Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at CIBC Theatre

Chicago Tribune - Recommended

"...Instead of the symbolic sets, the indulgent screams, the ponderous personal vivisections, the colossal running times that lovers of this great American play have endured for 40-odd years, Page's internationally acclaimed revival offers a leaner, funnier, more truthful look at the middle-age agony of intelligent humans with minimal achievement and even worse prospects."

Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended

"...The barbed-wire writing and love-hate revulsion easily get the blood and vitriol dripping. The fierce burst of poetry that emerges in the play's final act (by which point you might very well be numb) cannot be denied. But something about this drama now feels distinctly familiar. In fact, what we have here is a precursor of "The Jerry Springer Show" -- even if this psychological (and at times physical) slugfest has been calculated to hit home with the high-brow, brandy-gulping university set rather than the beer-slugging working class."

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...This extremely disappointing mounting of Edward Albee's 1962 play--a touring edition of the 2005 Broadway revival--is undone by emotionally shallow lead performances and some ill-advised revisions by the author."

EpochTimes - Highly Recommended

"...This production is a stark, three hours of masterful acting, perfection in direction (Anthony Page), with quality lighting by Peter Kaczorowski and a set that appears to be the interior of a nice old house(John Lee Beatty). The four actors in this production are sterling in their characters. I know that many people will compare this production to the recent Court Theatre production and many will also compare this to the movie classic, but in my opinion this is a much better interpretation by the director and the actors."

Time Out Chicago - Recommended

"...While Turner’s comic-noir turn is essential to this (she’s a fun-loving china-shop bull rendered in invitingly smoky charcoals), it’s Irwin who changes our idea of Virginia Woolf. Rather than the groggy-headed flop Martha accuses him of being, helium-fueled Irwin is canny, alert and rippingly self-lacerating (this actor’s classical clown training can’t hurt). Page’s production doesn’t crescendo quite as much as you want it to, and Kathleen Early’s abrasively mannered foil-mouse Honey can offset its balance. But with Turner and Irwin as his vessels, Albee still shows us all how it’s done."

ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended

"...Director Anthony Page’s decision to cast comic actor Bill Irwin (a Steppenwolf ensemble member) with film star Kathleen Turner was provocative. This freshly reinterpreted version of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will either make those who have seen the 1960’s classic work cringe or loudly applaud. I cringed."