Rooms: a rock romance presented by Broken Nose Theatre at Flat Iron Arts Building

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...Director Benjamin Brownson's stripped-down staging for Broken Nose Theatre allows the leads, who are undeniably charming, though wholly unconvincing as chart-topping punk poseurs, to tear up the small space in the Flat Iron building. But Austin Cook's slamming backup band sometimes drowns out the vocals, which means Goodman's lyrics often get lost in the mix."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...A two-person musical backed by a terrific four-man band, “Rooms” is set in Glasgow, London and New York at the height of the punk era. And with its grungy-chic streets and blaring bar music, the Wicker Park vibe seemed in complete synch with the world of this hard-driving, emotion-filled musical with its score by Scotland-born Paul Scott Goodman, its book by Goodman and Miriam Gordon, propulsive direction by Benjamin Brownson and galvanic music direction by Austin Cook."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...What makes this well-worn formula enjoyable is that director Benjamin Brownson and vocalists Matt Deitchmann and Hillary Marren attack their score with a full-throttle ebullience to awaken vivid memories of our own once-impetuous ambitions, their powerhouse vocals catalyzed by piano-man/music director Austin Cook and his stageside band. On a balmy summer night in Wicker Park-at one time, headquarters to the ripped-fishnets-and-safety-pin coterie to which Ian and Monica aspire-who can resist the optimism of a high-velocity anthem proclaiming, "All I Want Is Everything"?"

Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...The lyrics and dialogue have scattered moments of wit, but the music itself sounds familiar and bland. It’s also a significant challenge to mount a globe and time spanning show like this with only two characters, apart from the live band. Ian’s mother dies and Monica’s parents split up. It’s difficult to care about these traumatic events because they happen entirely offstage. We only hear about them."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...Deitchman is stuck mostly in brooding mode as counterpoint to Marren's bubbly, force-of-nature drive-amusingly, she's happy to put on a superficial punk persona if that's what fits the zeitgeist-but you're rooting for the two to get back to themselves, and each other, even as it's obvious that they will. Benjamin Brownson's alley staging, with music director Austin Cook leading a four-piece band, tells the story with style and economy, though the sound mix can make Goodman's lyrics hard to make out in the harder-driving numbers. Still, with a plot this straightforward, you almost don't need to hear the words."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...still the music and the band carry us through Rooms: A Rock Romance. Lovers of punk rock music will enjoy this show. The folks at Broken Nose Theatre have mounted a passable show that was a near miss hit. If only..."