Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Under Liz Carlin Metz’s skillful direction, the 15-member ensemble of this coproduction by the Rasaka and Vitalist theater companies delivers a show at once moving, funny, and exciting. Particularly impressive are Anish Jethmalani and Madrid St. Angelo as Sharuk and Devender and Priyank Thakkar as Sharuk's comical servant."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Three hours may seem a protracted evening, but more than justifies itself in the sheer weight and complexity of the social issues under scrutiny. Audiences need not fear succumbing to culture shock, however. Vitalist director Liz Carlin Metz retains control of such diverse elements as Mumbai-style musical revels, comedic monologues delivered by servants and sidekicks, sweet nothings crooned by giddy lovers and iambic-pentameter oratory to ensure our full comprehension of the tragic discord arising from the elevation of petty differences over shared values."
Theatre By Numbers - Highly Recommended
"...If you’re a Shakespeare fan, a proponent of diverse casts and creative teams, and if you think everything is improved with the addition of a Bollywood dance number, get yourself to the Greenhouse Theater Center for this production, as soon as possible."
Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...While Liz Carlin Metz did a great job of directing and keeping the action moving ( if not, this could have been three and a half hours), there were far too many movies and songs mentioned for laughs. In fact, this was a bit too "Bollywood" for me, and I love "Bollywood Films". I thought the actors were strong and were only limited by the material that was given to them by the playwright. Hats off to Sunny Anam, Simi Bal, Anand Bhatt, Luisa Blanca, David Fink, Dennis Garcia, Muriaza Kapasi, Ben Veatch, Priyank Thakkar, Alka Nayyar and Siddarth Rajan. Great work!"
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Recommended
"...The second half of the show is absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is at it’s best and we become fully invested in these characters and the drama unfolding in their lives. Very few plays can justify a run time of 2 hours and 45 minutes other than Shakespeare"
- Sheri and Josh Flanders
Chicago On Stage - Somewhat Recommended
"...Though Kurup is a gifted writer with a great idea-and he should be commended for taking a play that is often considered anti-semitic and adapting away what may have been view as any hint of Islamophobia-his play is, in many ways, doomed from its inception. There are just too many ingredients in the pot. The wonderful moments when the tension rises and Sharuk's conflict with Devender boils over are too few and far between to save the play, as they take a back seat to a desire for relevance and clever cultural connections diffuse the potential for real connection."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...This play is RECOMMENDED to theater lovers of all walks of life: Shakespeare dorks, anyone interested in South Asian Culture, Bollywood, or socio-political issues. Not recommended for people who are not open to new takes on Shakespeare."
