Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"..."Stella and Lou" is very much a senior-friendly play. Before anyone gets offended, let me clarify what I mean: This is a play that very much privileges the worldview of those with experience. The third character in these proceedings, Donnie (Ed Flynn, earnest but not perfectly cast), is there mostly to offer a youthful perspective on an impending marriage: his own, of which he is terrified. This allows Stella and Lou to tut-tut a little from the vantage points of having been there, done that (with varying results). Moreover, the piece is generally peppered with wry comments about the encroachments of new technology: Lou tut-tuts some more at the kids who come into his bar asking if he's wireless. And there is much ado about the pleasures of not changing things very much at all."
Chicago Sun Times
- Recommended
"...In a sense, “Stella & Lou” is something of a companion piece to Graham’s 2011 play “The Outgoing Tide,” which also debuted at Northlight under the direction of BJ Jones, and dealt with the fading faculties of an aging, fiercely independent man whose wife and son don’t quite know how to handle things. But this newer play is a less subtle and sophisticated work. And were it not for the skill and relentless commitment of its principal actors — veteran “Cheers” star Rhea Perlman, with her perfect timing and easy warmth and vulnerability, as Stella, and Steppenwolf’s ideally understated Francis Guinan as Lou — it would be a pretty routine if darker-than-average dramedy."
Windy City Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Rhea Perlman has made a career of playing capable caretakers-when Armageddon comes, this is whom you want supervising the clean-up-and Francis Guinan is likewise renowned for his portrayals of strong-and-silent family retainers. Their rapport glows with the comfortable candor that comes of having outgrown rash impetuosity, and if even at 90 minutes (what with Donnie's fretful interruptions), it takes them a little too long to hit all of Graham's arguments, we still hold out hope for these stalwart comrades to risk one last venture while opportunity still beckons."
Time Out Chicago
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Graham comes near to fetishizing his blue-collar characters' "old neighborhood" mentality, with repeated references to "hitting the number" in the lottery, and pandering generational shaming over texting and tattoos. Guinan works admirably with the limited emotional palette he's given, but Perlman, best known for her iconic role as wisecracking waitress Carla on Cheers, comes across as oddly stiff and mannered here. You want to root for Lou and Stella to find companionship with each other, but their connection never feels very deep."
ShowBizChicago
- Recommended
"...The character of Stella by Rhea Perlman was funny compassionate and endearing, and much different then Carla or some of her other characters she has played on stage and screen. Her natural persona brought to the reality of Stella. The character of Lou played by Francis Guinan brought the sympathetic nice guy who had a hard time being happy. Lou is a person you want take under your wing and give a big hug. The character of Donnie, played by Ed Flynn was awkward and neurotic, which is how the play is written. Even though, Ed was successful at playing Donnie's character, it did not move me. Donnie is neurotic, a drinker, and really out of control with his emotions, which Ed was successful at portraying. It is interesting to know that the original story of "Stella and Lou" was written with only two characters; Stella and Lou. The character of Donnie was added later. The third character of Donnie is interesting, but it is sometimes confusing."
ChicagoCritic
- Somewhat Recommended
"...When Stella & Lou works, there's a kind of artless ease about the whole thing. Stella and Lou themselves rarely say more than they mean or mean more than they say, and their conversations sound like something I might convincingly hear at my house on Christmas Eve. Eschewing the lyrical and the "writerly" altogether, the good news is Graham's succeeded in capturing many of the ebbs, flows and tenor of real conversation. The bad news is that Graham has succeeded in capturing many of the ebbs, flows and tenor of real conversation."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...This is a beautiful story, well written, well directed , with great technical staff creating all the imagry that makes this as solid as it is ( Lighting by JR Lerle, Sound by Andrew Hansen and costumes by Rachel Laritz) ther eis no mention of the props person, but whoever they are, bravo!, and of course, the actors who are delights to watch for each second of the ninety minutes ( no intermission, which make sthis show even better)."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews
- Highly Recommended
"..."Stella & Lou" is a quiet play (at least until its final minutes) that doesn't overreach itself. It's content with telling a story about two unexceptional people who need affection and friendship in their lives. But that doesn't make the dramatic stakes insignificant. It proves that in the hands of a fine director and outstanding performers a small-scale but skillfully written and very human play can give much pleasure."
