Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...It's all exceptionally well-acted - Mitchell is a force indeed, but then so are her daughters, unified but also looking out for themselves, each born of this Creole melange of privilege, expediency and original sin."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Helmed by artistic director Chay Yew, this minimalist production never captures the magic of voodoo or the culture that gave it birth, but feels neutered and contrived. There are some eloquent monologues, but Gardley too often relies on one-liners and zingers to entertain the crowd-not to mention the show's appropriation of Beyonce tracks for some awkward music transitions, as if capitalizing on Lemonade will make it seem hip and relevant. Instead, despite the powerful talent onstage, it adds about as much to the cultural discourse as a voodoo shop at the airport."
Windy City Times - Recommended
"...But I'm willing to give The House That Will Not Stand a pass. While offering up so many juicy roles for African-American actresses, Gardley creates a vastly entertaining drama that opens a fascinating window to the past while addressing audiences of today."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...When the show is at its best, it is electrifying. Gardley does not shy away from melodrama. Instead, he takes all the familiar soap opera elements and works them into a furious lather. If he wanted to write a play that survived on shade alone, he could have done so easily. But The House That Will Not Stand is not just a tasty collection of bons mots. It is a serious inquiry into the politics of race, gender and the awful intersection of the two. The show unravels somewhat in Act II, the plot devolving into a series of moments, but many of those moments still land with thunderous, squalling power."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...With its use of magic, focus on the girls' hopes for a fairy-tale romance, and fantastic costumes designed by Izumi Inaba, The House That Will Not Stand interestingly uses dark fantasy to present a lesson in history. From Bruce Norris's Clybourne Park, which beat A Free Man of Color for the Pulitzer, to at least as far back as Dion Boucicault's 1859 play The Octoroon, dramas about the possession of a piece of real estate have been a staple of the American stage, often with the races of the competing inhabitants having been a heavy influence on the action."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...Theater that combines history and activism can become mired in its message. Marcus Gardley is confident enough in his voice and in those that will interpret his vision to trust that the story and message will be clear if he creates powerful characters. As the title indicates, and the events of the play dictate, The House That Will Not Stand and its inhabitants are condemned, both from within and without. The final moments are striking in that the audience knows American history better than the characters can. However, these characters are centuries ahead of their fates, and their voices speak truths that are still relevant today, and fight for the power and rights they and their spiritual descendants deserve. Chay Yew and his cast and designers mine Gardley's vision for every nuance and create an epic response to an historical event. Though the play explores the roots of American racism and repression, this version of the past holds a mirror that reflects a clear view of the present. This is not a perfect play-there are some heavy-handed speeches and the characters sometimes verge on caricature-but it is rare to find such a bold vision, staged with fearlessness and insight by such a talented ensemble."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...“The House That Will Not Stand” is a history play about free women of color in 1813 New Orleans. I really expected to be blown away by the play because of the compelling story, the level of talent on stage and the all-female cast. Instead of loving it, I ended up disappointed because I couldn’t hear/understand a lot of the dialogue."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"..."The House That Will Not Stand" takes the viewer into another world, where black-white relations operate at a different level than the standard slavery stories of the pre Civil War era. The play is not only an involving family drama, it's a history lesson that introduces a little known period in America's troubled racial past in a fresh and stirring light. Plus the play is filled with rewards as a showcase for exceptional acting."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Helmed by Chay Yew with heart, power and feel good energy that reverberates throughout the entire theater, this production proves that if you do great work for women of color then great actresses of color will not only show up, but deliver with mastery what their experience and education have given them but what lack of opportunity in the past has not afforded them."
