Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...the production just doesn't find the kind of swirling theatrical metaphor that could simplify and amplify the great sweep of Forster's narrative — and that might give this very choppy and fussy production the fluid-but-cohesive core it badly needs. This jagged show, which comes in not far short of three hours, tends to get bogged down with props, little unnecessary details and the other familiar detritus of literary adaptation."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Under Carlin-Metz's fluid, insightful direction (with rich choreography by Alka Nayyar), the cast illumines all the subtlety and complexity of Forster's vision. And the life of India -- from elephant and carriage rides, to Hindu festivals and dance (led by the rapturously beautiful Amira Sabbagh), to Muslim poetry, to high social comedy-- is rendered with flair. Madrid St. Angelo's mischievous narrator and Jeremy Clark's liberal schoolteacher are full of punch, as is the entire ensemble."
Daily Herald
- Recommended
"...Considering the historical context, you'll also see how daring Forster was in pointing out British racist attitudes at a time of rising Indian nationalism in the 1920s. If the drama of Forster's "A Passage to India" is diluted in Sherman's stage adaptation, at least the folks at Vitalist provide enough intriguing staging and acting moments to make it worth a visit."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Bent playwright Martin Sherman has written a smart, sensitive, even wise stage version of the E.M. Forster novel about a clash of cultures in British India after World War I--and Elizabeth Carlin-Metz's Vitalist Theatre production comes incredibly close to doing it justice. The scenic design by Craig Choma is clever and evocative. Various danced vignettes are powerful. Madrid St. Angelo's idiosyncratic Hindu narrator, Godbole, is a delight, and Jeremy Clark's Fielding expresses the paradox of a good man in a colonial environment."
Windy City Times
- Recommended
"...Nor are the actors uniformly content to coast on stereotype, Jeremy Clark and Madrid St. Angelo—playing, respectively, professors Fielding and Godbole—setting the scale for a sweeping epic that, though in need of trimming in its final moments, never demands that we squirm in guilty paroxysms of remorse over ancient wrongs, but instead invites us to contemplate the vagaries of human personalities and their power to transcend parochial mindsets."
Chicago Free Press
- Somewhat Recommended
"...If you can manage not to be frustrated by the plot, however, Vitalist is happy to distract you with sumptious artistry, starting with the set and costumes designs. The meandering first act also includes dance interludes, Indian poetry, and—in one simple but glorious moment worthy of Julie Taymor—a thrilling evocation of an elephant ride. (The “breathing” cave walls are another neat touch.) Meanwhile, there’s a delightful mixed-media lobby display by Robin Metz worth taking in."
Gay Chicago Magazine
- Recommended
"...it is the remarkable ensemble that carries this production to truly exceptional and outstanding levels. The play opens with an extensive narrative monologue from Godbole, played by Madrid St. Angelo. This can be an awkward proposition but St. Angelo is delightfully captivating. Kamal Hans portrayal of Dr. Aziz is enthusiastically charming. Lori Myers’s depiction of Adela Quested draws us into the potentially mundane character with vulnerability, depth and subtle humor. The rest of the cast is excellent."
EpochTimes
- Somewhat Recommended
"...An interesting story, I did find this production to be a bit to long and while the cast is strong, I found that the scenic design hurt the sight lines and while I am sure the front wall that was added to the stage was designed to give us the "Indian Experience", I found it a bit to much for the small stage. Other than that "wall" I felt Craig Choma used the stage to create a unit that could be mountains, offices and more with ease of change."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...Carlin-Metz’s lavishly rendered production smooths over the script’s heavy-handedness. The endlessly imaginative interplay between her strongly physical directing and Craig Choma’s scenic design (the staging of the cave scene is particularly evocative) and a crop of sturdy performances combine to make this a passage worth taking."
ChicagoCritic
- Highly Recommended
"...It is pure joy to witness an epic novel come alive on stage. Vitalist Theatre’s A Passage to India is one of the finest shows of 2008! It will live long in your memory—don’t miss this great production."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...This quaint story of passion and love of one's culture is worth one's time to go see. Despite the lengthy duration of the story and the fact that the story could have been told in a more timely manner as it tended to drag in some areas, this play is worth checking out and learning about a time when India was revolutionizing and coming into its own as a nation."
