Bedroom Farce presented by Eclipse Theatre Company at Athenaeum Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...The sitcom moments connecting the couples' plights eventually grow wearisome, but, especially when Parry and Steele's old marrieds chime in, the results are poignant. "Do you know what it's like to be ignored?" O'Keefe's Susannah asks Delia. To which Delia resignedly responds, "Sooner or later, all of us get ignored.""

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...There is more — perhaps too much more — for while Ayckbourn has devised a wonderfully complex scenario, he keeps the hijinks going on longer than necessary. Nevertheless, this is one of those all too rare occasions when you find yourself laughing out loud at the nuttiness of it all, and at the human compulsion to turn short-term lust into long-term drudgery."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...The production's hammier bits feel too much like a dated sitcom, but intimate moments between the featured couples abound, feeling all the more private thanks to Mike Winkelman's voyeuristic set. From an older couple naughtily eating pilchards in bed to a young pair hiding each other's shoes, these scenes show how levity works wonders in helping us survive cohabitation. Donna Steele gives a regal performance as Delia, the matriarch who values propriety. Advising her daughter-in-law, she says, "If s-e-x ever rears its ugly head, close your eyes before you see the rest of it.""

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...Nick Sandys's cast displays a firm understanding of Ayckbourn's comic timing, but their energy can't prevent the script from becoming exhausting in its second half. The situations become increasingly absurd as the playwright mixes and matches the characters, but he doesn't provide strong enough reasoning for developments like Susannah crawling into bed with her mother-in-law. The play begins to lose steam as jokes are repeated-bedridden Nick's groans of pain offer diminishing returns of laughs-but the performances remain passionate to the end. The relationships among the couples are fleshed out and relaxed, creating the impression that while tonight may be exceptionally eventful, it's just the latest in an ongoing series of performances in the bedroom."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...We laugh and commiserate with this likeable crew of misfits. I especially like the work from Stephen Dale as the injured Nick; Emily Tate's Kate; and JP Pierson's Malcolm. Farce lover with laugh heartily in Bedroom Farce. This smart, lovely comedy is just what terrific summer entertainment should be. For a good time, catch the zany crew from Eclipse Theatre as they present a classic British farce in all its manic glory."

Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Somewhat Recommended

"...Even with the dated content, Sandys delivers a light-hearted yet lengthy romp. In a situation comedy where the joke is anticipated, the action should be tighter and faster to compensate. At times, especially in Act 2, the pacing dragged. Still, BEDROOM FARCE is an easy summer pick for its frothy fun-loving spirit."