In The Blood Reviews
Chicago Reader- Not Recommended
"...Maybe I missed something or this work wasn't meant for me, but I heard no music in Parks's words, nor any resonance in this story. Watching an illiterate homeless woman being called a slut by everyone in her life, then being driven to kill may have been meant to be a condemnation of an uncaring world, but it comes off as wallowing in misery to no discernible end."
Let's Play at ChicagoNow- Recommended
"...Let's Play recommends this classic tragedy, 'In The Blood' at The Red Tape Theatre with caution. This play needs to be viewed with an open mind and only by a mature audience."
Chicago Theatre Review- Recommended
"...Ultimately, this play is very interesting and extremely well acted. Its message is important, but I do think the tone occasionally gets in the way of that message rather than supporting it. This show is very much worth your time; just know that it will ask a lot of you."
Rescripted- Highly Recommended
"...Suzan-Lori Parks doesn't pull any punches in her text and Chika Ike's direction is masterful. Her use of space coupled with her ability to isolate moments of massive importance allows a tight space to feel vast. Every scene between two actors is electric, and Chika Ike leads that charge. Hester is forced to seek help from those who have used and abused her, and these confrontations are curated with surgical precision to reveal the darkest layers of society. Those same actors then reappear as the ensemble of five children. The doubling of these roles darkens any loving moment that these "five treasures" share with their mother. Gaby Labotka's artful fight and intimacy direction guide these interactions to fruition with brutal intensity and seamless execution."
Chicago On Stage- Highly Recommended
"...In the Blood is a powerful, emotional play that is unlike anything else you are likely to see. Director Chika Ike pushes the limits of tragic drama in this play, which owes at least as much to the Greeks as it does to Hawthorne. Each of its nine scenes works to build the dark, abusive world that Hester inhabits, and each actor plays their parts in it."
NewCity Chicago- Highly Recommended
"...Somehow, this show took me far enough away that I nearly overlooked Guest. Her's is some of the best acting work I've seen in Chicago. She somehow rolls together grace, goofiness, venom, and despair in an intimate, physical performance that left me believing every moment of the show. Ike, the cast, and the designers have put together a show that left me heartbroken, grief-struck and grateful for it."