Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...although the production values are not up to Congo Square's usual standards, it surely shouldn't get in the way of you seeing Derrick Sanders' powerful production of a widely and justly praised play by a new writer whose work is overdue in Chicago."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...Now, with Congo Square Theatre Company's volcanic production, Chicago audiences have the opportunity to become acquainted with Kwei-Armah's work, and they are sure to clamor for more."
Daily Herald
- Recommended
"...Congo Square's production, while solidly directed by Derrick Sanders, takes a while to warm up and unfamiliar accents and British slang take some getting accustomed to. But the issues Kwei-Armah addresses -- father-son conflicts; the clash of values; urban violence and personal responsibility -- resonate as profoundly on this side of the pond as they do on the other. From the sad, familiar story of young black men destined to become statistics, Kwei-Armah has crafted a provocative cautionary tale."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Elmina's Kitchen doesn't break new thematic ground, but Kwei-Armah's gift for street poetry and feeling for intergenerational conflict is in sync with the considerable acting skills of Derrick Sanders's ensemble. The story concerns the struggle between Deli, an ex-con now running a West Indian restaurant begun by his late mother in London's troubled Hackney neighborhood, and his son, who's enthralled by the thug life. With only a few missteps, this tightly coiled family drama delivers harsh insights, brutal humor, and some horrifying white-knuckle moments."
Windy City Times
- Recommended
"...The acting is wonderful, with veteran Cedric Young enjoying a fine showcase as the lusty and manipulative grandfather. The characters are quickly, deftly and truly drawn by British author Kwame Kwei-Armah. The final tragedy is real, even if the story of Elmina’s Kitchen is old-hat."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...While Ann Joseph makes the most of the underwritten Anastasia, Morocco Omari chillingly suggests Digger’s seething, unpredictable menace. And Cedric Young lives fully as a failed dad facing his last years, struggling to make sense of all the ones before. Thanks to them, Kwei-Armah’s uneven play does indeed end with an explosion."
ChicagoCritic
- Recommended
"...I enjoyed this well acted and nicely paced look at the mean streets of London. Ray Nardelli’s original music and Sona Smith’s Island dance created a rich atmosphere for the story. Kudos to Congo Square Theatre for mounting Kwame Kwe-Armah’s work—he is a voice to be heard again."
