Homecoming 1972 at Chicago Dramatists

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...You'll likely find yourself engrossed in these individual scenes, staged on a very simple set from Jack Magaw. There's an authenticity in the writing and staging. But Frank's journey is not entirely satisfying. You don't care enough about him, which might be something for the complex but sometimes jumpy actor Holzfeind to think about, and also remains a challenge unsolved for everyone involved in Frank's homecoming."

Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended

"...Playwright Robert Koon is certainly on to something important in his play "Homecoming 1972," now in its world premiere at Chicago Dramatists under the direction of Kimberly Senior. Unfortunately, although he nails his central premise at moments, much of what surrounds that premise feels wooden and overly contrived."

Windy City Times - Highly Recommended

Tears for ambiguously defined "heroes" are as cheap as they are plentiful in a country experiencing no on-site military combat since 1865, but persuading audiences to care about the walking wounded is a harder task. This doesn't stop director Kimberly Senior and a cast led by Matt Holzfeind (who wears his olive-drab resignation with uncanny accuracy) lending emotional depth and humanity to familiar personalities still evident today, struggling amid the incertitude following another war, making us speculate on their fortunes long after we leave the theater.

Centerstage - Recommended

"...Strong performances make this story particularly painful to sit with at times. Matt Holzfeind portrays a biting counterpoint to the iconic images of veterans all around us. Brett Schneider’s “Joe” easily conveys the anger of the brother who stayed home and who has always strived to do the right thing. Along with Schneider, Molly Glynn’s performance as “Darla” stood a step above the rest, creating the most believable and poignant of the production’s characters. Greta Honold and Julian Hester walk easily among the landmines, with Hester providing much of the humor giving the audience moments of release."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...The intense performance by Matt Holzfeind reminds me of a friend I had who had trouble returning from Vietnam in 1971. This show brought me back to those days when returning war heroes were ridiculed by the public. Holzfeind's performance was spot-on and honest. It gave depth to this otherwise mundane work. With so many soldiers having trouble adjusting to civilian life from Afghanistan, this play has contemporary relevance."