Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...One wishes for a few more sharp edges. When the mellow vibe is cut, the surface of the show peels back and you suddenly are aware of the high stakes that beset these, and any, human lives. And like many conceptual shows where the original staging and the actual text were linked and developed together, there are moments here when it feels like the Court cast members don't fully own everything they are doing."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Think of “Spunk,” now in a deliciously realized revival at Court Theatre, as a trio of richly dramatized blues songs. Each is written and played in a winningly different key, but each is emblematic of that unique art form bred in the Deep South yet so cannily transplanted and retrofitted to life in the urban north."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...While the short-story structure can present challenges in fully developing characters, Court’s talented ensemble has the vocal and physical versatility needed to give each character a distinct appearance and personality. Bridging the stories are musical sequences featuring petite, powerful Alexis J. Rogers and blues guitarist Kelvyn Bell; their carefree chemistry keeps the tone light during their jazzy asides."
WBEZ - Recommended
"...under Seret Scott's sparkling direction, Spunk quickly shows itself to be an account of the behavior of various African-American communities, as seen lovingly from the inside--a shift in perspective which makes all the difference. Though the stories that begin and end the evening share the serious theme of marital betrayal, the story-telling is so buoyant and the endings so satisfying that they belong in the comedy category. And the central scene is an out-and-out riot, as two Harlem "pimps"--meaning in this context gigolos--preen and compete and pretend to each other and themselves that they're great successes when in fact neither of them has a dime. If you're not familiar with the exhilarating ritual of "playing the dozens," get yourself down to Hyde Park to hear Kenn E. Head tell Chris Boykin, "Don't tell your grandmother how to milk ducks.""
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Spunk is an extremely well performed work that gives all six cast members their moments to sparkle. Each are funny, empathetic and truthful. I was particularity impressed by Michael Pogue and Kenn E. Head’s smart comic work. Spunk is a fun work that gives audiences a glimpse into a world that we probably have little contact with. This show is amazingly well presented."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Scott deserves great credit for assembling this fine team of actors, and crafting so many clear and beautiful moments from raw word and song. Tom Burch's rugged scenic design, Marc Stubbenfield's lights, and Joshua Horvath's sound design add to the pleasure of the evening. I left the theater wishing this team of artists could continue telling stories - tales which I know would make me think, feel, and laugh. We can't have too much of that these days."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"...Music is an integral part of Spunk, underlying each phrase, plot point and conflict. Composed by Chic Street Man and music directed by Kelvyn Bell, the play’s score is arguably its main character. Bell himself appears onstage as the Guitar Man, strumming and plucking intricate tunes with a perpetual sleepy smile. The essence of Spunk is in its details: the magnificent approach to storytelling is lifted to greater heights thanks to human stories, pleasing aesthetics, multifaceted actors and most of all, bluesy melodies. Even when its characters are at their lowest, Spunk positively sings."