The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez Reviews
Chicago Reader- Highly Recommended
"...Similarly, Kevin V. Smith's Man and Lorraine's Woman have a history from the first moment we see them. Smith builds an interesting, idiosyncratic sexual identity from-well, I don't know quite how he does it, but it's clear without an explicit word being said. And Lorraine is finally allowed to be Lorraine. Ranging through the space, playful, steely, self-absorbed, unencumbered, she shines."
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
"...Handke's writing is clearly translated from German. Everything the characters say is formal, and Smith's, especially, speaks in long, complicated sentences. Which is not a bad thing; Handke's writing demonstrates sophistication of artifice in a way that is much more mysterious than this conversation would likely have been if presented naturalistically. Seeing The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez is an experience which requires a certain mind-set to enjoy. Handke's fans have called his writing deeply erotic precisely because he takes such an analytical approach to emotions. Every show is followed by a discussion in the church's courtyard, and I encourage anyone attending to stay and listen. Besides appreciating Theatre-Y's work more, you'll experience the kind of bond between audience members and performers that the theatrical culture in this work's place of origin thrives on."
Chicago Stage and Screen- Somewhat Recommended
"...The translation and language of The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez are beautiful. While this is intentionally not a drama and it's supposed to be a summer dialogue, relaxing and easy, that ease toes a dangerous line between laid-back and uninteresting. It quickly becomes too easy to zone out while they wax poetic at each other while seemingly looking to gain little if anything at all. With a lack of solid goals and an ebb and flow to the story that was devoid of forward momentum, any hope for a plot to follow is lost until you are blindsided by a surprisingly beautiful ending."