Turtle at Redtwist Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...What Jeppson does well - and what I think Kiely understands - is that these people aren't unhappy because of their politics. They are unhappy people for whom politics provides a safety valve, an escape from dealing with their personal senses of failure and dissatisfaction with their relationships. In a sibling fight late in the play, Sloan insinuates that Pete didn't lose his job because of nefarious geopolitical forces - he lost it because he's a temperamental jerk and nobody wants him around."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...Set against the backdrop of the 2012 presidential campaign (Molly's brother-in-law is a hard-right Republican angry at having lost his job in a corporate downsizing), Turtle is a slight but sensitively written character study, remarkably timely in light of the recent election. Beautifully acted under Damon Kiely's direction, it features shimmeringly atmospheric lighting by Daniel Friedman"

ChicagoCritic - Not Recommended

"...My problems with Turtle, the play are many. As an audience member, I left the theatre trying to figure out why a reliable theatre company such as Redtwist Theatre would select such a contrived play? Amazingly that a world premiere would contained so much outdated political material plus two most unlikable characters plus a naive mother who is consumed in the triviality of her small world. Even Molly’s obsession with her kids and the turtle and her manipulation of her sincere husband left me thinking she is a subtle nasty person. As nothing is really resolved, I wondered why anyone would want to spend 90 minutes in this convoluted world? This new play needs a serious re-write."