Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...Watching DeFaria, who goes for broke, go at it with Irons, a fabulously in-the-moment actor, is full-bore entertainment. And even if Snider plays into some restaurant stereotypes, he also successfully gets at the soft underbelly of an oft-contradictory culture that runs on fumes and extracts a personal price from most of those who offer it their lives. As the title suggests, "How to Use a Knife" is structured as a plot-driven thriller, and it's a pretty juicy one, too, hell's kitchens being full of those who know how to wield sharp, probing objects."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Developed through the National New Play Network, How to Use a Knife is receiving its Chicago premiere from Shattered Globe Theatre under the direction of Sandy Shinner, whose well-acted staging benefits from the realistic kitchen set designed by Jeff Bauer. Peter DeFaria and Anthony Irons are excellent as George and Steve; so are Victor Maraña and Dennis García as the antic line cooks, Dillon Kelleher as the harried busboy, Brad Woodard as the obnoxious restaurant owner, and Michelle Bester as the immigration official prying into Steve's past."
Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended
"...In a different setting, Steve, an anonymous immigrant from Rwanda working as a dishwasher in an ordinary New York eatery, knows well enough how to use a knife. But when a master chef, or what's left of him after the ravages of alcoholism, takes charge of the kitchen, the quiet dishwasher is drawn out by the elegant appeal of culinary art. That's the setup of Will Snider's wry and unsettling play "How to Use a Knife," offered in a savory preparation by Shattered Globe Theatre and director Sandy Shinner."
WTTW - Highly Recommended
"...Without question, Will Snider’s “How to Use a Knife,” now receiving an incendiary Chicago premiere by Shattered Globe Theatre, sets the stage on fire as it takes us into the stainless steel industrial kitchen of a burger-and-steak restaurant in New York’s Wall Street district. (Designer Jeffrey Bauer’s set is photo-realist perfection.) And because most restaurants these days depend on a staff that is not just a mix of big personalities, but a great global crossroads of U.S. citizens, green card holders and undocumented residents from a wide array of countries, there is far more to Snider’s story than “rare, medium or well done.”"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This is a remarkably strong, extremely visceral production, and a great introduction to the work of Will Snider. Directed by Sandy Shinner, with great energy, care and a nod to detail, every moment of this production hums with tension. Jeffrey Bauer’s carefully designed restaurant kitchen set allows ample room for this brilliant cast to play out this taut, restless drama. It’s a story that could’ve been ripped from today’s headlines. Kudos also to Abigail Cain for her meticulously chosen props and set dressing. Shattered Globe once again demonstrates why, after almost three decades of entertaining, solid, soul-searching productions, they continue to be among Chicago’s finest theatre companies."
LeBon Travel and Culture - Highly Recommended
"...Written by Will Snider, the play moves forward with sizzling speed and the sharp dialogue makes for convincing characters. Director Sandy Shinner does a great job of bringing out the best from the performers, but when all is said and done, it is Anthony Irons' stunning portrait that rivets our attention throughout. He is a charismatic and compelling actor with a great future. Without a doubt, he is someone to watch."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...How to Use a Knife is almost two plays. The first is witty and frenetically paced; the second is highly dramatic and powerful. Whether you can make the leap with Will Snyder's script will determine how you react to this play. I had a difficult time on occasion reconciling the two, but I can't imagine this show being done any better than Shattered Globe does it."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
"...Peter DeFaria delivers a fine, multi-layered performance as the complex and tortured chef who suffers from drug and alcohol addiction. Helping George find his way out of the darkness is Steve - Anthony Irons in a powerful, measured performance - whose willingness to learn quickly moves him up as a confidant and mentee. As Steve's past comes back to roost, it is the impassioned, deeply personal, interplay that brings them together and ultimately drives them apart."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...This play has an element of fear and uncertainty that one may not normally encounter in a theatre outing. Audiences of How to Use a Knife will witness a once clean and orderly kitchen devolve into absolute shambles by the end. Potatoes, carrots, celery, silverware, broth, and whole pieces of furniture tumble and fly, leaving a wave of destruction and chaos. The relationships' complexity leads to a bond between character and audience member, and that bond is stretched and pulled on like heartstrings. Tears will be shed, and maybe blood too."
