Four Places Reviews

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...The most remarkable thing about Joel Drake Johnson's Four Places is how it prepares you for what's to come in its very first scene and still manages to surprise you. Opening in an intimate black box theatre at the Bramble Arts Loft, the 4 Chair Theatre production of the play is the first since the untimely passing of the playwright in 2020."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...“Four Places” written by Joel Drake Johnson was originally performed at Victory Gradens Theater, and while it has been years since audiences in Chicago have seen this sparkling story that deals with a slice of life that many have to deal with, we can see that it is indeed a situation that many must deal with. This production , under the skillful hand of Director Lauren Berman, allows us to be the perverbial “fly on the wall” as Ellen and Warren pick up their mom for an outing, including a nice luncheon as well as some “quality time together”."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Lauren Berman's heartfelt production of FOUR PLACES is an entertaining and enlightening evening that's filled with secrets and lies. As the play quietly unfolds, the audience discovers more and more information about each of the four characters. This is a play for anyone who has either been in the situation of seeking their own caretaker, or has had to consider personally stepping in themselves and taking charge of an ailing or elderly relative. The decisions to be made are often difficult and sometimes sad, But it's a scenario that most of us will eventually face. Joel Drake Johnson's riveting play gives that moment of passage a clear and honest voice."

Chicago On Stage - Recommended

"...4 Chairs Theatre deserves a lot of praise for producing a play that, on its face, feels like it would be nothing more than another dinner-table drama. But in the hands of this cast and crew, Four Places reaches deep into the anxieties of aging amidst damaged family bonds."