What I Learned in Paris Reviews
Chicago Tribune- Recommended
"...All this plays out with whip-smart dialogue against the backdrop of Andrei Onegin's period-perfect set - pale-brick walls and bright-orange sunburst wallpaper redolent of 1970s style. Not all the digressions add dramatic heft. Taylor's John in particular doesn't have much to do beyond befuddled comic foil. But as three women at the heart of Cleage's play draw closer together, we see that sisterhood isn't just powerful. It's essential to any movement worth fighting and any life worth living."
Chicago Reader- Recommended
"...The script flags a little toward the end as Cleage stops to stuff in her various messages. Still, Daniel Bryant's staging for Congo Square Theatre moves nicely, and there are charming performances by Ronnel Taylor as the youthful beau and Shanesia Davis as yet another figure Moliere et al would recognize: the wise older woman who sets things right."
Windy City Times- Highly Recommended
"...Playgoers seeking material for earnest post-show debates can waste time mulling over these themes, but the smarter course is to enjoy this Congo Square Theatre Chicago Premiere production's on-target period decor ( Andrei Onegin, Marci Rodgers and Rick Sims nail the era down to the orange walls and rotary-dial telephones ) and Cleage's snappy regional-accurate dialogue, delivered with razor-sharp precision under the direction of Daniel Bryant by an alert and energetic cast featuring Shanesia Davis as the irrepressible Evie Madison, whose tale of self-discovery during a week's vacation in Paris-hence the play's title-is enough to send us home ready to call our travel agents the very next morning."
Time Out Chicago- Recommended
"...In fact, the youngest woman here, Anne, is so willing to put her needs aside that she considers marrying J.P., whom she does not love. This is one of the less credible threads, as is the ending, where Cleage ties everything up too tidily. Still, there's much insight here, and the cast is excellent, especially Davis, whose role demands long speeches relating her journey from wife of a famous politician to empowered woman who travels to Paris alone and learns to love herself. Lena (Alexis J. Rogers) is adorable as she listens to these speeches with mugging and deadpan interest; Ellis's Anne is fascinated and inspired. Despite Evie's diva streak, her drive to warn Anne away from making the same mistake she did is heartening."
ChicagoCritic- Recommended
"...The mayhem happens when the dynamic and 60’s liberated woman, Evie (the delightful Shanesia Davis) returns to Atlanta from California unannounced. She is the former wife of J.P.Madison. Evie immediately bonds with Lena and the chaos begins. Old flames reignite, now loves emerge as Anne questions her loyalties as she struggles to find herself. The clever plot twists and the fully developed characters make for a funny empathetic romp. Peppered with wit and truthful humor, we meet a terrific character in the flower-child of the 60’s flamboyance Evie who is played charismatic by Shanesia Davis, Alexis J. Rogers facilitates and supports the plots nicely. Without giving away more twists, let me say that What I learned In Paris is funny and smartly drawn while it is a self discovery journey for the characters. It is a delightful polished urban comedy of manners."
Chicago Theatre Review- Highly Recommended
"...And bringing everything to life is the play’s excellent cast, guided under the watchful eye of director Daniel Bryant. As Evie, Shanesia Davis is all confidence and verve, completely assured of herself and her effect on others; as Lena, Congo Square ensemble member Alexis J. Rogers is a most charming eye of the storm; and as J.P. and John, Darren Jones and Ronnel Taylor make for compelling foils – their romantic bungles are quite entertaining as they vie for Anne, played by a very likable, empathetic Kristin Ellis."
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...Helmed by director Daniel Bryant, Congo Square's production strikes the perfect balance between comedy and message, which could have surely gotten lost in less capable hands. Shanesia Davis plays the part of Evie with steadfastness and grace. Alexis J. Rogers is the coveted listener and mediator we all desire in our own lives. Ronnel Taylor's quirkiness will have you in tears, the good kind, of course. Kristin Ellis plays Ann with authentic vulnerability and Darren Jones imbues J.P. with the seriousness a historical figure demands."