Chicago Stage and Screen
- Highly Recommended
"...Director Scott Westerman has steered this ensemble through the comedy of existential meaning. Catalina Ni?o's set absolutely and somewhat triggeringly captures the tired generic quality of a senior care common room. Danielle Reinhardt's ingenious costume design allows onstage quick changes. This production is top notch, and well worth the trip to idyllic Lake Forest."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...The play is called " A Jukebox for the Algonquin", written by Paul Stroili (who was at tonight's opening, and whom I had the pleasure of meeting). The story is quite simple. It is the summer of 2003 and we are in the Algonquin Room, the rec room at Placid Pines Senior Care Center in New York State. Over the past few years, many of my freinds have had to be placed in circumstances such as these and I have made it a point to visit whenever possible. In this scenario we get to meet several residents of this place who are seeking to get rid of a huge fish tank ( or perhaps we can say aquarium) and replace it with a Juke Box. The man who truly wants this and is leading the cause is Johnny (a dynamite performance by Kenneth Johnson)."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...For two hours, Citadel takes theatergoers away from the angst and annoyance of today's world and presents a cheerful, very funny new comedy. Playwright Paul Stroili, who is a resident artist at Jeff Daniels' the Purple Rose, wrote A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN especially to premiere at the Michigan Theatre. If this comedy is any indication of Stroili's talent, hopefully Citadel, and perhaps other Chicagoland theaters, will be presenting some of his other plays in the future. Scott Westerman's production reminds us that it's never too late to dream a new dream, and that we grow old when we stop playing. His funny, often thought-provoking play ends in a festive multigenerational dance party that brings the audience to their feet. The show's simply a delightful story about sex, drugs and rocking chairs."
Buzz Center Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...Citadel's latest production, A Jukebox for the Algonquin, truly captured my heart. It's a refreshing reminder that as we age, life doesn't lose its spark-it merely shifts to a new rhythm, one filled with laughter, camaraderie, and unexpected joys. This delightful offering beautifully showcased the vibrant lives that still await us in our twilight years, proving that fun and bond know no age limit."
Third Coast Review
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Paul Stroili's A Jukebox for the Algonquin, currently onstage at Citadel Theatre, does not take place anywhere near the famous literary watering hole. Instead, everything happens in a recreation room at Placid Pines Senior Care Center in upstate New York. There, a group of elderly residents work hard to enliven their circumscribed days."
Chicago Theater and Arts
- Highly Recommended
"...Well directed by Scott Westerman it takes place in upstate New York's Placid Pines Senior Care Center where a recreation room is dominated by a fish tank that you don't see but can imagine as a handful of residents feed the fish or refer to it."
Spotlight On Lake
- Highly Recommended
"...The character dialog is hilarious as they ramble through trials and tribulations to get to their goal. One of the conflicted characters is Annie, played perfectly by Ellen Phelps. The interplay and banter among characters is a mile a minute. Sex, drugs, and rocking chairs is the perfect tag line for this fun show."
Splash Magazine
- Highly Recommended
"...They call it "A Tale of Sex, Drugs and Rocking Chairs" as "A Jukebox for the Algonquin" captures the emotional ride of a group of feisty seniors who are definitely not down and out. Set inside a robust retirement community in upstate New York in 2003, there's a unique revolution going on - one led by a Vintage Wurlitzer jukebox, a handful of spirited senior citizens, and a dream to reconnect with their youth. "A Jukebox for the Algonquin" is the last show in the season for Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest and it makes a satisfying final act."
Shaw Local
- Highly Recommended
"...freestar
"A Jukebox for The Algonquin" stirs up feelings, memories, conflicts and music, riding high on humor and comic timing. It's beyond worthwhile to make the trip through time and watch some great talent on stage."
NewCity Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...Funny, thought-provoking and well-written, "A Jukebox for the Algonquin" is not just a "play about old people," but a contemplation on how to find joy among sorrow. With this production, Citadel Theatre retains its status as a gem of the Chicago-area theater scene."
