The Deer presented by The Ruckus Theater at Flat Iron Arts Building

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Director Eric Hoff creates an aptly hallucinogenic atmosphere, and his cast deliver thoughtful, well-observed performances, with Bryan Bosque's gracefully ungrounded turn as Russ particularly effective. The play may linger all evening in familiar territory (and the twist ending raises more questions than it answers), but the many moments of unassuming pathos are wrenching."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...But while the components of this play are very strong, I still came away feeling like something was missing. That feeling may lie with the character of Russ-a strong character but not necessarily a dynamic one. He's stuck, directionless, with graffiti art being his main mode of expression. Izumi Inaba's costume design for him, a sweatshirt and jeans tagged from head to toe, captures him perfectly. It's also a perfect illustration of his flaw. We learn about his artistic outlet and his compulsion to share with his sister every bit of incidental beauty he encounters, but the deeper person still eludes us. Granted, each of these characters is a ghost occupying Clara's memory, so a lighter touch is reasonable. But for Russ, the restraint may have cost him the genuine pathos that he and this story deserve."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...The story seems simple, but what we learn about a collision between a car and a deer is not so obvious. The deer (Mike Tepeli) and the driver Clara (Julie Cowden) are wounded and trapped. As they hover between this world and the next, we learn much about Clara's life, and her relationship with her brother Russ (Brian Bosque), and John, the man with whom she is sleeping (Joshua Davis)."