Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...this overly long show can’t sustain its edge and interest. That’s partly because this is a straight-up, predictable melodrama revolving around conflict between right-on, super-savvy teen heroes and lumbering, shadowy government heavies. There is little shading of the issues, which is unfortunate because when terrorism and freedoms collide, there are legitimate arguments on both sides. Young audiences need to understand both."
Chicago Sun Times
- Recommended
"...Harvey, a recent arrival in Chicago, is a hugely engaging, exceptionally polished actor who shines in the demanding lead role. But there is winning work from the entire ensemble of 11, with Sadie Rogers (as Marcus' love interest) and Denice Lee, Jorge Silva and Darren Meyers as his pals, all great fun to watch."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Dorothy Milne's staging for Griffin Theatre Company features white-knuckle moments, but the nuances of the debate between security and freedom get flattened by smug sloganeering. Still, the piece resonates as a pretty smart meditation on how technology can enslave or empower, depending on who controls it."
Windy City Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Recreating a sprawling west coast metropolis in the Athenaeum's tiny second-floor studio is no easy task, but Griffin Artistic Director William Massolia ( whose swiftly moving adaptation could have left the tech-unsavvy in the pixeldust, but never does ) has brought on board two experts at boat-in-bottle staging—production director Dorothy Milne and scenic designer Alan Donahue from Lifeline Theatre. Along with a technical team likewise adept at suggesting vast panoramas in closet-sized spaces ( with special credit due Charlie Alves' videos ) , a protean ensemble, led by fresh-faced Mike Harvey as the courageous Marcus, invoke the diverse range of citizenry dwelling in the city symbolizing a cradle of our country's freedom since the 1960s, when another generation of unruly idealistic crusaders set out to defend democracy against creeping erosion."
Chicago Free Press
- Recommended
"...The sprawling tale at times bumps uncomfortably against the limits of a small budget, but director Dorothy Milne and her dedicated 11-member ensemble (especially Sadie Rogers and Josh Odor) pull it off. Alan Donahue’s stark set helps a good deal in establishing the feel, but the show’s number-one asset is its leading man. Mike Harvey never loses his assured grasp of the role, whether breaking the fourth wall to deftly handle all the necessary exposition, or juggling Marcus’ cockiness, outrage and uncertainty. With a protagonist this engaging, “Little Brother” can go wherever it will."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...Massolia’s adaptation subtly, efficiently informs an audience that may be unfamiliar with tech topics like RFIDs and open-source operating systems, yet it can’t fix some minor weaknesses in Doctorow’s plot; the emergence of a video proving a Karl Rove–like adviser colluded with DHS to exploit fear for electoral purposes, for instance, is a pandering deus ex machina. Still, Doctorow raises many worthy points about the relationship between our safeties and our freedoms, and in Milne’s bracing production, newcomer Mike Harvey as Marcus makes a confident tour guide."
ChicagoCritic
- Recommended
"...Little Brother is a smart cautionary tale worth seeing since it outlines what could happen if we let big brother over react to a terrorist attack. The show also demonstrates some of the interrogation techniques still being used by our government in the name of security. The lesson of overreaction is a chilling reality. Mike Harvey is a talented actor who leads a fine cast."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...If for no other reason than the importance of its subject matter, "Little Brother" is must-see theatre that should be packing them into the cramped second floor Athenaeum Studio Theatre. But Director Dorothy Milne doesn't stop there. She uses Set Designer Alan Donahue's metal chain link fence and gray slate concrete cell as a primal metaphor for a modern day police state. Sarah Hughey's intense lighting, Rick Sims' vibrant sound design and the projection and video design by Charlie Alves all compliment Milne's imaginative vision. "Little Brother" is a remarkable work of writing, performance and production."
