Franklinland presented by Jackalope Theatre at Broadway Armory

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...That relationship — suffused with paradox and worthy, I think, of being the next Lin-Manuel Miranda musical — is the core of Suh’s very cool little play, which is all over and done in 70 minutes. Penned in a breezy, anarchic style (a la “Hamilton,” really), it zeroes in on the difficulty of having an overachieving dad, especially one who proves persistently difficult to please. (Miranda would understand.) And at the same time, it looks at how we often come to regret our efforts to force our children down any path we took ourselves. Especially as played in director Chika Ike’s production by Tom Hickey and Kai Ealy, it’s a sympathetic piece toward both men, suggesting they love each other even as they end up on different sides."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...The father-son rivalry is at once idiosyncratic and iconic, giving much of the gleefully anachronistic play a quirky resonance, and Ike’s quick-witted, poker-faced cast add an unlikely layer of emotional poignancy. While Suh ultimately takes on too much (the birth of America, for starters), requiring him to churn out a disappointingly conventional climax, the lead-up is captivating."

Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended

"...Broadly speaking, the events and circumstances of Suh’s drama are grounded in history. Ben Franklin’s bastard son William rose in the world to become a British loyalist and the last Colonial governor of New Jersey. William was imprisoned by the revolutionaries and later released into exile. Even from prison, he worked against the Revolution by every means possible. Ben Franklin made repeated efforts to bring William to the cause for independence, but to no avail, and father and son never fully reconciled."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...Benjamin Franklin was many things: a brilliant inventor, a notorious philanderer, a shameless braggart, and a committed devotee to the natural world, to say nothing of his civic contributions to the United States. For “Franklinland,” a world-premiere production at Jackalope Theatre Company, all of those elements of Franklin are on full display, but the focus in on an aspect of Franklin that not many know – that of Franklin the father."

Picture This Post - Recommended

"...FRANKLINLAND is a good mix of history blended with the voice of now. It's about making your own way and being the best person you can be. It's a good show for history buffs and those looking for some heated family drama."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...At its best, "Franklinland" can feel like an act of reclamation or at least of practical skepticism. While we idle over our idols, they, like us, are living through a series of attempts, some successful, many not. As a characteristic, audacity is not known for being accommodating and it takes a good degree of arrogance to undertake the experiment of founding a new country. Still, Suh's play reminds audiences that courage is not the only thing; patience and understanding are virtues of enterprise as well."