Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Hawkins is very strong — perhaps too strong — as Frank, given that the powerful character he shows us and the awkward one the other characters describe seem at odds with one another. But I think Hawkins mostly is trying to get a rise out of Schneider, who needs to get with the program here and show us a character undergoing an internal tempest that his memory cannot quiet."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...The 75-minute one-act's principal focus is on the unreliability of memory-it's never certain whether the suspected abuse actually took place-and the play's ambiguities are skillfully negotiated by director Kimberly Senior and her excellent cast."
Centerstage - Recommended
"...At only 75 minutes, the play bristles along, and is never overbearing in it' subject matter. Most of the time, it is brimming with heart. Herzog is a playwright of intense sensitivity for all of her characters. By exploring all too familiar situations to today's audiences, it is unsettling to find yourself relating so completely. With good writing and direction, "The Great God Pan" will haunt your thoughts."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Schneider's supported by a choice ensemble, with particularly finely-tuned work from Valada-Viars and Hawkins. Director Kimberly Senior and scenic designer Courtney O'Neill execute a cleverly resonant concept for Next's staging, enclosing the entire action within the coffee house where Jamie meets with Frank at the top of the play; Heather Gilbert's nimble lighting design establishes shifts of location, while cast members not in the current scene remain onstage as patrons, ready to enter Jamie's thoughts at any moment. It's an astute evocation of the elusive, intrusive fluidity of memory."
Chicago On the Aisle - Not Recommended
"...The setup of Amy Herzog's play "The Great God Pan" is intriguing: A man in his early thirties reconnects with a childhood chum who makes deeply disturbing claims about their formative years. Problem is, where we ultimately expect catharsis the playwright leaves us merely teased. And despite director Kimberly Senior's sensitive and tempting effort, the current production at Next Theatre cannot magically spin this fragment into whole cloth."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...The above dilemmas are at the heart of Herzog's The Great God Pan. This drama isn't about sexual abuse but rather about how our memories can trick us as well as the nature of suppressed memories affecting our present psyche. Over the curse of this 75 minute one act, we witness Jamie coming to terms with the possibility that he was traumatized in early childhood. We also see how Paige's own issues play out towards her relations with Jamie. As the mystery evolves, the work abruptly ends leaving us to wonder about the facts. While a play actually doesn't have to resolve every detail, you'd think we'd get more than was offered? Brett Schneider anchors a cast of fine players. This work will get us debating the implications of memories, both real and suppressed."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"...Memory plays are an important theme in dramatic literature, with the best of them not afraid to foray into the murky abyss to which truth can lead. But because we don't meet the perpetrator here, and don't see the impact of the reveal on the central characters, The Great God Pan seems afraid to fully illustrate the horrible memory which needed to be explored."
Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Over the years, I have found Next Theatre Company to be one of the bright stars in our community and was looking forward to tonight’s Midwest premiere of Amy Herzog’s “The Great God Pan” directed by one of my favorites, Kimberly Senior. The story, a 75 minute tale with no intermission, is the story of a young man, Jamie ( solidly played by Brett Schneider) who is summoned to meet an old friend ( one he had not seen for 27 years), where he is informed about what might have taken place some 27 years ago, involving this “friend” ( Matt Hawkins) and his father."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"..."The Great God Pan" requires patience and close attention from the audience. It moves at its own rhythms and some viewers may grow impatient with the absence of concrete storytelling and an all-questions-answered finish. Take the play on its own terms and you should be engrossed. The superb casting and razor sharp but unobtrusive directing have shaped the script into an fascinating experience for patrons willing to let this intense and complex play come to them. The drama's title comes from a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the relevance of which escaped me."
The Fourth Walsh - Recommended
"...Herzog’s story is poignant. The subject matter is intense. Senior’s direction is thoughtful. And this ensemble is authentic. They are so honest in their portrayals; the audience experiences various levels of discomfort. THE GREAT GOD PAN delivers memorable truths."
