Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...What does work is the relationship between Parry's Moss and Graves' Avis, who take Blessing's "Mulholland Drive"-by-way-of-"50 First Dates" scenario and breathe life into its creakier aspects. Graves does her usual fine work with suggesting a woman trying to maintain dignity in ridiculous and frightening circumstances, as she did a couple of years ago in Redtwist's stellar production of Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance." And Parry finds hints of an aging but irresistible roue in the occasionally hidebound Moss."
Chicago Reader
- Recommended
"...The premise is somewhat contrived. But as the existential mystery unfolds, spinning out multiple possible solutions to the puzzle, the play turns into a surprisingly affecting meditation on memory and identity, thanks in no small part to the engaging and honest performances of Brian Parry and Jan Ellen Graves as the confused couple."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...A Body of Water is a strange and powerful play, inviting us to experience Moss and Avis’s bewilderment firsthand. We stumble along with them, invest in them, believe in them. Parry’s and Graves’s rich performances make this easy. Their onstage chemistry adds playfulness and nuance to their relationship; they’re a joy to watch even in their moments of heartbreak. Martin gives Wren a chilly menace, but for the character with the most power in the space, she seems the least comfortable in it—though this may be an issue of staging. At times the movement feels unnatural while the set is underutilized, dulling the play’s visual effect. Still, Redtwist’s production makes up what it lacks in aesthetic poetry with the strength of its performances and the disturbing beauty of the text."
Chicago On the Aisle
- Recommended
"...“A Body of Water” well may be a tragedy wrapped in a dark comedy. It is at least a provocative slice of life in some twilight warp, if not a play of compelling depth. Credit director Mary Reynard and a game cast with giving it an engaging go."
ChicagoCritic
- Recommended
"...Brian Parry and Jan Ellen Graves gave outstanding performances as the confused and fearful couple. This is a most engaging work that some will find incomplete and unsatisfying. I found it puzzling but profound since it offers a unique perspective on the nature of reality. See it yourself then you decide."
Around The Town Chicago
- Recommended
"...I am always in awe when I enter the Red Twist Theatre, that little “black box” on Bryn Mawr Avenue- partly because they are able to re-imagine this venue with each new production and partly because of the talent in their ensemble. While the stage area of the current production Lee Blessing’s “A Body of Water” is greater than many, they are still able to get around 46 people into the seating area, with decent sight lines for all. This is a strange 90 minute play. It begins as a light comedy, as we meet Avis ( another delightful performance by Jan Graves) and Moss ( the always reliable Brian Parry). They are in their robes and starting their day in a home surrounded by water. Where the comedy begins is that neither of them know where they are, who they are or what type of relationship they might have. The initial scene goes to the fact that they slept together ( in the same bed) and are now in robes that they do not recognize in a secluded, but lovely home, that they have never seen and do not know if they are together or how they got to this place."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Overall, Redtwist has done everything they could to make this production work, but I wonder about the choice of script. Hopefully all this talent will be put to better use for the next show."
