Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Thanks to a group of actors willing to sell it, flaunt it, shake it, jiggle it or whatever is required to offer up a good time, those moments are deliciously entertaining here. The cast is notably diverse in its talents: Lina Wass is on hand for very pure notes; Lorenzo Rush Jr. (who has more than a passing resemblance to Waller himself) is the big personality of the group; Donterrio Johnson is the true dancer; Robin DaSilva is the moral conscience; Sharriese Hamilton is the vulnerable one who can show you the pain behind the celebration. Actually, Hamilton is really quite something."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...The show (handsomely framed by designer Jeffrey D. Kmiec's stylish nightclub set, with countless period costumes by Bill Morey) begins with a vintage recording of Fats himself offering this self-portrait: "285 pounds of jam, jive and everything." That just about says it. Although at one crucial moment, the pain behind all the exuberance, mischief and playful naughtiness is revealed as the five black performers join in gorgeous harmony for "Black and Blue," a song that suggests the bruises incurred by living in a racist society."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...This is one of the most intimate moments in a show that, even in a 147-seat theater, still feels intimate. And inclusive. Didier and company manage to make all of us feel part of the show. So much so that several audience members, at the performance I attended, felt compelled to express their appreciation out loud. I understand the impulse. When the music's infectious and the joint is jumpin', folks can't help but join in."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Porchlight Music Theatre's superb rendition of this ingenious 1978 Broadway hit celebrates composer Thomas "Fats" Waller and his world, the Harlem jazz scene of the 1920s and 30s. Conceived by Richard Maltby Jr. and Murray Horwitz, the show strings together more than two dozen classic tunes written and/or recorded by Waller, including "Honeysuckle Rose," "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now," and the title song. Director-choreographer Brenda Didier and musical director Jaret Landon have assembled a top-flight cast and band who capture the score's ebullient energy and swinging stylishness."
Gapers Block - Highly Recommended
"...Some of the songs are clear tributes to the period. The three women help the war effort with "Cash for Your Trash" and then remind us of wartime stocking shortages in "When the Nylons Bloom Again." As it ends, Da Silva and Hamilton draw pencil seams on Wass' legs. (Yes, women really used to do that.) "Loungin' at the Waldorf" makes fun of the elite who populate that venue as guests, not the help."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...And the Porchlight cast really makes us feel that beat. Through joyous singing, galvanizing dancing and feisty attitude, every song becomes a world that the five knockout performers inhabit, backed by bass, drums, horns, and especially the virtuosic stride (Harlem jazz style) piano-playing by conductor Austin Cook. The show is outfitted a bit inconsistently, marked by a couple of odd costume choices, but any shaky production values are superceded by the glorious voices and sinuous songs. "
Chicago On the Aisle - Recommended
"...On opening night, Porchlight Music Theatre’s go at the Fats Waller revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’” gave the impression of two different shows, one ready and one not quite. The good news is that the sharper, more relaxed and spontaneous effort came in the second half, when perhaps nerves had calmed and the company of five singing, hoofing show folks started to look like they were simply having fun. "
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...A delirious evening ends with a medley of Waller’s best covers: The names barely suggest the joys they unleash: “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “Two Sleepy People,” “It’s a Sin To Tell a Lie, and “I’ve Got My Fingers Crossed”are as fresh as the day they were recorded in a lucky studio. You couldn’t be present at a happier creation. But then—one never knows, do one?"
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Porchlight Theatre continues to mount outstanding musicals with their distinct “Chicago Style.” Their Ain’t Misbehavin‘ is a fun, tuneful and amazingly fun, toe-tapping experience. Fats Waller’s songs need to be performed by talented and respectful players. This cast will leave you fulfilled and entertained far beyond your expectations. Don’t miss this wonderful revue."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...If you want to get out of the cold and warm your heart, head over to Stage 773 for some rip roaring, knee slapping swing at its very best."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Porchlight Music Theatre's remount of their 2014 hit, "Ain't Misbehavin'" is a guaranteed good time. An incredibly talented cast, with Austin Cook's hot piano, makes for a toe-tapping revue celebrating the music of Fats Waller."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...The best way to shake off this winter’s blues and heat up the night can be found along Belmont’s Theatre District with a visit to this energetic, effervescent production. This show celebrates Fats Waller’s genius while showcasing a top-notch cast and superlative musical support, all orchestrated by a terrific director/choreographer. This two-hour revue charges out of the gates and never lets up until long after the audience as departed the theatre. This is one giddy, spectacular production Chicago shouldn’t miss!"
Huffington Post - Highly Recommended
"...The joint is certainly jumpin' at Stage 773. Porchlight's rollicking production of the "Fats" Waller revue, Ain't Misbehavin', playing through March 9, is the kind of show that offers enough heat and harmony to melt through the layers of ice that have crystallized Chicago."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...The show not only sounds magnificent, it looks that way too. Costume Designer Bill Morey dresses the ensemble to impress in vintage finery. Morey’s look mixes colorful textures for a vibrant Roaring 20s wardrobe. A bowler here. A turban there. It’s the glitz and glam of putting on the Ritz... cotton club style!"