Chicago Tribune - Not Recommended
"..."Wicked City" is trying to function as a parody, I suppose, and, in fairness, it looks like the company's desire to mount a full production resulted in a low-budget look replete with a cheesy video backdrop. But lack of money does not have to mean the absence of style, not when you have talented performers on board. Noir parodies are ten a penny, and on this evidence, at least, there is little to recommend this one."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...At its center is Jo Van Cleave (Lauren Roesner), a sexy, opportunistic blonde of a certain age, who jumps to her death at the start of the story. Discovering just why she did this is the subject of the musical which involves her sordid marriage to a sleazy politician (Jason Richards); her passionate affair with a gifted young private detective, Eddie Cain (Javier Ferreira); Eddie's wildly protective single mother, Mira (Dana Tretta); and Madame Theresa (Rashada Dawan), a blind, streetwise phrophetess. Director-choreographer Christopher Pazdernik (backed by music director Dustin L. Struhill and his band), has collaborated with his fine design team to capture this menacing, moody, fate-filled tale with panache (and just enough campy wink-and-nod). Sophocles-meets-Sam Spade: Who could have guessed it?"
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...As damsel in distress Jo Van Cleave and private dick Eddie Cain, Roesner and Ferreira are a charming central couple with sharp comedic timing and strong vocal harmonies. Dawan delights as unreliable narrator Madam Theresa, a fortune teller and neighborhood gossip who sings "Love Makes Fools Out of All of Us." Most probably won't catch all of the copious references to noir classics like The Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity, but it's a fun ride, with humor for all demographics."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Wicked City is musically slick, which is a compliment as nothing-but-nothing ever has sounded smoother than '40s jazz. The twisty story is laid out quickly and told in straight-forward manner, with a new song provided at no more than five-minute intervals. The cast handles the musical chores with aplomb and has fun ( but not too much fun ) with the genre and its archetypal characters. Director/choreographer Christopher Pazdernik strikes the right balance. In a small homage to a master of the form, the police detective is named Inspector Hammett ( Gabriel Fries )."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...
Beguelin and Sklar stir in some clever references to both Greek and noir, but the mix gets muddy between the two. The divine Dana Tretta, asked to play Eddie's mother as a pastiche of both Oedipus's Merope and Joan Crawford, has to try and land jokes on both sides—a split that asks an audience for a lot of disparate foreknowledge. Maybe if Sklar's score was more memorable, the dichotomy wouldn't feel so tough to get past. As a new Equity company launching a season of intriguing musical works new to Chicago audiences, CTW has our attention. But Wicked City needs more workshopping."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...An incestuous delight, it's deadpan delicious, this menacing montage of attitude and angst. Taut and cute, Wicked City doesn't take a minute more than it needs, earning cynical payoffs with every dirty deed. It's also a fit inagural for Edge Theater's spacious 100-seat storefront stage. This audience-friendly Andersonville venue is just one more happy excuse for our wicked city."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...With a wickedly funny inaugural production of Wicked City, Chicago Theatre Workshop proves they're a company to keep an eye on. I have a hunch I'll be investigating them again."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...Now, "Wicked City" could have compensated for this defect by ramping up either the comedy, the music or both. After all, the musical clearly wants to be a parody of film noir tropes. But it never fully commits. This is odd, as the team behind the show-book and lyrics by Chad Beauelin, music by Matthew Sklar-has some serious chops. Their work on "Elf" and "The Wedding Singer" landed them Tony nominations."
