Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Sure, failure is always in the cards. And although it is not a profoundly lyrical play, "The Old Settler" is intended to evoke a lethargic, nostalgic mood, deftly captured here by rich design work from the team of Joshua Schmidt, Heather /Gilbert, Nan Cibula-Jenkins and Jack Magaw. Parsons, a skilled director, knows how to forge a period milieu and let actors breathe."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...The numbers tell a good part of the story when it comes to "The Old Settler." The John Henry Redwood play, now at Writers' Theatre, features three determined black women (two beyond their prime, and the third a brazen little hottie), and just one young man. I'll give you a quick guess as to who might have the advantage."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Redwood tells it with an appealing combination of compassion, humor, and precision, and Ron OJ Parson gives it a solid staging centered on sharp, sweet performances from Cheryl Lynn Bruce as Elizabeth and Wandachristine as her sister Quilly. The spark is missing, though: Kelvin Roston Jr. needs to put more Stanley Kowalski into his performance as the young man."
Windy City Times
- Highly Recommended
"...t's to the credit of Ron OJ Parson's direction for this Writers' Theatre production, and the acting skills of Cheryl Lynn Bruce and Wandachristine, that we remain almost totally oblivious to these detachments for the 2 hours-plus duration of its performance. Our attention is instead riveted on our universe ( accurate right down to the shifting of the light outside the window ) and the fates of its denizens, our empathy extending not only to the "old settler" siblings whose opportunities will remain forever restricted, but to the fickle Husband caught between old and new lifestyles, and even to the defiant Lou Bessie, who has her reasons for seeking revenge on her elders."
Copley News Service
- Highly Recommended
"...The Old Settler” was first staged in 1997 and in a short time became one of the most produced plays in the United States. It’s easy to see why. Along with matters of economy (only one set and four characters), the play brims with warmth, humanity, and humor, plus honest sentiment that never descends into sentimentality. All the heart and sympathy of “The Old Settler” are flawlessly displayed in the superb staging at the Writers’ Theatre."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...The Old Settler develops in stately, almost sedate fashion as it mines the emotional lives of its characters, caught between country and city, church and nightclub. Parson as usual makes the most of a gifted cast. The actors squabble, share confidences and break one another’s hearts with exquisite timing amid pregnant stillnesses."
ChicagoCritic
- Highly Recommended
"...The Old Settler is told in rich, poetic language with loads of sincerity as the poignant bonds of sisterhood are tested. Can the sisters forgive and garner the strength to endure? See this wonderful play to experience the dignity and power of love. What a “find” – The Old Settler is beautiful."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...Every piece of this production fits together to make this story both comic and sad, but of most importance, real. The lighting is by Heather Gilbert, and the sound by Josh Schmidt. I don't know who selected the background music, but it was perfect, and when the "EL" roared by, I felt the vibrations. This story revolves around African American characters and some of the plights they dealt with during this period of time, but the basic story of a special love between these sisters could relate to anyone who finds themselves torn from a dear one."
