The Snare presented by Jackalop Theatre at Broadway Armory

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Plays about parenting are rare at Chicago storefronts — plays about parenting teenagers rarer yet. But the new work, "The Snare," by a young writer named Samantha Beach, actually is a show that you could enjoy with your kids, without embarrassing either you or them, and maybe all learn a thing or two about each other. Enough, perhaps, for a very interesting ride home. If you keep the screens off."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...While Beach's uncertain structure and light tone prevent her thoughtful, provocative story from building to a meaningful conclusion-a problem even this powerfully acted, intelligently directed Jackalope Theatre premiere can't overcome-The Snare is the rare play that asks an audience to accept, without a trace of irony, that faith truly matters to "ordinary" people."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Boulos makes great use of Ashley Wood’s long and beautifully articulated set; it feels like an average suburban living room/kitchen, but there’s something about its sheer depth that registers as unsettling—no matter where in the house there’s enough distance to at least one part of the set that something sinister could hide there out of sight. Boulos paces the show superbly, building tension scene by scene until it’s drawn so tight that it finally snaps. With an acting ensemble that deftly mixes precision with vulnerability, The Snare might just leave you wondering why you thought it needed all that other crap in the first place."

The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended

"...It’s Beach’s layering on of seemingly superfluous scenes and odd details that delegitimizes this honest portrayal of a family. She rolls her tale out with multiple car scenes that add length without substance. She also inserts both a Bobcat and a fort which deceptively lead my imagination down a much more demonic storyline. Beach even ends the play without one of the main characters present to the conflict resolution. Although I enjoyed the stellar ensemble’s portrayal of this wholesome family under Satanic attack, Beach’s storytelling decisions left me puzzled and distracted."

Picture This Post - Somewhat Recommended

"...The Snare features several standout supernatural moments, as well as some poignant conversations about the intersection of faith and child rearing. With a strong cast, there is much to like in Jackalope Theatre's production. From a book falling off the shelf to the yowls of a mysterious cat outside, Beach's script has some eerie moments that draw you in."

NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...The cast works well with what they have and are ultimately likable in their respective visages. This is a perfectly relatable world, albeit one where very little happens despite some heavy signposting of significance at the play’s conclusion. For the average theatergoer, whether you’re newly independent and reflecting on your adolescence or an overworked, under-rested parent looking for recognition, you will likely see yourself reflected. Yet what you won’t see is something that will keep you up at night."