Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Overall, though, "Grinning From Fear to Fear" (which I would recommend over the bigger mainstage at present) is more interested in personal stories of a broader sweep. It certainly captures the broad rise in anxiety, how many of us have trouble sleeping for one reason or another, how monsters real and imagined dance in our dreams, how medication is questionably pervasive, how it gets harder and harder to tell your brain to shut down and be still. You don't normally go to Second City to be comforted, but this show actually might make you rest a little easier."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...This is the second e.t.c. creation of director Annaliese Toft, more consistently funny than predecessor "Gaslight District" and perhaps a sign of heightened confidence. All of the cast members are new to e.t.c. except Andrew Knox, a veteran of the two previous shows."
Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Highly Recommended
"...Director Anneliese Toft served plenty of hilarity with a subject matter that represents a distressing emotion aroused by an impending pain, danger, and evil, in ‘Grinning Fear To Fear.' Along with the ensemble members weaving the storyline together about fear in the 43rd revue they knew laughter is good for the soul and is the crucial component where encumbering occurrences were brought on by reality or an imaginary threat."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...When it comes to comedy and “revues”, Chicago is “second to none”, but our greatest spot for a great evening of laughter is Second City, although it has nothing to do with us following anyone else ( in particular New York). Second City has grown tremendously over the years and now, beside the original building and training center, they occupy a good portion of what has been called Pipers Alley ( dating back to the 1960’s) on the corner of Wells and North Ave. Last night , in their ETC comedy room, they opened their 43rd revue, “Grinning From Fear to Fear” to a very full house."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Recommended
"...The new revue at Second City e.t.c. is called “Grinning from Fear to Fear,” a clever title for a pretty clever show, at least for most of the evening."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...One thing I've always appreciated about the Chicago comedy scene is its blunt honesty and fearlessness, and Second City never seems to shy away from talking about the issues. The writing is thoughtful without losing humor and the cast never lets the words down."
The Hawk Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Watching this team having a blast on Bob Knuth’s colorful set makes the two hours fly by in a blink. Grinning from Fear to Fear is the best new revue from The Second City in a while - and the bar is always high."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...It’s a wonderful, hilarious evening glued together by some inventive direction by Toft both during the sketches and between them, and clever music by Jacob Shuda. And it is one of the tightest revues you could ever expect from Second City. Even a scene in which four audience members join the sketch seems perfectly timed and works like a charm. Of course, this might depend a bit upon the audience members selected on a given night, but this cast is ready to improv and eager to show their skills, and Toft has the audience with them from the very beginning. "
