Yasmina's Necklace presented by 16th Street Theater at Berwyn Cultural Center

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...There isn't a great deal of dramatic tension in this play — we pretty much see what's going to happen before the story gets there. However, Malik's respectful but funny take on these characters keeps them from feeling like caricatures, despite the sitcomlike setup at the beginning of the story. Yasmina talks about "the taste of death," but by the end, Malik has given us a sweet and hopeful story about finding love after horror."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...The casting is perfect: Susaan Jamshidi just shines as Yasmina, a troubled, talented artist haunted by her past life in Iraq and Syria. She is well matched with Michael Perez, her reluctant suitor, a man still recovering from a bad divorce. One minute Malik invites us to laugh at her character's foibles, the next she wants us to be moved by their personal tragedies; Filmer deftly balances the light and the dark. The result is a thoroughly satisfying family drama."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...It turns out that a romantic comedy can actually be an effective story-telling structure if the story is treated intelligently and contains genuine romance and comedy. The 16th Street Theatre also is a very good fit as a venue with Yasmina’s Necklace. Joanna Iwanicka’s set looks like it could be the interior of any of the surrounding houses or like how refugees might really fix up the Berwyn Cultural Center’s basement if they were to settle there. The forty-nine seat theatre’s intimacy is also a major factor in forging the audience’s connection with the characters, the downside is that not enough people will be able to see the play. However, it has already been extended once due to high demand. Hurry to get your tickets."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...Director Ann Filmer and her talented cast and designers bring the play to life, not shying away from the harsh realities of millions of refugees and displaced people and the discrimination that still undermines the "American Dream" for many, but fully recognizing that change is possible, if difficult. It is an important message in a world full of divisive action and rhetoric, a message that is couched in an entertaining play that, while set in a specific world, is accessible to all."