Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...The performance of the night here comes from Fisher, whose sardonic character has a kind of Nora Ephron quality, which is to say she is both moving and bone-dry funny. It has been a while since this capable actress has snagged such a role - she grabs on to this character, which clearly is in her wheelhouse, and yet she never overplays. Similarly, Kristen Magee, who plays Andromeda, keeps her wacky young lady just on the right side of credible. This, too, is a very skilled comic performance."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Madeleine George’s “Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England” is the smartest, funniest, most poignant play to arrive on a Chicago stage in a very long time. And while I knew nothing about either the play or the Massachusetts-born, Brooklyn-based playwright when I took my seat at Theater Wit recently to watch director Jeremy Wechsler’s sublimely realized production, I’ve become a follower."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Despite the inclusion of gags like the diorama exhibit's mannequins voicing the conversation of bored students gawking through the glass barriers, a protestor in mammoth mask and puppet-prosthetics attempting a huffy exit, and the Pratt's chief custodian—played by Steve Herson with an impeccably non-rhotic regional accent—sharing the local newspaper coverage of the town and gown debate over property rights, what distinguishes this from standard-issue screwball sitcom is the sympathy George mandates for her characters and the seriousness she ascribes to their problems. Under Jeremy Wechsler's direction, Meighan Gerachis, Kristen Magee and the always-riveting Laura T. Fisher likewise endow their personae with strength and intelligence, while generating enough warmth to melt the ice imprisoning the furry giants—whose bones do eventually find a new home—so long ago."
Centerstage - Recommended
"...The performance is perfectly cast, and each of the three main characters comes off as authentic. The supporting cast is just as good, including Early Man 1 (Susaan Jamshidi) and Early Man 2 (Casey Searles). The Caretaker (Steve Herson) is an interesting device, because is half-narrator half peripheral character. The Caretaker works at an old, rarely visited Campus museum which is being considered for demolition. The main attraction of the museum is, of course, seven ancient mammoth skeletons."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...If you're reminded of Ross and Rachel's first time, it’s no accident; Friends is Andromeda’s favorite TV show, and it actually plays a significant part in the plot. Magee is terrifically layered in a role that at first seems it could be grating and one-note, and Geraichis hones a very amusing neurotic persona—Cindy’s distracted, motormouthed speech pattern is itself a wonder. And while we’ve always known Fisher was funny (she was in the seminal ’90s comedy troupe Cardiff Giant, after all), she’s in rare form here, sardonic and drier than a good martini, with whip-smart timing. Jeremy Wechsler’s smart staging, on Joe Schermoly’s canny exhibit-display set, is worth a night at the museum."
Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...Of course, the lesbian lovers are inevitably drawn into the museum debacle, instantly defining themselves by their reactions to this endangered humanism. But George’s true interest lies in how unexpectedly good they can be to and for each other—illustrated in a final eccentric healing ceremony. In 140 minutes, this brilliant trio honors George’s often-inspired dialogue (especially about the dubious charms of irrelevance). Their complicated interactions save Seven Homeless Mammoths from what could be a too-wee preciosity."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...What saved the comedy for me was the terrific work by Laura T. Fisher and Kristen Magee with disciplined turns by Susaan Jamshidi and Casey Scarles. This play could use a 20 minute trim but as now presented, it still has enough originality to be worthy. If Gerachis would slow down and enunciate, more laughs would result."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Theater Wit Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler has assembled a wonderful ensemble cast of believable characters. The unit set by Joe Schermoly is brilliant in its detail. A kitchen, bedroom, museum, and office are all present and superb lighting by Scott Pillsbury takes you to each locale with smooth transitions. Sound design and original music by Christopher Kriz allows us to hear every word of the dialogue, especially from the Early Man 1 and 2 who are on an enclosed mini stage unit above the kitchen."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...“Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England” is not just the funniest play that I’ve seen at Theater Wit, but quite possibly the funniest play I’ve ever seen on a Chicago stage. With razor-sharp dialogue courtesy of the very gifted Madeleine George and a pitch-perfect cast, “Mammoths” is a delightful throwback to the days of Cukor and Wilder, the kind of comedy that takes it characters seriously enough to give us laughs and tragedy in equal parts."
Splash Magazine - Somewhat Recommended
"...Seven Homeless Mammoths does have its moments. The acting is solid and the plot resolves neatly at the end. Director Jeremy Wechsler also stages the production well on a very clever set design by Joe Schermoly. But in the end, I left the show feeling like it was stuck in second gear."
