Maria's Field Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended

"...The best part of Bogaev’s problematic but still laudably progressive new drama, produced here in its first time outside Russia, is that it introduces us to three peasant women whose lives float in and out of the era. The women are all waiting for their husbands to return from war. They wait. They run into Stalin and Hitler and other icons of their younger days. They run around a little. They try to get a handle on what on earth is going on, and whom or what they can trust. And they wait some more."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...TUTA makes a specialty of introducing Chicago audiences to the work of European playwrights, and it scores a coup with this American premiere. Under the direction of Luda Lopatina and Zeljko Djukic, the acting is emotionally precise, and the superb scenic, lighting, costume, and sound designs create a realistic environment for the play's poetic ruminations on the material and mystic nature of life and death."

Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended

"...The comedic twist succeeded, but unfortunately the womens' performance could use some grounding. Toning down the "old woman" stereotype would have helped the play's sincerity, especially since playwright Bogaev bases the play on his grandmother's story. Despite the play's flaws, this dark comedy and insightful look into cultural nostalgia plays out with slap-stick humor, asking the viewers to do little more than to sit back and enjoy the ride."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...Set in a culture where wars are multiple-generation eras rather than decade-long episodes, Maria’s Field is drenched in a kind of fatigued, psychedelic sadness that germinates as comedy. By contrast to the American magic-realism trend of late, Bogaev’s fantasy is an authentic reflex to political events, rather than, say, suburban malaise. Multiple, cunningly timed literal pitfalls are particularly satisfying. And codirector Djukic inks the work with his sonic signature, the careful embedding of live and skillful pop music."

Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended

"...Maria's Field is an exciting, unusual story that combines the innocence of faith with the horror of revolution in a poetic natural splendour that should not blood-stained."