White Hot Black Comedy Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Somewhat Recommended
"...Individually, the actors are a likable group -- including Michael Pogue and Dan Findley, who play the assorted male roles -- but among the women, at least, their efforts to capture the ease and flow of long-term friendships feels strained and artificial. Mostly this is because of the writing, which tends toward a glib sort of badinage, and director Marissa McKown's unsophisticated efforts, which lack pacing and an assured sense of purpose."
Chicago Reader- Somewhat Recommended
"...Cate Plys and Carly Figliulo's comedy about five female friends hanging out at a Michigan cottage and confronting lots of racial and sexual stereotypes is refreshingly un-PC: those looking to be offended won't be disappointed. But, like Crash, the play often feels contrived, relying on coincidence to advance the sometimes grim subplot. Though the writers claim to have based the characters on real-life friends, the relationships feel underdeveloped, and Marissa McKown's staging doesn't bridge the script's gaps between melodramatic Special Moments and frequently hilarious trash talk."
Time Out Chicago- Somewhat Recommended
"...First-time playwrights Plys and Figliulo have received some undeserved flak about race in their play; in fact, the strong suit of this production is its unforced vision of racial and sexual integration, with biracial Melissa (Story) getting the richest part and many of the best lines. Story rises to the occasion with a sharp, authoritative performance. But that can’t excuse the work’s glaring weaknesses."
ChicagoCritic- Somewhat Recommended
"...The production is directed as a French farce at times, replete with slamming doors and careening characters, to the play’s detriment. When the action is focused on the friends and their stories, this play can shine."