Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...I emphasize “powerfully acted” for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s the truth. The quartet of central performances — Saren Nofs-Snyder and Daniel Cantor as the Jewish couple, and Anish Jethmalani and Diana Simonzadeh as the Palestinians — are all very solid. Nofs-Snyder, who had me in tears, is considerably better than solid, offering a nuanced but intensely passionate depiction of a young Jewish woman from Poland, buffeted by oppression, torn by the pain in her own past and trying to do the right thing for the future. It’s a performance you should not miss."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...here is a production that clearly wishes to give the illusion (and illusion it is) that it is offering a balanced picture of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Yet a significant portion of Next's audience is Jewish. And try as you might to have this drama interpreted both ways against the middle, the clear subtext here (and it's really far more than subtext) is that the Jews are interlopers in the Holy Land, and have been occupying the houses and gardens of Palestinian Arabs ever since the establishment of Israel by a United Nations mandate in 1948."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Based on a novella by Ghassan Kanafani, M.E.H. Lewis's play dramatizes complex and tragic issues surrounding the birth of Israel in 1948. Diana Simonzadeh turns in a nuanced, heart-wrenching performance as guilt-ridden Safiyeh. Thoughtfully staged by Jason Southerland, this Next Theatre production is sure to stir opinions and emotions."
Copley News Service - Recommended
"...Along with the strong performances by the two actresses, there is excellent work by Anish Jethmalani as the Palestinian husband who descends from optimism to embittered pessimism by the Palestinian defeats in war after war with Israeli. Jethmalani’s performance is a model of realism, intelligence, and sensitivity. Daniel Cantor plays the Israeli husband and Miguel Cohen the son under psychological siege. Todd Garcia rounds out the ensemble in multiple roles."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...despite its essayistic strengths, Return to Haifa lacks compelling drama. Southerland’s able cast labors to turn walking social positions into actual characters, but neither we nor the people onstage are connected enough to make the final revelation gripping. Instead, after 90 minutes of meticulous back story, accentuated by first-rate design, the play devolves into shouting. At just the moment that the piece starts to turn historical calamity into theatrical imperative, it’s finished."
ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended
"...Return to Haifa is a moving saga that aptly depicts just one of the complex issues that marks the Arab-Israeli conflict. This is a bold and poignant story told truthfully. The cast, particularly Daniel Cantor, Anish Jethmalani were effective but Saren Nofs-Snyder and Diana Simonzadek rendered emotionally deep and honest performances that you’ll not soon forget. Lewis’ writing is tight, accurate and explosive. Return to Haifa is a most worthy world premiere."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...This is a very solid cast and I would be remiss if I did not mention young Todd Garcia who plays several roles but stands out as Khalid, the son of Ishmail and Safiyeh who never knew that he had an older brother. This is two hours of tense drama and also gives us some insight into the lives of people who have been displaced by war and the struggles to survive. It deals with culture clashes, religion, family and in the end the bond between these two families that had endured loss of property and loved ones."
