Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Sincere, passionate, courageous and acutely argued, "Ruined" is a remarkable theatrical accomplishment and could do much to raise consciousness of the horrors of the rape and genital abuse pockmarking the DRC civil war. Indeed, one finds oneself wishing the Obamas would find time in their transitional schedule to attend, perhaps with a powerful talk-show host of their acquaintance. But, dear mortal reader, this is truly not a case of forcing yourself to stomach a worthy but depressing play about wartime violence."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...If you wish to be among the first to see the play that in every way, shape and form deserves to become the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama, head directly to the Goodman's Owen Theatre, where Lynn Nottage's "Ruined" is now in its explosive world premiere."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Built from interviews with Congolese women, Lynn Nottage's 2007 play slides toward wish fulfillment at the end. On the way there, though, it's harrowing and beautiful. Astonishments include the sense of intimacy among Kate Whoriskey's ensemble, Dominic Kanza's music, Derek McLane's set, and Condola Phyleia Rashad's Sophie."
Examiner - Highly Recommended
"...There are moments of sublime tenderness, and profound, inspiring decency. It may not be traditional holiday fare. But from the darkness of “Ruined,” everything that is noble, loving and resilient about human beings shines as bright as that fabled star in the east."
EpochTimes - Highly Recommended
"...It is seldom one can walk away from a story that deals with the ravaging of a country through a war- where what is unspeakable and unthinkable takes place each day; where families are torn about and women are raped and tortured at will- where a baby might be stomped to death to quiet its tears, and feel the warmth that is felt in the marvelous script by Lynn Nottage in "Ruined". While we can only feel for the characters and what they endured, this story is not just a story, but in fact is based on fact and allows us to see what other cultures have had to endure and how important survival can be."
Edge - Highly Recommended
"...Ruined could have so easily been a play depicting atrocity after atrocity. Instead, it is a story about real people we come to deeply consider, learn from, and care about. In that moving personalization of a distant war and its victims, Nottage triumphs as both artist and activist."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...In plays like Crumbs from the Table of Joy and Intimate Apparel, Nottage has painted evocative portraits of African-American life while demonstrating a subtle feeling for distant historical eras. She’s also shown a tendency to overstuff her plays with incident. Both her strengths and limitations are visible in the new work Ruined. Nottage tackles a horrific subject: the continuing brutalization of women during the decade-long civil conflict in the Congo; and she smartly uses Brecht to work through this difficult material."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...The dignity of humanity exists opposite the brutality of ethnic hatred. Saidah Arrika Ekulona and Russell G. Jones have a spark that anchors this disturbing play. Putting a human face on such atrocities is a first step toward stopping these actions. Nottage sure does that with this compelling powerful work."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Lynn Nottage is one of the most sought after playwrights at work today. Her work is filled with comedy, history, interesting characters and very quotable dialogue. Her latest work "Ruined," receiving its World Premiere at the Goodman Theatre in conjunction with the Manhattan Theatre Club is a little different from gems like "Intimate Apparel," "Fabulation," "The Reeducation of Undine" or "Crumbs from the Table of Joy". "Ruined" is a highly emotional, deeply political statement from a voice that speaks for people who wouldn’t dare utter disdain for themselves above a whisper."
