| Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...the shapeless, eventless first scene in this Hubris Productions staging goes a long way towards justifying disdain. But the members of Lavina Jadhwani's ingeniously subtle ensemble are so in synch that they gradually turn Harling's contrived plot and aphoristic dialogue into something that feels an awful lot like real life. They wisely underplay their characters' stereotypical quirks and focus instead on the intricacies of their shared histories, giving the evening layered emotional truths."
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7DAYS - Highly Recommended
"...Unlike the movie, we are in the beauty salon for the entire play and what a realistic salon it is. Designed by John Whiitington, this converted car-port really appears to be just that and the props that have been designed and amassed by Nathan Petts are sensational- every little detail makes you feel that you are truly in this backwoods town. Costumes by Jacob Christopher Green are amazingly accurate and the music used to open and close scenes is perfect. Jadhwani has taken this production to another level, even having the cast members do the changes between scenes and acts in character- bravo."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...The cast wins us from the start as we meet the kind Truvy, played with low keyed down home honesty by Calidonia Olivares. Jessica Maynard, as Annelle, nicely depicts the young impulsive hairdresser while Sharon Roseri nails the wit and wisdom of the rich widow, Clairee. Lorraine Freud aptly has the biting wit of a sarcastic older woman, Ouiser. Stephanie Wooten-Austin is the controlling yet loving mother of Shelby, M’Lynn while Sara Pavlak, in her Chicago debut, stars as the lovable, shining human spirit, Shelby. Pavlak is charismatic, charming and sweet. Her performance anchors the play. The rich Southern accents and the comrade was truthful giving the play a winning authenticity. You laugh and cry with this beautiful tribute to friendship, community and the power of the human spirit."
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Steadstyle Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Not all is failing though. Like I mentioned before, there are some very strong acting instincts at play here. Sharon Roseri has a lot of great comic timing as the wise cracking Clairee and Jessica Maynard in particular is a standout. Out of everyone, Maynard, playing Annelle, gives the most connected and consistent performance, adding a vitality and urgency to the scenes that is a welcome change. The script is very solid and is served well by the casting. For its faults, this is an entertaining show that, for the most part, avoids sentimentality."
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