Vaudeville and Vixens at Piccolo Theatre

Pioneer Press - Recommended

"...For better or worse, this show flunks the test for political , but it still feels more like a nostalgic throwback than a contemporary attempt to push the envelope. It does make you think about the way our standards have changed over time for what sort of entertainment is considered appropriate. Mull that over a little bit as you're watching, but don't be too much of an egghead. "Vaudeville and Vixens" is all about having fun."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...The dutifully executed, generic dances fall flat, and (with the exception of Deborah Craft's intentionally awful strip--the only precise, detailed piece of the evening) the timid burlesque numbers reinforce the show's inadvertent theme: women are only interesting when objectified."

Chicago Free Press - Recommended

"...Maybe everything old is not always new again. But enough good-hearted devotion to a grand old entertainment goes into this retroactive retrieval—not to mention hilarious props and costumes—to excuse occasional dead spots and misfires. These folks will bump and grind their way into our hearts or go bust. If the audience auditions for an oil painting, well, that’s what killed vaudeville in the first place. By the time you read this, the Piccoloni zanies should be on a proverbial roll."

Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...Indeed, the energy of the cast and the tunes were quite fetching, but what was missing was a sense of modern consciousness. Aside from a few cracks at the Bush administration, the show offered very little commentary or thoughtfulness on the genre of Vaudeville; instead it came off as simple, gimmicky imitation."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...Filled with variety acts including cornball comedy bits including slapstick, wordplay and general clowning together with flirty ‘tease’ dances by the girls, this dated show tries too hard to be funny and sexy but it fails mainly because we have heard and seen these bits and routines on TV for years."