Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...The former artistic director of the Gardens, Dennis Zacek, has returned to direct this piece, and he mostly allows Toibin's words, and Reiter's performance, to speak for themselves. This is a rare opportuity for a no-nonsense Chicago actress who has worked here for decades, and Reiter takes as Gospel the notion that Mary was very smart and, therefore, resistant to being made a pawn in anyone's larger plan. Reiter has never been given to linguistic pretension nor intense emotionalism, and her Mary is, first and foremost, a mother under duress, and recognizably so."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...With her face scrubbed raw, and her hair wet, Reiter, a petite actress of formidable presence (who previously has demonstrated her star power in productions of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and “The Manchurian Candidate”), clearly has seized hold of the role of a lifetime. And it is the intelligence and absolute reality she brings to it that make it work so fearsomely."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Taken with Tóibín's uncompromising script, Reiter's powerfully raw performance makes the case that the story of Jesus isn't about redeeming humankind, but about our limitless capacity for foolishness and cruelty. "When you say that he redeemed the world," Mary says, "I will say that it was not worth it.""
Stage and Cinema - Somewhat Recommended
"...The Testament of Mary is certainly a challenging and intriguing work of drama, one that aims to help us see familiar events with new eyes. For some, it will be shocking, even offensive. For others, it will make sense of the gospels in a way that is more acceptable and palatable. Tóibín's play offers genuine insights, especially into Jesus's raising of Lazarus from the dead, but despite the excellence of Victory Gardens' production, The Testament of Mary feels hollow."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...The main attraction of the show is to see an intense performance of a script that contains vivid descriptions of scenes and feelings. The program contains a cheat sheet for the gospels, in which you may learn esoteric curiosities such as “the four gospels recount Jesus’s birth, ministry, and death.” If you are a believer and dislike iconoclasm, this show is not right for you. People who consider Mary their personal helper instead of a political symbol may feel unfairly attacked. However, it is brilliant story-telling. Joining this character on her journey is a chance to see acting at its best, and if you regard the Bible as stories to be enjoyed, this production makes the most of them."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Although the woman never speaks his name, the audience understands. This Mother of all mothers opens her heart about what it means to bear and raise a son so special and important that the whole world knows his name. The loneliness she now feels and the horror she’s endured helplessly watching him die upon the cross is almost unendurable. We leave this production both saddened and enlightened."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...Is "The Testament of Mary" a significant and challenging play or essentially the raw material for a great performance? Certainly Linda Reiter's work is stunning, but credit belongs to Tolbin for providing the words that stimulate a great performance. Tolbin has managed to take on a monumental topic with taste and intelligence. Not even the most rigorously conservative Christian should take umbrage at his unconventional exploration of some of the faith's most cherished tenets. So it's a team effort at the Victory Gardens, an engrossing blend of acting, directing, playwriting, and stage design to create the most audience-involving 70 minutes in town."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...This play broadened my vision. Reiter describing the crucifixion is mentally scarring. Yes, I’ve heard the stories. I’ve seen the movies. In all those portrayals, Jesus’ human reaction is usually a plea to his heavenly father followed by acceptance. Reiter tells the graphic details of pounding a spike into a wrist. And she recounts how he resisted when they wanted to do his other one. The imagery is heart-wrenching if told by a stranger. Knowing this is his mother sharing her living nightmare makes it gut-wrenching too."
