Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Not only is this a rich, heartfelt and gutsy piece of writing, there's no better room to explore the parameters of home or the rich sense memory of one's earlier life than the kitchen -- that toasty seat of emotional resonance where time stands still and both the bourgeoisie and the revolution get hungry. This is quite an engrossing and moving show in places, especially since Aldridge forges so full and empathetic a character."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Fidel Castro and fidelity: These are the subjects at the core of "The Cook," Eduardo Machado's impressively multifaceted play, now at the Goodman's Owen Theatre in a zestful and ultimately heartbreaking production directed by Henry Godinez."
Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended
"...While the play is flawed, the Goodman's production of it is nearly flawless. Karen Aldridge gives a magnificent performance as Gladys, showing every octave of emotion, from her teasing barbs with Carlos to her kindly fondness for Adria to her deep well of anger. Edward F. Torres portrays Carlos with a convincing turn from light-hearted jokester to oppressed, angry man seeking to assert his power and machismo."
SouthtownStar - Highly Recommended
"...this is one of the most fascinating, edge-of-your-seat shows in town. The performances are some of the best I've seen at the Goodman in a while. Karen Aldridge is breathtaking as Gladys. And as Carlos, Edward F. Torres, one of Chicago's most extraordinary actors, has never been more riveting."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Machado's script- aided by snipets of recorded speeches by the likes of John Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and of course, Castro- effectively fuses the personal and political, using characters and their conflicts to offer sometimes opposing views of Cuba, and its relations with the United States."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...The Cook is a recipe that works thanks in large part to its top-notch cast. As Gladys’ husband, Edward Torres is completely captivating, roaring through the emotional spectrum from youthful lothario to ruthlessly macho domestic tyrant to a crotchety elder. Equally strong is Phillip James Brannon, heartbreaking and charismatic as Gladys’ doomed gay nephew. As for Aldridge, she’s an understated powerhouse, the fierce foundation of a tale that’s both tragic and triumphant."
Chicago Free Press - Recommended
"...Aldridge resists the temptation to play Gladys like a Caribbean earth mother: This cook is human, even when her idealistic commitment to her selfish “owners” seems too noble to be true. Equally strong work comes from Edward Torres as her maddening, then mellowing husband, Maricela Ochoa as both the ungrateful mistress and the unknowing daughter and Phillip James Brannon as the would-be hair-dresser whose craving to dress in bell bottoms and a midriff spells his doom."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...This is a production that will bring a tear to your eye as it gives you a lesson in history and a look into the people that playwright Machado ( he, himself, was one of the "Operation Peter Pan" kids) has created. Directed by Henry Godinez, who manages to make all of our senses
take notice of this work, on a marvelous set by Todd Rosenthal and a cast that makes this piece very special, one cannot help but fall in love with Gladys (Karen Aldridge in a performance that is worth of a Jeff nomination) and feel what each of the characters lived through during these years."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...Machado is admirably honest about the complexities of Cuba’s history and its politics; Gladys’s cousin Julio defends Castro’s revolution even as he’s being trailed by the secret police for being openly homosexual. And the breathless third-act climax illuminates every side of the race and class issues that hum under the surface of the characters’ pro- and anti-Castro arguments."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Strong performances and an insightful script are the recipe for Goodman Theatre’s production of Eduardo Machado’s The Cook. Combined they deliver a clear and poignant view of one of the most challenging issues faced by Cubans in the aftermath of close to 50 years of Fidel Castro’s rule: who owns the property and, should Cuba ever open up, how will ordinary Cubans, those who left and those who stayed, reconcile?"
