Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Joshua Harmon's "Significant Other," now in its first Chicago production at Theater Wit under the lively direction of Keira Fromm, is a black comedy about a painful transition that hits many of us urbanites in our late 20s or early 30s and goes a long way toward explaining why weddings can be such fraught affairs for anyone stuck in a tux or matching crinoline."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...That Alex Weisman is able to play all sides of Jordan, the comic and the tragic, as he slowly, painfully, but finally grows up, speaks volumes about his skills as an actor, and about the solidity of the cast director Keira Fromm has surrounded him with-there's not a misstep or misplayed moment in the whole glorious production. Amanda Drinkall, in particular, kills us softly as the BFF who finds she must break free from the intensely needy Jordan to live her own life."
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...By play’s end Significant Other feels solidly sad, as ironic as its taunting title. Queer culture, as Harmon sees it, can be mean as the streets. Sex in the city is never pretty. Pick your poison."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...This is a bittersweet comedy, and in our modern world probably will have more meaning than it might have had back in the 80's or even the 90's. Our world has opened closet doors today and men like Jordan can hope that there is a "Mr. Right" out there and that they can have the same life as his friends are having."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Joshua Harmon’s play is reminiscent of “Company,” Stephen Sondheim’s musical commentary about marriage. The difference is that Jordan’s three lady friends don’t try to convince him to get married; he already desperately wants to have a relationship. And, unlike the musical, once they’re wedded Jordan’s girl friends recede from his life and into their own. The play also unspools a little like an Agatha Christie mystery, with each young woman becoming engaged, married and then disappearing, leaving only Jordan by himself. We can almost countdown their demise. There’s a lot of dialogue and the play might be a better with a tad less talking and a little more action. But this is a highly entertaining comedy that offers a look at our brave new world, where gay men and women can now marry. While it’s true that marriage equality now exists, it’s no guarantee that many of us won’t end up alone alone in the end. But, as Bette Midler says, you’ve gotta have friends, and sometimes that’s the best that life can offer."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...Director and About Face artistic associate Keira Fromm does a fine job of orchestrating the production, with its many shifts in time and place and its striking mood shifts. Jeffrey Kmiec's minimalist set and Pauline Olesky's props designs effectively utilize the theater's intimate playing area. The visual input is provided by Noel Huntziner's costume designs and John Kelly's atmospheric lighting, complemented by Christopher Kriz's original music compositions and sound design."
The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended
"...Fromm has a great cast that also includes Benjamin Sprunger (Will, Tony, Conrad), Ninos Baba (Zach, Evan, Roger), and Ann Whitney (Helene). Harmon’s story doesn’t have the depth to showcase their talent or tether the audience to them. Harmon missed the opportunity to dig deeper into his characters. He keeps it light and frothy. The play doesn’t have the thought-provoking content typical of an About Face Theatre show or the sophisticated humor of a Theater Wit play. Still, in these tumultuous times, light and frothy entertainment might be the perfect escape."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...In the end, Jordan's tragic appeal is that he is a character who is stuck, who will have to grow in a different direction if he is to have a life, and it isn't at all clear if he has it in him to do so. If only we could pick him up, and face him toward some 'Queer As Folk' fantasy world located just around some mythic corner that is full of support group buddies, whispered confessions at book club meetings and hot romances that spring up at dance halls and gay rugby matches on the weekends. Until then, we can do nothing but feel his pain."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Weisman, fresh off of his Jeff Award for Hand to God, is miraculous here. He’s so sweet and so moving that you want to reach out from your seat and hug him. (Someone behind me said “Awww” so many times I should have counted them, and each one was deserved.) When Jordan experiences brief happiness, Weisman’s eyes light up brighter than the disco ball used for the wedding receptions and his face becomes one giant smile. And when his pent-up frustration escapes, he does that, too, with every element of his being, his entire body a masterpiece of tension and pain. "
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...So while the story is made up, the emotions portrayed feel very real - the love, the hurt, the acceptance. SIGNIFICANT OTHER will speak to a variety of audience members - those dealing with changing friendships, those struggling with today's dating scene, those stuck in a dating rut, or those looking for emotional connections. This show would be a good fit for anyone searching for a play that deals with the uncertainty of being single in a world of couples."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The show is held up by Weisman and his incredibly funny, yet, at times, incredibly sad portrayal of Jordan. He balances the sweetness and kindness of this young gay man while also demonstrating his obsessive tendencies to find love, making the audience roar with laughter at his expressions and antics while tugging at our heartstrings at his loneliness in the world. Scene after scene, he captivates."
