Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...Suffice to say that if the man's writing all these years interests you, "Henry Johnson" is well worth seeing and there likely will be tickets at the door. Otherwise, you surely already know to stay away."
Chicago Sun Times
- Recommended
"...But if you artistically crushed on Mamet in your formative years, and missed the wonderful Biograph Theater, there's a compelling case to be made that this is an event deserving of curiosity, at the very least. It's not a world premiere exactly - the play previously ran at a small theater in Los Angeles, but the press was not invited. This is, in essence, its public world premiere, even though Mamet and the LA cast, including Shia LaBouef have finished filming a movie version, which will be released in a single theater and online next month."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...It's a funny story, but as I watched Mamet's Henry Johnson, now onstage at the Biograph in a coproduction of Relentless Theatre Group and Victory Gardens Theater, I thought about how that little anecdote contains the seeds of most of Mamet's worldview-namely that life is largely a quest for status and dominance, often revolving around bits of information parceled out to the underdog to bolster the needs (financial, psychological, or both) of the top dog. From his 1984 Pulitzer-winning Glengarry Glen Ross (just revived on Broadway with a bushel of stars in the cast) to films like 1997's The Spanish Prisoner, Mamet's long been a stalwart chronicler of the takers and the taken in society."
Stage and Cinema
- Recommended
"...Along with blazingly rapid dialog, there's something aggressively determined about David Mamet plays-like Glengarry Glen Ross now being revived on Broadway-and his latest Henry Johnson is no exception. Written in 2023 where it premiered at the Electric Lodge in Venice, California, Mamet's stage effort is now enjoying its Midwest premiere at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater in association with Relentless Theatre Group."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...The company, Relentless Theatre Group, headed by Edward Torres, who directed this premiere of ?Henry Johnson? along with the original producers from Victory Gardens, in particular Dennis Zacek ( executive Producer). I had the good fortune of interviewing Thomas Gibson, on my radio show and learning a little about this work by Mamet. His character, Gene only appears in one scene, but his acting is powerful. Many TV fans know this actor from the many TV roles he has developed, but stage is his love and with his development of his character in this production, one can truly see that he is at home on a live theater stage."
Buzz Center Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...?Henry Johnson,? David Mamet?s new play running at the vintage Biograph Theatre, is like many of his works, enigmatic and demanding of his audience. With Mamet one must pay close attention to the dialog, packed with foreshadowing and reveals. Miss a line or even a word, and you?ll miss out."
Third Coast Review
- Recommended
"...Mamet?s very good play, Henry Johnson, is getting its Midwest premiere by Victory Gardens Theater, an organization that, after a three-year hiatus, might itself attract protestors. Victory Gardens is observing its 50th anniversary, but it should be called its 47th, since it has not produced a play since 2022. Its historic venue, the Biograph Theater, has been a rental space since disagreements between Victory Gardens? board and creative ensemble ended the theater?s producing activities."
PicksInSix
- Recommended
"...The Chicago premiere of David Mamet?s new play ?Henry Johnson? opened Sunday in a matinee performance at Victory Gardens Theater presented in association with Relentless Theatre Group. The play was first performed in 2023 at the Electric Lodge in Venice, California starring Shia LaBeouf as Gene?played here by Thomas Gibson from Criminal Minds and Dharma and Greg?who is also in Mamet?s film version that is scheduled to be released in early May. So, the Victory Gardens/Relentless production is a unique confluence of the two treatments at this particular time."
Chicago Culture Authority
- Highly Recommended
"...In its first appearance since its Los Angeles premiere two years ago, the production of David Mamet's Henry Johnson at Victory Gardens is the most entertaining cry of "Wake up, sheeple!" you'll ever see onstage. For 80 minutes (plus an intermission) crackling exchanges that bristle with menace light up the minimalist set, a reminder of just how masterful the playwright is with dialogue when he's in the groove. And boy is this a deep cut."
NewCity Chicago
- Recommended
"...Mamet's "Henry Johnson" doesn't tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear. As in life, the virtuous path lies somewhere between Henry and his adversaries, that helping others at the cost of one's own self-destruction is a pyrrhic victory. You may leave the theater questioning your trust in humanity, but at least trust me when I say this is a play worth seeing."
