Chicago Tribune - Not Recommended
"...Frankly, it's hard to believe the book because this inestimably tedious premiere production at Theater Wit, directed by Erik Wagner, is so stiff and overplayed. Some of the singing passes muster - some of it - but the staging doesn't work at all. Poorly executed, the choreography seems to pop out of nowhere, and, alas, the show just does not make its case for dancing architects."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...Sadly, Elizabeth Doyle (music and lyrics) and June Finfer's (book and lyrics) world-premiere production of "Burnham's Dream: The White City," offers only a glimpse of the outsized personalities and dramas embedded in the creation of the White City. A lackluster score delivered by a crew of two-dimensional characters render this potentially thrilling tale pedestrian and plodding."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...The ten-person cast sings well to the accompaniment of an offstage chamber quartet, and Doyle's music evokes Gilded Age Chicago with waltzes and ragtime pieces as well as delicate art songs in the manner of Ned Rorem and Samuel Barber."
Windy City Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...But "sweet" hardly is the word for thoroughly rambunctious 1890s Chicago, growing explosively from the ashes of the Great Fire. The generally sweet tone of Burnham's Dream is a choice that provides unity and integrity, but which become problematic."
Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...This new musical, a sort of chamber musical tells us the story of the building of the great White City, Burnham’s Dream to make Chicago whole again. Pavi Proczko as Burnham is decent, but his voice , both singing and speaking is not strong enough to “reach the back row”. Even with my hearing-aids turned up, there were times that he was difficult to hear. I blame director Erik Wagner for all of the actors being drowned out by the onstage musicians. Where were the microphones?"
Chicago Theatre Review - Somewhat Recommended
"...Jessica Texidor’s choreography is more of a problem. It feels way too energetic and athletic for the music or for the style of this show. The dancing seems to burst out of nowhere for no particular reason. It’s questionable whether such manic movement is necessary, both for these particular characters and in such a small venue. Brilliantly talented Paul W. Thompson works wonders with his cast through his excellent musical direction; and exceptional backstage accompaniment is provided by Annabelle Revak, both on piano and as the show’s conductor."
The Fourth Walsh - Somewhat Recommended
"...Both the music and the interactions in BURNHAM'S DREAM are monotone. The songs and dialogue aren't distinct. It's like watching a meeting where individuals sometimes sing their thoughts. And it's not 'break out in song.' It's more stroll into the song. The score itself is fairly forgettable. The dancing is minimal. It's more choral concert than musical. The overall show is lackluster."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Somewhat Recommended
"...Sadly, Burnham's Dream: The White City, currently presented by Lost and Found Productions at Theatre Wit, does nothing with all this promise. Half of these obstacles are dispensed with in one scene at the top of Act Two. Not a lot happens after that. Or before, for that matter."
Third Coast Review - Not Recommended
"...Story hasn't truly come up yet because it's meandering and overshadowed by "the musical," which is perhaps my biggest beef with the play overall. I overheard people saying they didn't want to see dancing architects, but if the story is told well enough, as it is in so many classic musicals that come to mind, then dancing architects would be just as fitting as anything else. The main plot is basically "Are we going to finish this fair?" This storyline is supplemented by what seems like mostly noise-Sullivan hates Burnham, Margaret hates her husband's job, everyone hates Chicago winters, right? And so forth. "
Chicago Theater and Arts - Somewhat Recommended
"...This is a story worth telling and I hope that Finfer’s Lost and Found Productions team will continue to fine-tune and perfect what they have labored so long to begin in their world premiere."
Picture This Post - Somewhat Recommended
"...All this said, in a city that at one time boasted (apocryphally?) more architects per capita than anywhere else in the world (“..most unemployed..”), where tours of Frank Lloyd Wright homes are an annual ritual, and where the architectural boat tour is a top tourist attraction for the globe— Burnham’s Dream will likely find an audience. Perhaps it’s more surprising that we haven’t seen dozens of plays each year that try to tell this story."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...I wonder if the present incarnation would not better serve as a backdrop for a more griping story with its own musical palate. This wide-swath struggles for focus. I also wonder if the creators haven't ended up with a different story than they think they've written, that being the kinds of love between men that existed, un-questioned before World War II. Burnham's strong bond with Root and his attraction to and affection for O'Malley provide an interesting counterpoint to his marital struggles. The artists here are playing the text and may have uncovered a gem hidden in the shadows."
