Street Scene at National Pastime Theater

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...The script contains many interstitial moments when passersby cross in front of the dilapidated New York brownstone where Rice's tale of infidelity and murder unfolds. Rice's point was that the briefly glimpsed strangers are part of the emotional fabric of city life. But this production turns those glimpses into drawn-out expressionist clown shows. Accents are all over the map, but a handful of actors have their graceful moments--especially Melinda Ryba as Rose Maurrant, the brave daughter of a beaten-down mother and a brutish father."

Windy City Times - Recommended

"...In lesser hands, these enigmatic manifestations could easily disintegrate into chaos—and there's no denying the few minutes required to acclimate to our concept—but the razor-sharp stylistic demarcations, both in terms of performance and technical effects, evidenced on its opening night quickly draw us into our surrealistically squalid universe."

ChicagoCritic - Not Recommended

"...As I said before, I applaud National Pastime and Clock Productions for taking risks and doing a rarely seen work in a rarely seen style.  However, this production is an incoherent mess caused by conflicting theatrical styles.  This results in two-dimensional characters with two-dimensional relationships and confusion for the audience.  My hope is that National Pastime continues to take risks in their work, as long as they are more careful with how they experiment in the future."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...I was extremely impressed with the work of the entire cast, several of whom are enormously intelligent and engaging.  Is it any wonder Rose has so many admirers with such a bright and appealing actress as Melinda Ryba playing her?  Rose may be an optimist, but she's no Pollyanna.  Indeed, Ms. Ryba's fully dimensional portrayal has bite and verve born of an inner strength and survivor's independence.  She is splendid, as is Steve Wisegarver as her sensitive, fatalistic young admirer Sam.  I fully expect to see great things from these two in the years to come."

Chicago Theater Beat - Not Recommended

"...Elmer Rice’s 1929 Pulitzer Prize winning Street Scene has over fifty characters and a heavy handed script that critiques an urban social structure that doesn’t exist anymore. Why did storefront theater National Pastime revive this show? Dated scripts have a certain appeal in revealing how contemporary society has changed or remained stagnant, and evolved acting techniques can often bring new life to a dusty play. Unfortunately, those only apply if the production is good, and National Pastime’s is not. "