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Goodman Theatre
Covenant Reviews
Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Most importantly, Stampley has forged a show here that feels entirely alive and in the moment; her entire cast is at once vulnerable, empathetic, warm-centered (with one inevitable exception) and so immersed in this writer’s vision that you get caught up in the whole thing, worrying about the fate of everyone and even (at least in my case) re-pondering some complicated tensions of spirituality and hokum."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...As someone who grew up in the church — and is no longer an active member of a congregation — the themes in York Walker’s play, “Covenant,” land close to home. Speaking of the Black church specifically, I know my elders have always meant well, but coming of age in an environment where prayer is the answer to all problems and rumors and perceptions of fellow members of the congregation were expected to guide my path in my life was a no-go. (And yes, I will have elder family members upset when they read these words)."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Walker is a generous and vivid writer who gifts each character with a soul-bearing monologue. One compares a secret to “a hot iron rod through your soul … spilling over with sin.” Another describes cemetery grounds as “soft as a wet paper bag” and the devil as a man whose skin is “smooth like milk-laced honey.”"
Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended
"...It's a play and a production that one might wish to immediately see again for the shivering pleasure of discovering everything they missed on the first go-around."
Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended
"...Invoking Robert Johnson is the first of Walker's clever feints. Johnny is merely the plot-driving element of the play, the agent of chaos that upends the careful and precarious balance of the lives of the four women. He has returned to claim the love of his life, Avery. He wants her to go on tour with him, and after a charming, and beautifully written courtship scene, she agrees."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...There were several moments during the play when you found yourself grappling with the narrative, unsure of its ultimate direction. This ambiguity may have been a deliberate choice by Walker, meant to cover his crossroads demon twist in mystery and gradually unveil the hidden secrets of who is actually striking a deal in exchange for their soul. However, as the climax approached, everything connected and a stunning finale."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Sharply directed by Malkia Stampley, on an almost bare stage, this 100 minutes ( no intermission) of storytelling will lead you on a path that you will not expect to take, no matter your religious beliefs. Ryan Emens has designed the cabin with a large cross on the wall allowing the cabin to be a symbol of the church and yet it is the interior of the home of Mama (a solid performance by Anji White) and her daughters, Avery ( deftly handled by Jaeda Lavonne) and Violet (Felicia Oduh). The girls have a best freind, Ruthi ( a powerful performance by Ashli Rene Funches), who spends most of her time with this family."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...York Walker’s 100-minute horror tale is yet another adaptation of the myth and musical story of African-American singer/songwriter, Robert Johnson. His play bears a resemblance to Ngozi Anyanwu’s LEROY AND LUCY, enjoyed in an earlier production at Steppenwolf Theatre. Both plays owe much to the genre of the Southern Gothic and Black Mythology. Mr. Walker’s eerie thriller, however, is filled with professed suspicions, guarded secrets and the effects of gossip in a small town."
Buzz Center Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Covenant is beautifully written, beautifully acted, and beautifully told. It lingers long after the lights go down, like a whispered warning you cannot quite forget."
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...Playwright York Walker sets his Southern gothic tale in Georgia in 1936. Walker engages immediately. A breathless Ruthie (played with conviction by Ashli Rene Funches) makes dark insinuations in the small glow of a match. Funches' fearful confession creates a sinister overtone. The audience is hooked. On the surface, the plot is familiar: boy likes girl, mom doesn't approve of boy. Walker digs deeper. Each of the five characters will reveal secrets through stories or reenactments. All the pieces will finally connect in an explosive finale. WOW! A stunned audience is rendered immobile. Walker is a master storyteller!"
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...Chicago native York Walker's play Covenant is filled with stories of superstition, religious fanaticism, and secrets. It is skillfully directed by Malkia Stampley, who keeps the audience guessing and on the edge between folksy humor and taut suspense."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...This play is a story about possibly supernatural intercession in the human world; however, this review is the story of an all-too-human failing. I have been wondering for three days about how to write it and what to say, but I’ve ultimately ended up with this: write it as you experienced it. (That shouldn’t have been so hard, but…well, you’ll see.)"
PicksInSix - Recommended
"...The Goodman’s Owen Theatre currently finds itself possessed under the spell of “Covenant”—a new Southern Gothic play by Chicago native, York Walker. The play is set in 1930s Georgia and draws heavy inspiration on the legendary story of Robert Leroy Johnson, the king of “Delta Blues” whose roaring musical success and early death are notoriously linked to having sold his soul to the devil. “Covenant” tells a similar cautionary tale—the gamble of secular living against a backdrop of deep Judeo-Christian beliefs and culture in the American South."
Curtain Call Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Covenant is a gripping and often funny play that lingers in one’s mind long after its final revelation. York Walker has crafted a sharp, captivating, unsettling play set in a Southern Gothic atmosphere. The plot uses family turmoil to address a deeper meditation on faith, superstition and the stories people tell themselves from generation to generation. This family conflict explores the line between rumor and truth. I loved this nail-biting, chair gripping show!"
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...The Chicago premiere of Covenant is a thrilling example of theatrical spectacle and storytelling at its finest. Through York Walker’s haunting script, Malkia Stampley’s assured direction, and a deeply committed cast and creative team, the production delivers a chilling exploration of faith, family, ambition, and the cost of desire. Blending supernatural horror with emotional realism and powerful musical performances, Covenant leaves audiences unsettled long after the final scene fades to black."
Allie and the After Party - Recommended
"...The return of a rising Blues star to a religious small town in Georgia brings rumors and speculation of deals with the devil. The women of the White family and their close friend are affected by seemingly supernatural occurrences when he does and through understanding their deepest secrets, we see their perspectives color their views."
BroadwayWorld - Recommended
"...LaVonne in particular is stellar as Avery — particularly because her character undergoes a radical transformation that requires Lavonne to change her entire demeanor. She does so convincingly."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...In truly gothic tradition, “Covenant” gives Salem-all-over-again as much as it gives “Sinners.” You can expect tightly staged, tightly wound storytelling both from the cast and the story. You will shriek with laughter then shriek in the sudden dark. Other shrieks will come from the dark to greet you. You will be asked to toe the line between the real and the just beyond real, to lift up the veil and peer timidly beyond. What more could we ask from a thriller?"