Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...As H.G. notes, so much that's awful in the world comes not from alien presences, but from our own stubborn inability to cooperate and empathize with each other. (Like, say, wearing a mask in public during a pandemic.) A War of the Worlds balances escapist classic sci-fi with a subtle but effective reminder that conflict resolution sometimes involves shutting off other distractions and investing in another person's story."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...This reduction in visual distraction mitigates the propensity of speech to trail behind sight and sound in received sensory perception, forcing us to focus on Bradberry and Gordon's concise and always-articulate transposition of Victorian-era London to next year in Chicago, while Ben Zukar's score of electronic incidental music ( including a "martian alert" signal to send shivers up your spine ) enhances, but never intrudes, on the progress of the narrative. On the other hand, a bare half-dozen voices representing so many characters in real time made for occasional difficulty distinguishing individual personae on opening night-and you might also want to turn the volume of your laptop up to its highest setting."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...In the 2020 production, the core narrative from the book is merged with the medium of radio, minus the news flashes. The narrator is clearly identified as being Wells himself with his wife playing a prominent role, in contrast to the unnamed narrator and his younger brother in the original. The distinctive sound design and music add to the overall feeling of dread. Composer Ben Zucker is the creator of this extraordinary original music and the sound effects. Tonal qualities incorporating pulsing and eerie harmonies propel us to a creepy and unsettling place in our imagination and capture the fearfulness and anxiety inherent from moment to moment. As Zucker himself has said in the aftertalk, “Think of older film scores and contemporary composers… like Laurence Crane.” Additional sound design by Ross Burlingame only draws you in further into the plot."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...The Chicago company Theatre in the Dark is offering a new adaptation of H. G. Wells' classic 1898 novel, The War of the Worlds, as a live 90-minute virtual audio drama and just in time for Halloween. Each performance is being broadcast with a cast in Chicago, Vancouver and New Orleans in real time. The company's website recommends that listeners "Create a dark cozy space, turn off your screen, and crank up your speakers." Welcome advice. They further suggest that folks enjoy a Tequila Old-Fashioned (the recipe appears on their website)."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"...Congratulations to this innovative production company whose mission is to create theater performance based on sound and utilization of Internet technology to reach out and engage audiences during these trying times."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...Some of the dialogue may feel as if it would be more at home in a soap opera or a cheesy 50s TV episode—Wells was, after all, more of a plot person—but the actors dive into every line, wringing all the emotion they can find from the words. To their credit (as well as Bradberry’s), we find ourselves caring about HG and Izzy and wondering how they will make it back to each other as much as we find ourselves hating the random man with whom HG is trapped in a basement while Martians hunt humans just outside. Radio plays may feel like a concept from the first half of last century, but Theatre in the Dark does them very well; this War of the Worlds is a wonderful entertainment for COVID times."
PicksInSix - Recommended
"...In a suspense-filled ninety minutes, A War of the Worlds, adapted by Mack Gordon and Cory Bradbury and directed by Bradbury, sports a small, impressive, and versatile ensemble of actors who perform multiple roles. You will certainly find the story familiar, but the telling and the sense that you are once again sitting in a theater with others listening, is what Theatre in the Dark is all about. Make a date with someone far away-or in the next room-but avoid texting during the show. Save that for the virtual lobby at intermission."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...This production is well suited for those keen on sci-fi thrills who can also enjoy a twist on a literary classic-or those who like the taste of a tequila old fashioned, the drink of choice of the creators. If that fits your idea of entertainment A WAR OF THE WORLDS is well worth your time."
Playtime - Highly Recommended
"...I particularly appreciated the accompanying sound effects and music by Ben Zucker and my guests and I were impressed by the consistency of the production, even though it was being performed on Zoom and from three locations. A War of the Worlds is also a collaboration between director, performers, crew, and audience, as the audience is required to be very intentional in giving attention to the performance."
