Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Romance between an unlikely pair is nothing new, but what makes this story unique is the examination of how difficult it can be to find happiness when our brains - and sometimes our bodies - serve as barriers to connection. This odd couple bonds over the universally relatable sentiment of FOMO: Not only haven't they achieved some of their goals in life, the ominous dread that they may never do so fills them with further indecision. Montgomery is easy to watch and relatable as he jumps in headfirst with childlike unabashed eagerness. Their great chemistry glows and is showcased in a lovely restaurant scene."
Daily Herald - Recommended
"...Strong acting powers Northlight’s production. Mashburn and Delgado make the most of their limited stage time in a production dominated by Slaughter-Mason and Montgomery."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Directed by BJ Jones, the production is 75 minutes of can’t-look-away intensity, at once a love story, a death story, an acidic comedy, and—cliched though it sounds—a testimony to the power of taking a massive chance on the future while the present has you buried under a landslide of grief."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...Artistic Director BJ Jones and the Executive Director should receive high praise for bringing another exceptional production, Shanley's Brooklyn Laundry, to Northlight Theatre. It's a Tissue-Box, Must-See production."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...Directed by BJ Jones, on a set designed by Jeffrey D. Kmiec, this is a love story that has many ups and downs. The main characters in the story are simple people whose lives have hit major snags, leaving them alone and somewhat hesitant to look for love."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...Life saddles all of us with problems, dilemmas and tragedies. We simply have to cope and make the most of the positive moments. Shanley asks us to focus on and enjoy our irrational wants as we deal with our demanding needs. While the short length of this play makes the journey to a happy ending feel a little forced and rushed, maybe one inch from terrific, there's a positive element. Any play that can deliver four realistic characters, an honest, unflinching look at life and plenty of unconventional comic moments balanced by poignant scenes of drama, is well worth enjoying."
Buzznews.net - Highly Recommended
`Brooklyn Laundry is about a lot of things. There's love. There's heartbreak. There's family, and there's grief. However, at its center, you might find that the play boils down to the central question above. Playwright John Patrick Shanley may not offer the answer, but he certainly invites a conversation."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...Fran, a customer at Owen's Brooklyn laundry, asks "Do you believe in God?" Owen replies "Why not?" In the first scene of John Patrick Shanley's Brooklyn Laundry, the exchange sounds flippant. By the end, it underscores the play's fundamental questions about what we need to believe to get through the day."
Life and Times - Highly Recommended
"...Northlight Theatre has struck gold with "Brooklyn Laundry". It features incredible actors and a marvelous script in the hands of a master director. Strap in and get ready for a journey that will leave you cheering for the strength of the human spirit. Just because you can stand on your own, two are stronger than one. This world premiere is a triumph!"
Chicago Culture Authority - Recommended
"...Here, Shanley ably explores questions about what it means to find your person in life, how difficult it can be to hang on to them–especially when they may not feel the same way about you on any given day–and, most of all, how worthwhile it can be to engage in that struggle on the way to a rewarding life together."
Evanston Roundtable - Recommended
"...Brooklyn Laundry will tug at your heart. And maybe by the end, it is a romance. It also might be one inch from terrific, but also gloomy."
