Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Conor may have done a great service to Susan in coming back to tell her his story — at least, that's what Kinahan wants us to believe. But she denies us the chance to see more of Susan's own life with Annie, so we can fully understand how profound the loss has been. "Spinning" takes us into some emotionally rich territory, thanks in large part to the fine cast, but it veers away from some of the most interesting questions lying just below the surface."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...The play is now receiving its U.S. premiere in an emotionally raw Irish Theatre of Chicago production meticulously directed by Joanie Schultz. Leading her cast of four is Dan Waller — a small, wiry, hugely compelling actor who can ignite a stage with his feverishly concentrated passion. Waller uses his formidable ability to shift from an implosive to an explosive state of mind to riveting effect, capturing his character’s impotence and despair to perfection."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Kinahan's deeply felt if dutifully drawn story is full of none-too-surprising reveals, but it's all made palatable by director Joanie Schultz's meticulous staging for Irish Theatre of Chicago. She steers her four-person cast through 65 minutes of splintered flashbacks with unwavering pose and emotional commitment. It's an engaging evening, even if it never stops feeling overly engineered."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...What we don’t see enough of is the relationship between Annie and her mother, Susan (Jodi Kingsley), who’s relegated mostly to righteous but reactionary anger at Conor for reopening her wounds. Kinahan, the Irish playwright whose Moment was seen in a moving production at Chicago’s Steep Theatre in 2012, clearly excels at family drama hinging on carefully constructed narratives and exposed scars, and she’s well-served by director Joanie Schultz’s U.S. premiere, which features honest and acute performances all around. These four fine actors are evenly matched; it’s the plotting that’s spun just off balance."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...Still, the play hardly vindicates Conor. In almost all of her scenes, Susan demands accountability from him, and Kingsley captures the intensity of her loss and frustration every time. At first, he is resistant, but in time, he becomes more honest with himself as well as her. Grant Sabin's scenic design is a heavily raked stage, on which Schultz has literally given Susan the high ground. Though we get a sense early on of what happened, the mystery elements still provide enough suspense to keep the audience engaged for the show's hour and a half run-time. Kinahan provides some obvious pointers to how the legal system and society need to change to prevent the kind of situation seen here, but she doesn't pretend to have easy answers for what people should do after horrible crimes are committed. That's highly personal in any case, but Spinning does a fine job of presenting us with one such story."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...This is a play to be savored, rather than enjoyed. It's like a recent wound that has been torn open and exposed to light. The blood may have stopped flowing slightly, but the nerves are exposed again and the pain continues to throb. There aren't any pat answers in Kinahan's play, nor are there solutions. However, the road shared with these four flawed characters as they travel, so filled with hurt, is a path to enlightenment for the audience."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...The love between a parent and a child is this play's emotional essences. And the loss of a child is the unforgettable takeaway. SPINNING is powerful. The haunting story unfolds like a mystery. Following the thunderous applause, one audience member uttered 'wow!' I heartily agree."
Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended
"...Without a doubt, Spinning is a compelling, emotional parable. Aside from Conor, though, no other character has an arc and everyone ends pretty much the same as they started. The effect is hypnotic, but flat. If Kinahan had taken a different approach, even slightly, Spinning could have taken ideas of grief and redemption to a whole new level. As it is, I'll just have to imagine the effect it could have had. Coulda shoulda woulda."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...Spinning is notable for its fine direction and acting. Dan Waller is one of those solid Chicago actors who plays many types of roles and makes each one his own. His portrayal of Conor is wrenching and passionate as he gradually learns so accept his responsibility for his actions. Jodi Kingsley is very believable as the grieving mother. Meredith and Kruse complete the strong cast."
PlaylistHQ - Recommended
"...Throughout the performance, the audience is left in suspense, puzzled about the tragedy. The play reveals more and more information as it goes on. It all leads to a thrilling climax when all the pieces come together. The mixed timeline is similar to the film Momento. Both the play and the movie use this tactic expertly to craft a very dramatic story."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...The action unfolds on a striking set by Grant Sabin, bare wood planks made to look like the deck of a ship or a well-designed raft, from which rocks and a few other objects are suspended with twine, presenting a landscape both beautiful and askew, controlled and filled with contradiction. Though the Irish accents are unevenly and distractingly deployed, the actors, under the direction of Joanie Schultz, nobly execute their parts."
