Keely and Du presented by Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at Raven Theatre

Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended

"...Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's Kurt Naebig directs ICT's production with an eye toward softening the polemics by focusing on the play's emotional component, namely, forgiveness. Unfortunately, as of opening night, Maclay and Thompson had yet to establish a consistent rhythm and a sustained emotional connection. To be fair, the brief scenes that comprise the overly long first act don't really allow for that. Things begin to gel in the second act when (predictably) a grudging affection develops between hostage and captor."

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...Genevieve Thompson's Keely doesn't seem sufficiently undone by the nightmare, and Joanna Maclay's Du also needs to be more duplicitous. Instead, she's all folksy charm, especially as contrasted with Paul Joseph's hateful preacher. There isn't any genuine moral complexity here--no reasonable person could defend the pro-lifers' actions--and hence little real drama."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...It’s a glum affair, as the subject matter is as humorless as is achievable and the play regularly congratulates itself for shedding such compassionate, open-minded perspective on the impoverished urchin whose brutish husband raped her and the kindly Christian grandmother who takes care of said girl while she’s chained to a bed. But at least Infamous Commonwealth’s production features a step forward for the company in terms of professional presentation."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...Jane Martin’s drama will certainly get the debate going about abortion and the extent one’s point of view could justify illegal activities. The work is a cautionary tale about the horrors of fanaticism. Kudos to Infamous Commonwealth Theatre for tackling such a controversial subject."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended

"...Jane Martin’s "Keely and Du," being performed by the very sincere and intense Infamous Commonwealth ensemble is a complete shocker. What would you do if you woke up one morning and found yourself groggy and handcuffed to a bed? The cherubic Genevieve Thompson playing the role of Keely, a woman who made up her mind to have an abortion after a brutal rape, would get up believing that she could wrench herself free from the manacle to get out of there lucid and go back where she belonged. The theatre actually shakes with her rage. She’s definitely not someone I’d want to piss off!"