The Monster In The Hall at Filament Theatre

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...Director Julie Ritchey's on-point staging for Filament Theatre works in cohesion with the lighting, a beautiful spectacle from Kristof Janezic. Aside from a few clunky and too quiet transitions between songs, the show shines."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...At its best, The Monster in the Hall delivers an old-fashioned teen high jinks comedy that’s been flipped on its head. The teen girl is forced to become an authority figure desperately reigning in a household spiralling out of control. The stakes are real, lasting and emotional. But for the most part, the play keeps it light. It doesn’t treat its subject too seriously, though it does treat it with respect. Duck is still a teenager at the end of the day, and the fantastical elements reflect her enduring youth and the world of possibilities ahead of her despite her challenging situation—if only she and her dad can find a safe way forward."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...Eleanor Kahn’s set design is a multilevel conglomeration of flats that create an obstacle course, but it takes a beating itself. Doors are created by microphone stands, a clever solution consistent with the show’s highly imaginative yet minimalist aesthetic. Those microphones are helpful during the songs, but I wanted them to be stronger. The Scottish accents aren’t overwhelming, but there are a lot of Britishisms. The audience sits scattered around the thrust stage at small tables on which they can place their own refreshments, since Filament’s concession stand doesn’t exist yet. I wish their venue wasn’t so far from college campuses, because I think a young, slightly refreshed crowd would be the ideal audience for this show. Not that older people won’t like it, just that the actors jump very close to the audience and the content isn’t really as grim as some promotional materials made it sound. If you go, expect to laugh and be excited with some pathos mixed in."

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...The Monster in the Hall is juggling a lot—balls, concepts, motorcycles, macaroni, and some of Duke’s half-smoked joints. But in spite of all of that excess, the play doesn’t lose sight of the real meaning and heart of the action—the relationship between Duck and Duke, and the spark and charm of a creative, weird teenager like Duck. Ultimately, the play’s stylistic devices, when they work, reveal the healing, transformative power of storytelling."