Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Joseph Stearns's turn as a madman who flummoxes the cops is a marvel of timing, but he pitches the volume too high too soon. And although each member of the ensemble finds at least one moment of inspired comic genius, the second act of this Signal Ensemble Theatre production still drags a bit."
Copley News Service - Somewhat Recommended
"... Unfortunately, much of the production relies on slapstick farce that just doesn’t work on the Ensemble stage. The frantic physical comedy is labored to the point of embarrassment. The actors who play the a police inspector and the commissioner work hard but they are too young for roles that require the pompous gravity of veteran bureaucrats fighting for their privileged lives as the Madman unravels their desperate plots. "
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...
The key to this travesty of travesties of justice lies in its unstable and unsettling tone, blending traditional commedia, blistering social commentary and modernist distance. Ingram’s production too often settles into a sketch-style jokiness; while Fo’s quicksilver sensibility has some common ground with, say, Mr. Show, the rhythms here aren’t quite self-assured enough to fully inflate the play’s anti-authoritarian soufflé. As the Madman, Joseph Stearns spends the better part of two hours onstage; his breathless, dynamic performance, shifting seamlessly from mousetrap to mousetrap of his own devising, keeps this Accidental Death worth watching."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"...This is a clever, well-timed timed comedy filled with many physical, verbal and farcical moments. You’ll laugh and admire the work by this cast. Joseph Stearns alone is worth the ticket price!"
Around The Town Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...What we have is a one man show with the other characters being there to make any of it plausible and the characters become caractures and almost “stooge-like” , with lots of slappings, and kicking as well as falling and crawling. The Madman takes on many different government and police persona’s and even becomes a member of the Church as a reporter ( the lovely Simone Roos) enters the scene to get to the bottom of what really transpired on that fateful night. As it turns out, the Madman may not really be mad at all as he does a surprise twist at the end. For those of you who know me or have ever sat in a theater near me, when there is comedy, I can be heard- while there were some very funny spots in this production, I am of the opinion that they did not have enough time to hone their craft at playing for laughs, or perhaps they were trying to hard to get them. They missed the boat with me. I will say , however, that I enjoyed watching the skilled Mr. Stearns pull off his transformations and his ability to play the audience."
Chicago Theater Beat - Highly Recommended
"...Signal Ensemble shines best when it depicts their bad romance. Act 2, with the introduction of the Reporter (Simone Roos), doesn’t have the same punch as the first. The second act is supposed to drive the comedy into train wreck territory and Stearn’s costumes are a hoot, but his performance comes close to being dangerously preachy. It’s also at risk of being lost for the jumble of slapstick happening toward the back of Signal’s small stage. If only Ingram’s direction could clean up the sightlines a little more. Nevertheless, overall, Accidental Death of an Anarchist is one to see. Signal Ensemble’s production is a powerful, manic waltz through the life-lies Western culture depends upon—necessary medicine, with a ton of farcical sugar to help it all go down."