Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...But as "Whatever" slowly builds up steam to the conclusion of its 100-minute journey into suburban emotional anomie, it also digs up uncomfortable truths about why — and indeed, whether – we actually need the people who surround us in life."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...This is the fourth collaboration between playwright Robert Tenges and director Adam Webster, whose similarly themed 2010 effort People We Know was nominated for a Jeff award. Tenges isn't afraid to let his characters utter some pretty dreadful shit concerning empathy, sex, and love, but he also backs up that darkness with flashes of unexpected warmth. In Webster's staging, lights dim, then return for just a few seconds, creating effective micromoments of anticipation."
Northwest Indiana Times - Recommended
"...Running now through Aug. 9 at the side project theater space at 1439 W. Jarvis in the Rogers Park neighborhood, "Whatever" center around the twisted lives of two suburban teenagers and tackles topics ranging from abortion, confused emotions and today's growing trend of behavior medicines to delving into young relationships, parenting and inappropriate blurred lines for the classroom connection between students and educators."
ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended
"...Tenges’s realistic dialogue, however, is his downfall. There has to be some kind of art to make drama superior to people-watching. I gather that his main concern was disconnectedness, and specifically the lack of fulfilling friendships many people report. But to listen to these dialogues is to remind you of why people don’t like talking to each other."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"...In his fifth collaboration with The Side Project and fourth with director Adam Webster, Robert Tenges struggles to recreate the magic of his similar plays, Elsewhere and Strangers Knocking. Though there are great poignant and hilarious moments, often delivered by supporting cast members Kirsten D’Aurelio and Michael Rice, the play feels incomplete."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"... Its latest endeavor is Robert Tenges play “Whatever” is directed by Adam Webster who uses the minimal space to convincingly create a mall, bars, homes, counseling office, a high school classroom, and a car. These changes are made by the cast who moves the basic props (Holly McCauley) around the stage during black outs in between with music quietly placing in the background (Sound Design: Stephen Gawrit) adding to the artistry while preserving verisimilitude. The script employs a lot of cutting: the action is never linear, but we are moved from one place and situation to another with somewhat static but extremely effective lighting (Becca Jeffords) marking the beginning and end of each separate place and scene: each one convincing."
Chicago Theatre Review - Somewhat Recommended
"...Plays that try to cover a wide spectrum of subjects end up glossing over everything and shedding light on nothing. Robert Tenges' latest play badly needs some rewrites if it's going to rank up there with his past, highly-praised dramas. There's too much going on, but not enough stage time is given to any one plot. There's nary a likable character to be found and, as staged by Adam Webster, the show plods along too slowly. Each scene has the same tempo and feels the same length. Every scene ends in a blackout, followed by a long scene change performed in half-light. The production turns into a play about moving furniture rather than...well, whatever..."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"..."Whatever" is surprisingly good at hiding how frantically panic-stricken it is, like the Elliott Smith songs that make up half the show's soundtrack: so pretty they almost hide the sadness. For a story that points fingers at so many crumbling institutions-marriage, family, mental health, schools, masculinity-like the entirety of Generations X and Y, it rarely comes off as hysterical. It might be alarmist, but the alarm is a silent one."