Carrie 2: The Rage (An Unauthorized Musical Parody) presented by Underscore Theatre Company at The Arkham

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...Writer/composer Preston Max Allen takes the sequel as his starting point, going to some trouble to build a conceit that will bring us up to speed on its insipidity. The effort doesn't really work, but no matter: once things get going, his songs and a solid cast make for rude fun. Choreographer Maggie Robinson supplies a surprisingly lovely flashback. And, under codirectors Rachel Elise Johnson and Isaac Loomer, the final number neatly satirizes Spring Awakening."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...The musical makes most of its hay from mocking the movie's incredibly inept plotting and tissue-thin characters. For instance, Lisa sings a song about how her death is the story's inciting moment despite the fact that she gets maybe two minutes of actual screentime. And one of the show's best jokes involves the astoundingly brief period of time over which these events have apparently taken place."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...This is an especially polished offering from a relatively new storefront company, known for offering fully staged productions by promising musical theatre librettists and composers. While the shows haven't all been gems, this musical by Preston Max Allen has a great deal to offer. It parodies the horror genre, particularly this dreadful sequel to Carrie. The show is filled with over-the-top, melodramatic characters, features a likable musical score and is overflowing with wonderful, tongue-in-cheek humor. It doesn't hurt that the production is well-directed and superbly acted, as well. This dark musical comedy is the perfect entertainment for young adult audiences during the Halloween season."

Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended

"...The musical’s conceit is that we are an audience of investors being asked to pony up millions for something that will make the special effects in Spiderman pale by comparison, so we are being given a narrated preview. Kaplinsky is perfect for the role: he has just the right combination of gravitas and smarm. And, as we see when he takes on the role of Arnie later in the play, he can camp it up with the best of them. As the narrator, he pops up again and again, moving things along with often very funny transition lines."