Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Mark Sutton, the skilled, veteran Chicago comedian who plays Limbaugh, has many aspects of his man down, including his vocal intonations and his ability to finesse the always-rhetorical question. But what he hasn't yet channeled is the man's outsize charm and charisma. That's partly because this show keeps dodging the core of Limbaugh: the talker, the microphone, the listeners."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Mark Sutton is savvy and uncanny as Limbaugh, finding unexpected laughs in the man's hateful remarks, and the remainder of the cast (which includes Cayne Collier of venerable sketch troupe Brick) are game for whatever odd character needs playing. Matt Hovde, the whiz-kid director behind Second City ETC's current hit Studs Terkel's Not Working, demonstrates a knack for balancing outrageous whimsy with harsh truth."
Copley News Service
- Highly Recommended
"...The show delivers most of its satirical thrusts through its score, a collection of bright and knowing songs featuring Shanoff’s ingenious rhymes. The creators have done their homework and they happily turn Limbaugh’s words and ideas against him. Furman and Shanoff presume their audience knows Limbaugh and his brand of conservatism, and they milk the man’s crackpot ideas (at least to liberal ears) to the max, volleying additional comic assaults at Limbaugh’s lack of formal education, his social and political tunnel vision, and his pill popping."
Centerstage
- Recommended
"...The show definitely has flaws — it loses steam during the last half-hour, and the sound mix is often ear-splittingly loud — but they don't detract much from one of the sharpest political satires I've seen. See it before Limbaugh's lawyers shut it down."
Chicago Stage Review
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Rush Limbaugh! The Musical takes half-hearted swipes at Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, the Clintons, the Bushes, the Obamas, and American politics in general. Even with the shining performances of Mark Sutton and Karla L. Beard, it doesn’t serve as a second helping of Rod Blagojevich Superstar! While the laughs are ample, they are also easy: scatological, coarse, and sophomoric."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Recommended
"...Second City e.t.c. is known for hard humor, comedy to take your mind off the problems you may be facing outside of Pipers Alley. Your job, your 401K, your mortgage, your family situation; all of these may be unknowns as far as the future and what is in store for you, but once you get to the second floor at Second City e.t.c., these problems and troubles stay in the lobby, better yet on the first floor. You are here to relax, have a drink, laugh and just have a good time. And you will."
Chicago Theater Beat
- Recommended
"...Overall, the writing (care of Ed Furman who also wrote Rod Blagojevich Superstar!) is strong. However, there are some terrible groaners that fall flat near the top of the play. The biggest flaw, though, are the Barney Frank lines, which amount to boring and trite homophobic comedy. It was strange to see these childish references to gay sex in a show that otherwise believed in the intelligence of the audience."
