Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...In "The Gravedigger," now in a world premiere at First Folio Theatre, the title character, Kurt (Craig Spidle), is a drunkard with a bad leg who has made some money on the side selling body parts to Victor (Doug MacKechnie). A year later, Kurt finds an oversized fellow with a bandaged face hiding in an open grave. He takes pity on the "lummox," who in turn takes the name "Anton" in honor of St. Anthony, the patron saint of gravediggers (and butchers, for extra irony) whose image hangs in Kurt's rudely constructed hut. Soon, Kurt and Anton (Josh Carroll) form an ad hoc father-child relationship."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Feeling suicidal after a life filled with violence and rejection, the monster finds a quiet Bavarian graveyard where he hopes to hide out and wait for death. Instead, he's discovered by an equally depressed but good-hearted groundskeeper, Kurt, who helps him find a name (Anton) and learn to trust. Meanwhile, an outcast gypsy named Nadya plays Esmeralda to Anton’s Quasimodo. Silly as it sounds, the tale comes off rather sweetly under Alison C. Vesely's direction, and the cast—particularly Craig Spidle as Kurt—make it almost human."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Christopher Kriz and Joseph Zettelmaier have both joined the First Folio family as Artistic Associates...very wise collaboration indeed. After seeing Salvage and The Gravedigger, Zettelmaier's variety of subject matter and entertaining style intrigue me. Like binge t.v. watching , he makes one very anxious to see his next episode. You may feel the same way after trying this chilling and suspense-filled Gravedigger!"
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Alison C. Vesely, Artistic Director of First Folio and Director of The Gravedigger, has collaborated well with Zettelmaier in being able to carry on the story from where the original novel leaves off, while not creating any cliches of the Monster. In fact, one element they both excelled in was making the characters truthful and, at times, sentimental. Vesely utilizes the stage well enough to acknowledge where the scenes are taking place. There was no confusion there since the layout of the set was simple enough to decipher. Adding to that, there was no obstructed viewing from the audience. No matter where you were seated, you could see everything happening on the stage."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...For those of you who love the tales of Frankenstein and all the various stories that cling to this tale about the building of a man designed to save all mankind, this is as Paul Harvey would say "The rest of the story". Written by one of First Folio's Own, Joseph Zettelmaier, this version takes us to the cemetery where Baron Von Frankenstein bought the body parts he uses to create "The Monster". The grave-digger, Kurt (another superior performance by Chicago favorite Craig Spidle) is an ex-priest, who lives alone on the grounds as he puts it "In repentance for his sins". One night he finds a huge man in one of the graves. A Man who is covered in bandages and is immense in size, but very well spoken. He names him Anton and allows Anton to stay with him as friend and worker."
