The Trinity River Plays Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...You return to the nest — in Taylor's case, the nest is in Dallas and the maternal plague was ovarian cancer. But it could be anywhere. Once there, you find yourself both unable to return and unable to avoid returning. You, the one who got away, must confront the resentment of those who stayed behind and now see you as an outsider, parachuting in. You find yourself attached to the old community — you're thrilled to see folks who remember you as a child, you're anxious to re-create childhood rituals — but see you no longer belong. You don't know it, or, now that your loved one is dead, know yourself."

Chicago Sun Times - Recommended

"...Instead of the often opaque or chokingly politically correct work of seasons past (from “Drowning Crow” to “Magnolia”), this three-hour trilogy, which is clearly more than a little autobiographical, gives us a revealing, deeply intimate, “hang out the dirty laundry” look at crucial aspects of Taylor’s past. In the process, she seems to have liberated herself as a writer and discovered a far more direct, accessible, overtly emotional way into her audience's heart."

Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended

"... Feeling like a so-so TV domestic drama, “The Trinity River Plays” is filled with far too many inconsequential daily life scenes (ranging from arguments over shoplifting to gardening) while skimping on major conflicts. It’s also oddly structured at key dramatic moments. For example, when Iris confronts her aunt and cousin about sexual abuse by her late uncle, she jarringly interrupts the hysterics by delivering a calm and reflective monologue."

Windy City Times - Recommended

"...Trinity River is, fundamentally, the saga of an author searching for her "voice", its climax occurring when she suddenly finds herself at a complete and terrifying loss for the words that are her solace and protection—an abandonment that Taylor need never fear. With the exception of some protracted phantom conversation in the final moments, hers is a voice capable of conjuring seemingly endless images as lush and vivid as Mama Rose's flowers in full bloom."

Copley News Service - Recommended

"...The blue ribbon cast is led by Chicagoan Karen Aldridge in the demanding role of Iris. The character is on stage for nearly the entire trilogy and is required to go through some major changes psychological changes. She even has to howl like a banshee a couple of times. But Aldridge endows Iris with intelligence and an appealing warmth. Iris is strong enough to be the centerpiece of the major play that could be carved out of the present overlong version."

Talkin Broadway - Recommended

"...While the characters and performances are rich, and the themes important to explore, the play seems to need some continued work. At over three hours (including two intermissions), it feels long. That feeling may be exacerbated by the script's choppy arc. The action sometimes stalls, and moods change without warning or being fully earned. This being only the first production of the plays, none of those are irredeemable or unfixable sins. With some prudent editing, The Trinity River Plays could appeal to a wide audience for its illuminating look at a slice of African-American life that is accessible and ought to be resonant to all."

Centerstage - Recommended

"...The script can get a bit uneven (I’m not a fan of the ghost in the “Ghoststory” act) but for the most part, Taylor’s unique writing style manages to feel universal and personal at the same time while the intense devotion of the actors demands attention and pushes the audience through any weaknesses in the script. Some may say it’s unnecessarily lengthy, but for my money it’s a story that necessitates the dedication of several hours."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"... With this cast in particular, that shorter play could be a knockout. Sweet, self-possessed and cautious, Aldridge makes Iris a winning, if always slightly distant, heroine. She has fine backup in whiskey-voiced Clark, tart Williams and the tightly wound Penny Johnson Jerald as Iris’s mother, Rose. McSweeny orchestrates the action gracefully, with standout moments including judo assaults on Iris from Rose’s ghost and a pickup basketball game between two middle-aged rivals for Iris’s heart."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...With cuts and a new razor-sharp focus, The Trinity River Plays could really be a moving theatrical experience. Taylor’s work has loads of charm, several lovable characters and a empathetic lead. Too bad the three plays don’t weave into one another to form a larger whole. Having the action in the past diminishes its power and reliance. Yet there is much to like here. Audiences enjoy a family saga with loads of heart as found here. This may be a work that audiences will like more that reviewers."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended

"...The big flaw here: 90% of the dialogue happens in the past tense--where audience investment is lowest.  There are no flashbacks to increase it.  We never care about what comes next because by the end of the first act it’s clear the playwright doesn’t.  These three plays are far less than the sum of their parts.  Never building on each other (because they’re supposed to stand on their own), they subtract when they could add up.  It’s one un-prioritized thing after another—recriminations, recollections, sitcom sex, convenient confessions from the afterlife, bromides about survival and endurance."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...Trinity is overall a story that will cause you to think about your life, some of the storms that you have faced ( or might in the near future) and how you have or will handle them. From the beautiful set to the great lighting effects( Tyler Micoleau) and Karen Perry’s costumes, and of course the wonderful musical interludes that played between scenes, this is a complete and wonderful experience, capturing some very realistic moments onstage."

Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended

"...Playwright Regina Taylor has written and promoted The Trinity River Plays as three separate plays. In actuality, it’s one play about one family. Taylor’s solid family dysfunction is experienced the best possible way with a lot of laughter. Trying to keep The Trinity River Plays separate entities adds to the length and loose pacing. Scene transitions have prolonged black-outs that sometimes confuse as intermission cues. Pulling it together as “The Trinity River PLAY” (singular!) will tighten up the action – including eliminating one of the two intermissions – allowing this work to bloom and flourish from daisies to rose bushes. I do love daisies but roses make a stronger statement."