The Raid presented by Jackalope Theatre Company at Broadway Armory

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...There are some potent points in Goodwin's play when these crucial issues shine through, illuminating past and present, but, some decent performances notwithstanding, "The Raid" at this juncture is a surprisingly dull 95 minutes of theater, given the passion of the historical inspiration. The biggest problem is that everything and everyone in director Kaiser Ahmed's production seems to stay on the same level, and far removed from the audience. There is little in the way of build. A kind of theatrical mush prevails, dragging down the characters. "The Raid" is very difficult to unpack."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...What he hasn't figured out yet is how to make these assets coalesce into something worthy of them. As it stands now, Goodwin's new play suffers from expository overkill, loads of interesting but useless historical information, and a failure to develop the Emperor into the dramatic linchpin he should be. Kaiser Zaki Ahmed's staging gets in the way more often than not—literally so in the case of a poorly placed floor light."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

"...For this Jackalope Theatre Company world-premiere production, Kaiser Zaki Ahmed directs a nine-member ensemble adept at imposing colloquial rhythms upon dialogue that could quickly grow stilted and textbookish. Warren Feagins and Toya Turner contribute intimate portraits of historic icons Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, while Jared Belliott's Emperor and Daniel Desmarais' Henry guide us through Goodwin's chronological intricacies with articulate ease. What more than justifies the march to the Jackalope studio in the Broadway armory, though, is Ron Wells' impressive portrayal of the obsessed and intrepid John Brown, whose martyrdom continues to stir controversy today even as it is commemorated in our national galleries."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...Within all of this, Jared Bellot and Toya Turner bring levity and life to the production. As Harriet Tubman, Turner brings much needed humor to an often overly pious show. Bellot's Emperor brings strength and grace to The Raid-and in his closing moments, delivers lines that perhaps show the hand of the Goodwin's intentions. No matter how misguided, there is heroism in what antiheros attempt."

Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended

"...The Raid bites off more than it can chew at times: inciting physical violence where verbal blows would more than suffice and stitching on more plot points then necessary (though the two cents cast by Mahala Doyle (Tracy Garrison), a widow by Brown’s hand is a fine touch). There are times when historical accuracy makes us loose sight of the central questions. But Goodwin’s preservation of these characters, the great and the small, always remain strong and The Emperor’s storytelling, the thoughts of a slave witnessing, and shaping, events to come, keep the fires of our interest well stoked."