a bizarre and silly twist that it steamrolls the credibility Miller's built so diligently up until that point. Even worse is the revealed reason Clare is truly passionate about gay marriage (spoiler alert: it involves survivor's guilt and eye rolls)."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Partners is fun, smart, and a refreshing look at maturity as it demonstrates that age and circumstance don't necessarily translate into adulthood. You'll be engaged and enjoy your two hours with these partners."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...Director Kendra Miller has done a wonderful job of managing these four moving parts into a coherent, genuinely funny piece. The blocking seemed a bit stiff, but Claire Sangster's lighting helped the whole space feel larger than it seemed, which helped matters considerably. Of important mention is the scenic design by Michael Mroch. There is nothing I love more than a well-dressed set, and they delivered that in spades. I found myself envious of a fictional kitchen."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Partners aims to show that there is a long road between being a couple and being true partners—one that includes milestones not just of marriage and financial solvency, but also of real commitment to put someone else’s needs on the same level as your own. In sickness and in health, yes, but also in debt, in impatience for civil rights, in insecurity, idealism, and doubt."
Splash Magazine - Recommended
"...This play has a lot to say about the tough transitions to adulthood, where our ambitions from our college days don't necessarily translate into reality as easily as we thought they would. This leads many people to feel like underachievers. And while Partners does have flaws, some frustratingly so, overall it's not a terrible show - like all new works it just needs some cleaning up in places. What's more important are the questions this show raises and the intriguing complicated issues it brings up. It will leave you pondering long after you left the theatre. If nothing else it will definitely be a great conversation starter if you see it with a friend."