Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...But at its core, all its airing of grievances included, McNally's play is essentially a workplace hangout comedy (even the Iago-like theater critic gets to tag along for the fun), and Martinez's ensemble, however loosely cast, are agreeable to hang out with—particularly PFP newcomers Sarah Hayes, William Marquez, and Marika Mashburn."
Windy City Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...No one could accuse the production of being unenjoyable, but for a work from the creator of Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class, one can see why "It's Only a Play" doesn't get taken out of mothballs very often. Written in 1986 and revised by McNally in 2014, this small work still has the musty feel of goof-ball comedies written in the 1960s and '70s, with easily identifiable types and well-worn, inoffensive themes about theater people and theater life. Neuroticism, narcissism, and theatrical rivalries are pleasantly poked at without saying much about them and conflicts resolve themselves quickly and predictably."
Stage and Cinema - Not Recommended
"...Whatever this play intended as a hymn to hope-ridden artists reaching beyond their grasp, what actually transpires on The Broadway’s stage is a high-energy, too-loud-to-be-true libel on the passion to perform. All the concentrated conviction of P.F.&P.’s septet can’t redeem this 130-minute hissy fit, a dramatic “disruption” starring drama queens from hell. It’s only a turkey."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...Terrence McNally's delightful comedy "It's Only a Play" may not contain some grand message about loving your fellow man or a deep evaluation to the meaning of life but it sure does have a ton of good and hearty laughs. Written in 1986 and enjoying a slight success Off-Broadway at that time, McNally revised and updated the script for a star-studded version that hit Broadway in 2014. The current production at Pride Films and Plays, under the skilled direction of Jon Martinez, seems to have been revamped even more recently, as it contains hilarious references to both "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and "Mean Girls," two big Broadway shows that didn't even open until April of this past year."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...This is an infectious, uproariously funny comedy that will charm every audience member. If you also happen to be a theatre aficionado, with even the slightest familiarity with what and who is playing on Broadway these days, the hilarity becomes almost uncontrollable. My advice: bring a tank of oxygen, because you just may find yourself breathless from laughing. This is one of Pride Films & Plays' finest, funniest offerings, and a phenomenally produced, professionally acted showbiz farce. Don't miss it!"
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...Director Jon Martinez has done a wonderful job in shepherding all of these broad creations and making sure that the play moves along at the breakneck pace that farce requires. It’s a play that more or less relies on in-jokes about theatre for its fun, so Martinez’s delightful visual additions, such as a literal interpretation of “striking the set,” help make it more approachable to all viewers. And McNally’s script is as witty as it is biting, so there are plenty of laughs."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...It’s Only a Play’s plot is somewhat self-explanatory. A motley crew of actors, a director, a critic, a playwright, a producer, and a coat-boy are flitting around the after-party for the opening of a new Broadway play, The Golden Egg. The characters in this particular theatrical romp are more like those you might find in a sitcom: ridiculous, eccentric, and dripping with ego."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...Even so, McNally has given us something. A gift to the theater folk that, while general audiences may enjoy, is especially meaningful to them. We get the in-jokes. Even if you haven’t set foot on a stage in thirty years, you feel a kinship with the artists. You feel like part of their story."
