The Strangerer Reviews

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...Like Camus' murderous antihero Mersault, Maher's Bush (brilliantly portrayed by Guy Massey) is driven by a stubborn—and perhaps mad—passion for the absolute. Maher himself impersonates the stiff, somnolent Kerry, while Colm O'Reilly and Brian Shaw alternate as PBS icon Jim Lehrer, whose attempts to moderate the absurd debate epitomize the media establishment's ineffectuality. The Strangerer is funny, smart, scary, and frighteningly relevant."

Chicago Free Press - Highly Recommended

"...At the end of the day, you’ll not find better bang for your buck in Chicago theater. (Admission’s only $10, amended by Oobleck’s small-D democratic policy: “More if you’ve got it, free if you’re broke.”) One can’t help holding out hope, however, for Maher and Company’s take on the current presidential race. November is still seven months away…"

Gay Chicago Magazine - Recommended

"...One need not, however, be a fan of either genre to be able to appreciate Guy Massey in the role of Bush. Massey is always a satisfying actor and, much like a good swallow of favorite pie, he is expected to please in a homey, familiar way. He does not disappoint here, outdoing even his best efforts. Despite the difficulty of the task (and it has taken a darker turn still since he first created the role in March 2007) he manages to treat the man with compassion, walking the edge of pathetic but never quite stepping over the line."

Centerstage - Highly Recommended

"...'Brilliant' is a word to avoid. For one thing, it's generally an overstatement. Worse, it's worn out, robbed of its singularity by years of careless use. You might as well say "double plus good." But "The Strangerer," a new play from Theatre Oobleck, has in its double plus goodness such peculiar qualities (lightness, hardness, endless facets) that it could tempt that old word out of retirement."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...For the first 45 minutes, we are fully engaged and laugh heartily at the spot-on comedic timing and witty satire. However, the play drags on much too long (one hour and fifty minutes) as the play beats to death the premise of the attempt killing of Lehrer and the overwrought destruction of Bush and Kerry’s sleep problems."