Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"... In Chicago, it's also host to a feast of gut-wrenching acting, not all of it polished, but all coming from deep, deep within. Nalepa reveals a remarkable emotional spectrum, and the rest of the cast digs deep into its collective gut for Witt, who sculpts all of this into a very satisfying storefront production that will, I suspect, be entirely what Steep's growing audience of loyal followers comes to that theater to see. For not much money."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"... Kelly’s play, tightly directed by Robin Witt, is comprised of a series of scenes that expose the troubled personal and business “transactions” among a variety of loosely interrelated people. And it questions the whole matter of human values as it captures the abiding tension between loving and caring for other people, and the feverish (often compensatory ) need to hunt, gather and amass power, social status, “things,” and the cold hard cash needed to acquire them."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...Kelly also borrows the flipped narrative structure of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, diction and rhythms out of David Mamet, and a Big Bang metaphor that's awfully popular these days. In short, Love and Money is derivative. It's got its moments of power, all right—especially in Robin Witt's sharp production. But it draws that power from recycled materials."
Centerstage - Somewhat Recommended
"... Steep Theatre has found a niche in recent years, bringing in the best of modern British theatre and serving it up to the Chicago area. However, even though they give it a finely acted and nimbly directed production, Denis Kelly’s “Love and Money” is one play that should have stayed across the pond."
Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Kelly’s play doesn’t always stay so taut; a long late scene between an impressionable bar patron and an opportunistic leech deflates the momentum despite exceptionally honest work by actors Darci Nalepa and Gregory Rothman. But as a multifaceted snapshot of our collective fealty to impersonal numbers over human empathy, Love and Money is as immediate as it gets."
Chicago Theatre Addict - Recommended
"... This monologue driven play takes sharp turns with each new scene. In a bold move by Kelly, he gives away the emotional punch of the play in the show’s first 20 minutes during a perfectly paced monologue delivered by Moore. Other scenes grip with raw, real emotional power and deft writing. It’s a hard show to watch, and at times lacks the cohesion to make it really hit hard. Most disappointingly, the final, highly philosophical monologue, though expertly delivered by Siple, is a tad trite."
ChicagoCritic - Recommended
"... the Steep show has enough spark due to the outstanding actingby Peter Moore, Julia Siple, and Jason Michael Linder and Molly Reynolds. This cast exudes all the angstofdebt and the falseness of the pursuit of money. One could wish that playwright Kelly had given them more dramatic situations and less speeches to presenthis cautionary tale. The actors do save the day – Steep’s ensemble usually does."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Somewhat Recommended
"... Robin Witt does her typical smart and clear work with the actors and designers. Dan Stratton's set is effectively efficient, as are Brandon Wardell's lights, Jessica Kuehnau's costumes, and Mike Ross' sound. As we live surrounded by figures on debt, unemployment, and the occupy movement, many will find "Love and Money" a tough, frank night of theater. But it concludes with heart-breaking majesty."
Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended
"...On one level, Love and Money fascinates me into wanting to piece the puzzle together. It’s a bit of a why-whodunit-did-it mystery. On the other hand, I’m concentrating so hard looking for clues that I’m distracted. I’m never completely absorbed in what’s happening. I’m more captivated by how it’s happening. Love and Money is another solid Steep offering. It’s another disturbing drama from across the pond. Steep folks know how to translate British angst onto an American stage. After all, Steep is Masterpiece Theatre!"
