Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...I don’t think that was the intension here. Part of the problem is a simple lack of narrative clarity in the script, at least in the first half of the show (the second half is much stronger). But another issue is that the building of the narrative can sometimes choke the narrative itself, as impressive as the ideas behind this production can be."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Hollinger's play has wit and warmth. In a tip of the hat to the master, he populates it with classic Dickens characters: lonely, bereaved and impoverished folks who, despite their situation, remain hopeful, kind and loyal. Despite the hardships fate and society impose, they persevere and prevail."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...But when it settles into a rhythm, the story-theater dynamics (aided by Williams Boles's set with its backstage aesthetic and steampunk vibe, and Jason Lynch's lighting, which lets us feel the chilly prison shadows and the cozy shop corners), offer a quirky, yet comfortable, alternative to That Other Dickens Christmas Story."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...If the initial performance at Northlight Theatre sometimes gave the impression of spilling, rather than emerging, onto the stage, director David Catlin and his cast encompass several alums of the athletic Lookingglass ensemble, ensuring physical stamina meeting the demands of comic slapstick like an extended tandem sequence of piggyback stuntwork, as well as the thrilling spectacle of a final showdown suspending heroine and villain from a frozen railway trestle over the icy depths of the Thames. Whoever said Victorians didn't enjoy action-suspense dramas?"
Stage and Cinema - Recommended
"...The show is recommended for ages 8 and up, though younger viewers may be impatient with the slow first half and keeping the many supporting characters straight. But adult audiences could have the same difficulty. Mr. Dickens' Hat is a world premiere and the Northlight may have visions of turning the show into a holiday staple in future seasons. If the early portion of "Mr. Dickens' Hat" can be invigorated with more action and genuine humor and forgo the nudge-nudge wink-wink jokes that fall flat, the theater may have an annual set piece. The performances by Dewdney, Foster, Kaplan, and especially Sandys would provide a solid performing foundation, and the director and designers definitely have done their part."
Let's Play at ChicagoNow - Recommended
"...When you walk into the theater, you can see and hear the perplexity regarding the stage setup. Its simplicity seemed to suggest a lack of funds, as the stage only has a few uninteresting and misplaced items, combined with obstructed views. However, after reviewing the play, we believe it was an ingenious way to bring the audience into the performance before it started. As the actors come on stage, we can peel back the layers of the superficial scene, which mysteriously captivated us to see that its two stores combined by Mr. Garbleton and Mrs. Prattie, now known as Garbleton and Prattie."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...A World Premiere right out of the box post Covid. Hurray for Northlight Theatre. It is December, holiday cheer is all around. We are already celebrating Chanukah and Christmas is only three weeks away. While most of the theater companies are bringing out the old standards for the holidays, this unique piece from Northlight is a perfect evening out away from worrying about shopping, gifts, grab bags and for me “Santa”. Many plays we know were written by Dickens and it is quite fitting that a story about him , or should I say his hat, is perfect. Written by Michael Hollinger ( who also composed the music) and directed by David Catlin, this is 90 minutes of pure artistry."
WTTW - Highly Recommended
"...The production springs to life from the moment you take your seat and are drawn into an eye-popping environment anchored by an Erector-set like steel bridge, dozens of cartons and a great deal more. And then, under the ingenious direction of David Catlin (a Lookingglass Theatre veteran), a sublime cast of six proceed to play a total of 28 very different characters, both comic and tragic, good and evil, brainy and dim-witted, and playfully proto-Dickensian."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Michael Hollinger's original, new Story Theatre play is a wonderful period comic drama that's perfect for the holidays. It plays out as a tightly-directed, finely-textured one-act, running a fast-paced 90 minutes. Although this play isn't specifically a Christmas play, because of its ties to Charles Dickens it has a certain holiday feel to it. Employing the familiar theme that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Hollinger reminds us that beneath every hat we're all the same. Filled with heart, and sporting so many sparkling, creative performances, inventive artistic and technical support and a background of lush music, this play is a must-see for Chicagoland during this season."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Somewhat Recommended
"...Mr. Dickens' Hat is absolutely filled to the brim with ambition. With a clever cast under the direction of Chicago favorite David Catlin and dynamic, interactive storytelling built into its design, this play couldn't ask for more from this, its world premiere production. Despite the clear talent and vision from its team, however, when it comes to story and structure, Mr. Dickens' Hat suffers from being a bit too much."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...Director David Catlin has assembled a strong group of performers, most of whom play multiple characters, to bring this tale to life. (Well, all of them do if you count voicing a dog and a parrot as “characters.”) Catlin and his ensemble make the most of designer William Boles’ busy, backstage-like set, at times giving this a “let’s put on a show” vibe even as they ground the production with a series of impressive hats. (Credit Sully Ratke, costume designer, with making or finding all of these.) As to the titular chapeau, it is both a bit of a MacGuffin and a prized possession. Given a place of honor high above all of the other hats in the shop in which this all takes place, Dickens’ hat becomes the object of a thief’s pursuit, which becomes the center of a plot that is more designed to present to us characters whose lives, in typically Dickensian ways, interweave with each other."
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...The show has its moments. Cordelia Dewdney is an appealing Kit, displaying just the right mix of feisty and vulnerable. The music, composed by playwright Hollinger, is melodic and well-harmonized, although more incidental to the narrative than integrated into it. Jason Lynch's lighting has a dusky winter glow, with blue and gold overtones reminiscent of twinkly Christmas lights. And Sully Ratke's hats are little marvels of fatuous festoonery, some featuring stuffed birds that combine the milliner's and taxidermist's art to humorous effect."