| Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"... It may sound strange to praise the parts of a play that are loose and unformed, and complain when explicit sociopolitical themes are subsequently explored, but that’s how it feels here. “Cherrywood” (or, at least, Cromer’s “Cherrywood”) is better when we are all allowed to sleepwalk through inert ambivalence, because at that point we believe the party is real. As events unfold, Lynn starts to struggle to keep his clump together in credible fashion; we start to hear the line “I’m leaving” a few too many times for us to believe no-one actually leaves."
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Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...It is all but impossible to imagine the nightmare logistics involved in staging and performing this 90-minute show. But the ensemble (which matches the size of the audience) lives and breathes as one during this chilling squatters' house party. And as the actors move from dumpster-decorated bathroom to living room (cheers for set designer Andre LaSalle), they capture the whole cross-section of wasted and thoughtful kids, wild ones and timid ones, tormentors, survivors and victims. The sane and the mad are all dancing on the edge of oblivion. Or, if you believe the transcendental pizza delivery man, on the brink of possible salvation."
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Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...
There are metaphorical flourishes in Lynn’s script that teeter on the edge of lib-privilege preciousness, such as Caroline Neff’s monologue on superstores and pricing guns. There are also fantastic individual performance moments, including Geoff Button as a socially skittish partygoer, Allison Cain as the neighbor with a historical chip on her shoulder, Rich Cotovsky’s shambling possible shooting victim and Ryan Bourque’s reluctant group conscience. This iteration of Cherrywood is ultimately an overwhelming, sense-assaulting ensemble piece that almost demands a second viewing to fully soak in. It’s also a production that I think could only take place—let alone succeed—in Chicago."
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Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"... weird, melodramatic event gives order to the chaos, and the dialogue suddenly gains an ironic urgency. While Lynn can't seem to resist twee whimsy (magic boxes and werewolf milk abound), he finds psychological depth in the all-night party as transformational ritual. Cromer's graceful, understated cast make the strangeness ring true."
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Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...The action that follows within this enclosed milieu is fundamentally that observed at any large and marginally regulated revel, but as the mood shifts between merriment and paranoia—how did a stranger sustain his gunshot wound? Is everyone present really a werewolf? Is the bathroom gross or what?—we begin to sense a progression to the ostensibly unstructured events. When, after 90 minutes, we discover ourselves to have witnessed a microcosmic illustration of the evolution from anarchy to community, our appreciation of the intelligence and discipline manifested upon Lynn's nebulous text by David Cromer and his ensemble is considerable. Cherrywood might be a dancing-dog oddity, but its dance goes to the very roots of theatre, and therein lies its value."
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Centerstage - Recommended
"...The most repeated line in the script happens to be "That's stupid." Some viewers may feel this way about the semi-linear (and mostly nonsensical) story-telling employed here. While this is a legitimate reaction, it's equally likely the meandering script and remarkable staging (of 49 actors, no less) will embed in your mind a pleasantly reflective sensibility. You probably won’t actually change after Cherrywood, but – unlike the characters in the show – you might just THINK about it."
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Chicago Stage Review - Not Recommended
"...Cherrywood: A Modern Comparable is a 90-minute exercise in floundering towards nothing. It is not an exercise that requires little effort, rather it demands much from its creators and even more from its spectators. Its creators struggle to salvage substance from insignificance. Its spectators struggle to suspend their disbelief under the weight of preposterously self-indulgent expectations. It is preposterous to expect the audience to connect with Cherrywood’s ludicrous contrivances. It is preposterous to expect the audience to connect with uninspiring and unbelievable, all be they well acted, characters. It is preposterous to expect the audience to connect with artificial dialogue and nonsensical exposition."
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ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"..Cherrywood is a provocative and challenging work that will leave story-structured theatre patrons scratching their heard asking: “What is the play about?” Fans of large, very large ensemble work performed with liberal freedom by the cast in a experimental structure will find Cherrywood a treat. It sure is different. Serious theatre partons and theatre professionals should take in Cherrywood to see if Cromer’s intriguing staging can make art from a shaky incomplete script. You may not like Cherrywood, but you’ll be glad you experienced this unique theatrical event. I’m still not sure what to make of Cherrywood as I’m still digesting it."
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Chicago Theater Blog - Recommended
"...For the theatre goer looking for a break from classic plot driven shows, Cherrywood: The Modern Day Comparable is performance art. It is a ‘Party Tonite for anyone who wants a change.’ For those who wonder what Chicago actors and designers do off-season, this is an opportunity to fly-on-the-wall it. If you’ve anticipated they hang out together and party, this would be your imagined drunken haze. The who’s who of storefront theater is boozing it up. It’s a Steep, Lifeline, Dog & Pony, House, Griffin, etc. reunion bash, and man do they know how to party!"
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Steadstyle Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...With some great student discounts available, "Cherrywood" is an experience of experimental theatre that is both riveting and perplexing. Whether you come away enjoying it or just scratching your head, it will definitely get you thinking. Whatever it was Mary-Arrchie was going for, they achieved it. And that is a great mark of success."
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