Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"..."Rose and the Rime" is written by the A-list House team of Nathan Allen (who also directs), Chris Mathews and Jake Minton, and it is a likable, poignant, gently involving show, notably improved from the first version and full of inventive physical staging from Tommy Rapley. A few whimsical songs from Kevin O'Donnell aside, "Rose and the Rime" does not have the Broadway-quality score of "Frozen," nor the narrative wit, but it's worth remembering for families that "Frozen" pretty much does everything for you - you're just there to receive and admire - whereas "Rose and the Rime" involves the audience explicitly in its storytelling. It's best for older kids (and adults), although there were some very young kids there on Sunday, playing in the snow-flakes, chatting back to the very game actors, and having a blast. You can enjoy this piece on several levels."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...A young girl, Rose (the wonderful Paige Collins), treks northward from snowbound Radio Falls, Michigan, to reclaim a magic coin from a witch-a coin that can summon the sun and end the permanent freeze that has paralyzed Rose's hometown. But it's the imaginative scenic and aural design and tight-knit ensemble that make this remount of House's 2009 hit so see-worthy."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"...Nathan Allan keeps a tight rein on this production, filling it with more eye-popping spectacle than Cirque du Soleil. Paige Collins as Rose grows from young innocent to knowing adult through this story. Michael E. Smith is sincerely caring as Uncle Roger and Brandon Markell Holmes makes a lovable Jimmy; but it's the dynamics of the entire ensemble and the show's technical elements that promises a not-to-be-missed experience."
Chicago Theatre Addict - Somewhat Recommended
"...I admire House Theatre’s commitment to the art of storytelling — especially in telling tales that explore the dark side of happily ever after. You feel like you’re part of something communal — almost spiritual. However, this production didn’t awake my senses or capture my imagination — rather it simply made me exhausted. Perhaps I could blame it on a weary Thursday afternoon, where the last thing I wanted was actors running around yelling their lines like they’d just had 10 cups of caffeinated hot chocolate."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...There’s plenty here to delight young viewers, with multiple musical numbers, bubbles, hot dogs chucked into the audience and so much confetti that the first rows are bound to walk away coated in the stuff. But viewers of all ages can enjoy coming out of the cold for a play that mixes dreams of summer with the message that happiness can still exist even during a seemingly endless winter."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"..."The House is Chicago's premier home for original works of physical and spectacle storytelling". Founded in 2001 to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience, it lives up to its goals. If you have not become a completely serious adult by saving just a little of your childhood in your back packet, you will find "Rose and the Rime" magical entertainment with some underlying reality to ponder."
The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended
"...The ensemble is peppy. There is a strong sense of play. Although they know how to frolic in the snow, they never actualize the Grimm angle of this fairy tale. ROSE AND THE RIME has a dark side that is alluded to but never manifests as true evil. ROSE AND THE RIME is cute. The design elements make for a fun spectacle. With story tightening and emotional risks, ROSE AND THE RIME could be a winter classic."