Haunting Julia presented by Eclipse Theatre Company at Athenaeum Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...Kevin Hagan's direction and clever set deliver the chills when needed, but too much of this play involves static arguments between the three men about the nature of faith, genius and mental instability, none of which reveal anything more profound than that suicide also kills the spirits of the living. Woodel's performance, in particular, seems hesitant when he should be baring his teeth and showing the hard-edged man who lived his life for his daughter — and may have had more to do with her death than he cares to admit."

Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended

"...The script benefits, moreover, from Ayckbourn's insight that the power of a good ghost story has less to do with a ghost that haunts than a haunted ghost. The benefits of this Eclipse Theatre production are more ambiguous. On the one hand, it travels a long way on cool special effects and the interesting dynamic between JP Pierson and Ted Hoerl as two of the men. But Norm Woodel seems lost in the all-important role of the third man, leaving a hole where substance is most needed."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...In a play so heavy with death, Woodel is pulsing with honest, tortured life. His artful, understated performance sparks, boils over, then wanes again as his character is still coping with the loss of a child he never really understood. By comparison, Pierson and Hoerl's sometimes heavier-handed interpretations shine dimmer, though their performances have their strong points too. The unevenness and some unanswered questions drain a bit of the show's concentrated, intimate energy, but not much."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...Haunting Julia is a powerful theatrical experience that delivers expertly the elements of a fine mystery-and-it is done live before our eyes, and it works. Kudos to Eclipse Theatre for their theatrical craftsmanship."