Ivanov at Piven Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...I'd say that this production might have greatest appeal for those already convinced of Chekhov's genius and eager to see a work that is rarely performed. There is a looseness and variety in the performance styles that, while engaging and unfussy compared with more mannered takes, also tends to make the characters feel more atomized from one another than they need to be. Still, there are many moments of startling connection and mournful truth that I found myself returning to hours later. Though Ivanov describes his own story as "good material for a farce but nothing else," Patinkin's carefully contemporized adaptation and Piven's loving attention to telling details breathe some lovely life into this challenging piece."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"... It's marred by a melodramatic climax, and its juxtaposition of comedy and tragedy—a hallmark of Chekhov's genius in such later masterpieces as Uncle Vanya and The Cherry Orchard—sometimes feels awkward. But its depiction of middle-aged people gripped by self-pitying narcissism, boredom, banality, and gossipy malice is strikingly resonant today, and in this intimate, bare-bones, modern-dress staging by Joyce Piven (working from a 2009 adaptation by Sheldon Patinkin), it's a fine vehicle for dynamic ensemble acting. The cast includes the charismatic Dan Smith as Ivanov and Gita Tanner as Anna, Aayisha Chanel-Humphrey as a young woman whose love seems to offer Ivanov a second chance at happiness, and Kathy Ruhl and Stephen Fedo as the young woman's parents."

Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...Under Joyce Piven's direction, the production definitely takes some risks. WIth a set designed by Jacob Watson, the stage is something like an abandoned warehouse. The characters navigate around dusty antiques and chandeliers, creating a deliciously Gothic environment. You sense all the players have a good time with their work. But that's the problem here. You can see the work. Actors carry scripts around with them on stage, which got me wondering if the show was intentionally under rehearsed to maintain an element of spontaneity. However, the gimmick was abandoned halfway through, more a faulty choice than a solid concept, leaving no room for explanation for the slow pace of the first half of the piece."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Joyce Piven’s direction, too, is masterful—a deconstructed set and a casual approach to performance (some actors are on book, or seem to be) reminding us that these people could very well be ourselves. Every actor here—and there are many—finds the humor, light or hope which is always there to undermine the devastation of our hapless hero."