Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...Pop (Brian Amidei) is testosterone personified in his buzz cut and mustache, a gruff, hardnose type who quite obviously loves his sons. It's a role that could have easily turned into caricature, but Amidei and his fellow cast members (including Ernest Deak as the seen-it-all bartender) are giving human-sized performances that make up for the script's deficiencies. The bar is a neighborhood joint that feels very much rooted in Chicago's drinking culture, where you won't find any Old Style. But old-timers? Plenty of those around, offering up non-sequiturs and commentary and played with just enough salt and idiocy by Zach Bloomfield and John Moran."
Chicago Reader
- Somewhat Recommended
"...The Factory Theater's newest home-grown comedy is full of trenchant observations about Chicago's sports-bar culture, and director Nick Digilio assembles a nearly flawless cast. But Digilio, who cowrote the show with Anthony Tournis, struggles to keep things moving forward. Most scenes reiterate rather than complicate the brothers' relationship, and a slew of incidental characters keep forcing the story off track."
Examiner
- Recommended
"...As for who wins the 10-year bet, that’s not really the point here. Black and Blue isn’t so much about the outcome as it is about the dynamics that propel the wager. So while there’s plenty of talk of triumph and heartbreak, Black and Blue isn’t a tale of winners and losers but of how much people – Chicagoans - love the players and the game itself."
Windy City Times
- Highly Recommended
"...This 80-minute Factory Theater production carefully walks the line between its twin aesthetics of slam-bang comedy and home-grown wisdom. Tournis and Greg Caldwell's Jake and Tommy may command center stage, but what we take home with us are the archetypes created by an ensemble of versatile actors, notably Laura Deger as the testosterone-tolerant Mrs. Jake and Brian Amidei as the patient paterfamilias Sonny. Wrigley Field will be shuttered for the winter eventually, but Black and Blue is a parable for ALL seasons."
Time Out Chicago
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Some of these arguments are entertaining and some have been done to death (yeah, yeah, Wrigley Field is full of Chads and Trixies)—but the barrage of opinion ultimately overpowers the characters, and consequently late-inning attempts to tug at heartstrings feel perfunctory and unearned."
Chicago Stage and Screen
- Recommended
"...“Black and Blue” may strike close to home for a few Chicagoans, and if it doesn’t, well at least you’ll have fun watching other people who do. The only discouragement I found about the production was the unbalance of comedy and drama. While many of the days spent at the bar were quite fun, occasionally the arguments get the better of the show and bring it down. But the moment was usually quickly recovered. The ticket prices aren’t bad, the beer is cold, and the war between Cub fans and Sox fans continues to rage on. Be careful out there, because I don’t recall the chairs being bolted to the ground."
Around The Town Chicago
- Recommended
"...This 85 minute ( no intermission) story will take you on the path that will be correct ( or will it?). Along the way we will meet many other characters played by a strong ensemble; Andrea Wielgus,Tony Rossi, Heidi Grace, Ray Brazaski, Mike Ooi, Blake Dalzin and Danny Reese II. The larger roles are handled by John Moran, Ernest Deak and Zach Bloomfield.. The costumes must have been pretty easy in that almost everyone wors sports team logos and shirts, but the propmaster, Catherine Dughi truly had her hands full- lots of beer choices and other breakable items. This is not a heavy tech show, it is a storytelling experience that will hit every sports nut in the audience. I don’t care who YOUR team is, this story will “hit home”"
Chicago Theater Beat
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Under Digilio’s direction, the entire ensemble adds character to the bar scene. The Cliff- and-Norm regulars, the psychic bartender, hot chick, obnoxious fans is all pretty formulaic and it works. It’s funny! It just gets cliched. To quote the bartender, ‘that shit gets old fast.‘ Tournis and Digilio pitch out a few non-sporting moments that hint at broadening character development. It’s a swing and a miss. Those instances are benched. The return to the batting line-up becomes routine. Black & Blue is like watching baseball in Chicago. It entertains with the usual sports bar shenanigans. Everyone is focusing on getting a big win. And at the end of the day, oh brother, it’s just a game!"
