The Last Defender presented by The House Theatre of Chicago at Chopin Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"..."The Last Defender" certainly is a unique attraction among Chicago theaters of the moment. If you could pull together a big group for this 90-minute communal experience, you'll have an especially revealing time, and learn quite a bit more about your pals under pressure. Well, they were your pals going in ..."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...Sander Weisz's elaborate puzzles are so fun and challenging that it's easy to overlook how impressive the coordinated arcade consoles, projection screens, periscope viewers, dot matrix printers, fog machines, and live-action Spaceteam walls really are. It's a logistical and technical achievement that will undoubtedly satisfy even the pickiest problem-solving nerd-here's hoping these become a trend."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...If anything, The Last Defender might be too smart. By the time I played, a few weeks into the run, one of the stagehands who give you silent guidance throughout play told us afterward that only one team had so far fully solved the puzzle; the 90-minute time limit allows about a dozen “performances” a week. (My team was not the one that saved the world.) Part of you wants to go back for another shot, but you also know it wouldn’t quite be fair, or as fun, to return with any of the knowledge you gained the first time. Uniquely challenging and exhilarating, The Last Defender is exciting new territory for the House."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...Those who were most active in taking command and matching the game’s rapid pace seemed to have had the most fun, and nostalgia for eighties titles like War Games seemed to help a lot, too. The only one of Sandor Weisz’s puzzles I saw through from start to finish looks ridiculously easy in retrospect, and the difficulty was created mostly by the chaotic environment of the room. But it may have been unique in that regard, or maybe that’s just the nature of mind puzzles. As usual for the House, the event has incredibly cool aesthetics. This game is definitely a must-play for puzzle nerds, and is worth checking out for anyone whose interest is peaked by the premise."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...The Last Defender isn't the kind of experience you should choose if you're after a straightforward night at the theatre. But if you're open to a different kind of stage experience, and one that is still theatrical in its own way, then suit up, Defender."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Still, trusting one’s ensemble is one thing, trusting one’s audience is quite another. House Theatre of Chicago is responsible for some of the least-pretentious high art in our city. There is real and well-deserved affection for this company that goes beyond niche. Like a spring-loaded door on the other side of which is the key to saving the world, they release something in us."