Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...Chicago has seen three fine productions of Stephens' works in recent seasons, including Jonathan Berry's poignant 2008 Griffin Theatre production of “On the Shore of the Wide World” and Robin Witt's powerful Steep Theatre production last year of “Harper Regan,” an intensely moving play about a sad-eyed middle-aged woman and the strictures of past choices. At both of those shows — and at Berry's artful and honest new production of “Port,” staged for Griffin in rented digs at the Raven Theatre — I've sat among rapt audiences that have barely moved a muscle all night long."
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Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...it is Stephens’ uncanny writing that soars here, along with Neff’s tour de force performance. The actress gave a tiny sigh of relief as she took her bow opening night — understandable given the hurricane force of her work."
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Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...The rest of Jonathan Berry's cast find nuance in a script full of raw characters and harsh vernacular. As well as this Griffin Theatre Company production comes off, though, the double-time march of Stephens's 14-year plot arc feels more mechanical than epic, arriving at its predictably nostalgic and hopeful conclusion like a cable car being hauled to the terminal."
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NewCity Chicago - Recommended

"...Stephens’ hand is subtle, almost too much so. Long stretches of the script need stronger conflict and a more tangible nod to the piece’s thread. But the ensemble injects life into the lulls; Caroline Neff captures Racheal’s grief with a natural touch that tugs at the heart. Andrew Swanson’s portrayal of Rachel’s first love is a bittersweet exercise in bad timing; John Byrnes brings the right amount of tension and insecurity to Racheal’s thuggish husband. Director Jonathan Berry keeps the desperation and longing level with humor and love."
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Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"... Inhabiting Rachael’s battered journey from precocious girl trying to hold her family together to young woman struggling to regain her optimism, Neff meets each of Stephens’s nuances and adds still more. Berry’s precision-tuned staging populates Rachael’s world with an empathetic ensemble; Andrew Swanson’s remarkably sensitive portrayal of a missed romantic connection is first among equals."
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ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Port’s cast sport richly thick Manchester working class accents that take some ‘tuning into.’ The brisk pacing and energy of the production nicely fits into a story of young people’s struggle to survive in a hostile society not equipped to aid the uneducated poor. Rachel exudes passion, determination and adaptability. We know that she’ll make it somehow and we are glad since we have been quietly cheering for he all evening. Port is worth a trip."
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Chicago Stage Standard - Recommended

"...Andrew Swanson’s decent, ineffectual Danny is every good intention thwarted by back luck, while John Byrnes as Racheal’s abusive husband (and, interestingly, her father as well) is the last word in a loser who can only feel good by making someone who loves him lose even more. We can only hope that Racheal escapes this “port.” But from the 12 years we’ve seen her story is definitely day to day drama. Here what doesn’t happen counts even more than what does."

Reviews You Can Iews - Highly Recommended

"...Jon Berry is a great director that you will probably need to know about in the future, so why not make this the first time! Go see this great play by a remarkable company and sublime director and first-class actors and fantastic EVERYTHING!!!"
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