Family Drama: 2 Norwegian Plays Reviews

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...In Maria Tryti Vennerød's Goliath (translated by May-Brit Akerholt, directed by Kirstin Franklin), the biblical story of David and Goliath gets a makeover that makes it feel more like the Bluths in Arrested Development stuck inside a Sartre play. That sounds more fun than it actually is in this production, which starts out strong, if messy, but begins spinning its wheels about halfway through and sort of sputters to its conclusion. Still, taken together, the two pieces provide astringent commentary on the limitations of unconditional parental love."

Chicago Theatre Review - Somewhat Recommended

"...Director Franklin used the heightened language of the translated words to the aid of the actors and the story, creating a high class family that used the stilted sentences and odd interjections to mask their insecurities. Added lighting and music shifts supplied by Tony Adams and Timothy McNulty, respectively, highlighted the fourth walls that were broken. These moments were pristinely and finely chosen by Franklin in Goliath, but seemed muddied in The Returning."