Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...As with all of New Colony's productions, this is a fully original work created by (and for) the company. Each cast member developed his or her character. (Tara Sissom, playing a dizzy second wife eager to ingratiate herself with the garrulous group, is credited as the playwright.) That means, under Sean Kelly's direction, you're getting fully committed performances and a good amount of craft (Arlene Malinowski, as a middle-aged mom barely holding it together, is especially good), although the group method has some weaknesses — some characters (particularly Thea Lux, as a 20-ish daughter staging an intervention) feel like placeholders rather than fully realized human beings."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...The multiplicity of voices has yielded a generic drama where even attempts at idiosyncrasy--a gay son, a son with Asperger's syndrome, a cracked old granddad--come across as bland variations on current popular modes of expressing idiosyncrasy. The piece is heartfelt but tedious. If not for a clutch of strong performances by Andrew Hobgood, Evan Linder, and Thea Lux--as well as an interesting one by Arlene Malinowski--the production would be complete misfire."
Windy City Times
- Somewhat Recommended
"...But Sisson's ultimate execution of Pancake Breakfast comes off as far too languid in its pacing, so it's not as dramatically filling as it could be. Sisson's two-hour-long intermission-less drama also suffers from frequently oblique storytelling. It's initially confounding to discern everyone's relationship in the family (Jack McCabe's role as the wacky grandfather isn't so clear, since all the characters call him "Pop," leading to a mistaken assumption that he's Eleanor's second husband) while there aren't enough dramatic hallmarks heralding the play's ultimate fight that erupts almost out of nowhere."
Talkin Broadway
- Highly Recommended
"...There are a dozen fine moments in this production which, for a play that runs barely 100 minutes, is quite a lot. Jack McCabe, as the grandfather, breaks into a night-time speech on the boat dock about space and time and wormholes, though it's not till later that we understand why. And his childish shouting match with Mr. Linder's Asperger's character (with both costumed as Lincoln look-alikes) is absurdly funny. There is a vague feeling of natural sloppiness that trickles all through Pancake Breakfast, giving it the flavor of real family life, and allowing the cast and crew to fully exploit this family's deeper emotions."
Time Out Chicago
- Recommended
"...
While the main conflict explodes clumsily in a roundtable intervention that feels unsupported by the preceding action, it delivers a satisfyingly unexpected conclusion. Individual performances are uneven, but Evan Linder as autistic 21-year-old Randy and Jack McCabe as grandpa Arlie are standouts; the brief scenes they share are a joy to watch."
ChicagoCritic
- Somewhat Recommended
"...I was disappointed since I spent over an hour getting to know and care about the foible of the Malloy clan that left too many issues unresolved. Why would the family plot to do an intervention to aid Randy, then so easily give up after Randy’s short declaration? Beatrice and Bobby’s issues fizzled also. Pancake Breakfast plays as if playwright Sissions couldn’t figure out how to end her play. There are the ingredients for a worthy family saga here, it just needs to be re-thought for a stronger conclusion. I’d advise starting the conflict sooner and resolving such with more depth. This shows is a work-in-progress. The ensemble acting was excellent and Nick Sieben’s runway set allowed for several locations all visible to the audience at once. Evan Linder, Arlene Malinowski and Susan Adler gave particularly strong performances. With a tighter focus and some rewrites, Pancake Breakfast could emerge as a meal worth savoring."
Chicago Theater Beat
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Simultaneous staged activity occurs for a horizontal visual feast, tasty or otherwise. In an initial scene, the march to the breakfast table is a light-hearted patriotic salute. Often when family gets together for a holiday, there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Relative cooking can get confusing. No need to start from scratch, Playwright Sissom just needs to clarify the recipe’s direction and whisk the lumps until smooth. Pancake Breakfast is a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity combo platter in the making. Order up!"
