Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Yet this production from Arc Theatre feels surprisingly relevant and modern, especially due to Dustyn Martincich's almost industrial movement work and a highly texturized set with three-dimensional birds-a paper flock hunting in vain for a place to roost. But the material itself also still rings true. It's a play about women in a man's world, but men are nowhere to be found. Instead, the struggle here is against self-abnegation-everyone on the verge of drowning in sacrifice, each woman holding the other barely afloat."
Theatre By Numbers - Somewhat Recommended
"...Ultimately, the problem is that none of the characters are all that sympathetic. In fact, some of the women perpetuate negative female stereotypes without addressing their underlying sources. At the time of its writing, "Top Girls" was bringing to light issues that women face in the workplace that had long been swept under the carpet, but in 2015, it doesn't go far enough. The issues women face today are similar, but there's a lot more nuance and variety in how we face these challenges than you'll see in "Top Girls"."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...Arc Theatre's Top Girls is basically serviceable by design though occasionally flashes of inspiration can be found. In particular, the play's transitions (courtesy Dustyn Martincich) are certainly Churchillian enough: 90s house music with choreographed dance moves that are coldly kinky, a kind of satirical blitzkrieg of media representations of femininity perfect for the Den's close quarters. Top Girls feels alive and well in this space. This challenging, intricate play is at its best when at its most simple, letting the voices of these women resonate across time and space. Caryl Churchill was not so much prophetic as she was sharply and unapologetically observant of the circumstance of womanhood, a crisis that continues, unresolved, to this day."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Usually in a production, there is one actor who stands out. He or she may carry the show, be the strongest actor in a cast full of them, give a weaker performance than others actors or, sometimes, mar the whole experience. The Arc Theatre's production of Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls" is marked first and foremost by its absolute unity in the quality of the ten performances. Every single actress is superlative, and it is a delight to watch each one of them inhabit and execute their roles."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Caryl Churchill’s classic comedy is most famous for her unique opening scene, during which five famous historical women enjoy a contemporary dinner party while discussing the various societal roles for women through the ages. But, largely due to Mark Boergers’ smartly produced, well-acted production, the scenes that follow are equally as exciting. This unorthodox production amplifies everything the playwright says about women’s rights, feminism and personal life in a way that makes this 30-year-old play feel fun, fresh and new."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...I highly recommend TOP GIRLS. The writing, direction and acting is like slipping into perfectly sized Jimmy Choo pumps. Fabulous! TOP GIRLS are top girls!"
