Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Sometimes we crave recently penned pieces of art to lay bare our world. Sometimes it takes a shrewdly timed revival of an older play — and James Bohnen's Remy Bumppo Theatre Company production is not only shrewdly timed but very adroit, smart and accomplished — to enable us to ponder the cumulative effect of so much incremental revolution."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...though several of his actors began on an unsteady note at Monday's opening, they found their footing, with Douglass coming into his own as something more than a hack but less than a star, and the glamorous Gillum (whose character frequently steps out of the action with witty, desire-charged interior monologues) delivering both serious seductiveness and a searing indictment of male narcissism."
The Wall Street Journal - Highly Recommended
"...This revival, directed by James Bohnen, the company's departing artistic director, is so good that it could be transplanted to Broadway exactly as is. The actors, many of whom have performed together in other Remy Bumppo productions, work in awe-inspiring concord—I've never seen a better ensemble cast, not even in Chicago, where such things are taken for granted. I wish that Mr. Stoppard could behold how well his least sufficiently appreciated play is being served by these devoted artists."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Night and Day is a classic play of ideas: A situation is set up, interests are staked out, and everybody gets their say. Stoppard's fearlessness makes it interesting--that, and his willingness to add a little sex to the exchange. He never met a paradox he didn't like--intellectual or sexual--and so the debate is full of surprises. But James Bohnen's Remy Bumppo production is too weak to sustain Stoppard's complexities. Time changes are muddled and the acting lacks vividness. Most strangely, Linda Gillum plays the fulcrum role of an industrialist's unhappy wife as if she were in something by Noel Coward."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Stoppard sometimes favors debate over action—albeit with hints of sexual tension to temper the testosterone-fueled dynamic. Ruth's imaginary forays into her cinematic counterparts ( played by Linda Gillum in Katherine Hepburn mode ) provide relief from the brain exercise, while Remy Bumppo regulars Shawn Douglass, George Matthew Anderson, and David Darlow juggle their hyperarticulate dialogue with verbal agility, assisted by Ernest Perry, Jr. as the menacing Mageeba and Jeff Cummings as the bloodied-but-unbowed shutterbug who utters the final truth: "People do awful things to each other. But it's worse in places where everyone's kept in the dark. Information—in itself—is light!""
Copley News Service - Recommended
"...The repartee goes back and forth, a lot of it funny and some of it intense. Telling points are made on all sides, like how much are newspapers a necessary public service and how much a rather tawdry business? If the journalists are as clever in their writing as they are in their speech, they should all be prizewinners."
Centerstage - Recommended
"...Is it fair to judge this production solely on the unpalatable politics of the script? Of course not. The show is entertaining, directed at a crisp pace and the actors do a great job with Stoppard's challenging dialogue. But ultimately all Stoppard's genius cannot change the fact that this is a saddeningly, maddeningly racist work."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...
All the performances continue Remy Bumppo’s tradition of fine acting, but the real treat is subtle and commanding work by Ernest Perry Jr. as Kambawa’s fearsome President Mageeba. Lightly dusted with Cole Porter tunes to match its title, this witty and smartly executed production leaves your mind humming."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Night and Day is an idea play filled with intelligent discourse spoken by well-rounded characters. It is though provoking and still relevant. Remy Bumppo’s tight production values include a fine set design by Tim Morrison with J.r. Lederle’s light and Jason Knox’s sound design. Stoppard fans will enjoy Night and Day."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Gillum neatly steals the play here, taking the audience in almost as confidants and co-conspirators in her deepest thoughts and feelings through delicious little asides and commentaries that beautifully blur the fourth wall of Stoppard's think piece. The idealistic and somewhat naive young correspondant Jacob also becomes a snare in her attractive web, and given the allure of Greg Matthew Anderson, who could blame her? When the word "adorable" was coined, I am sure Anderson was in mind. Ernest Perry, Jr. and David Darlow supply distinguished support, while Shawn Doouglass, Jeff Cummings, Michael Pogue and young John Francis Babbo round out the cast under Bohnen's sizzling direction. The media outlets of today may have changed, but the ideas of free speech are as vital and resonant as ever as this dazzling work hits its target."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...This piece is intense theater with many a comical moment to boot, and just to make it even more attractive to the viewers, there is some love ( albeit illicit) as the sensuous Ms Gillum “does her things” , as Ruth, of course. As often done at Remy Bumppo, discussions take place after the play, allowing the audience to learn even more."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"...For the most part, Night and Day flows as smoothly single malt Scotch from a never-ending stream. Bohnen successfully builds tension with Guthrie’s suspicion of Carson, Milne and Guthrie’s departure to meet Colonel Shimbu, and the anticipated, nerve-racking visit from President Mageeba."
