Chicago Tribune - Not Recommended
"...Even a distinguished Chicago troupe such as the Victory Gardens Theater — and a capable, nationally respected playwright such as Melanie Marnich — sometimes combine to produce an almighty, jaw-dropping clunker. "The Cradle of Man," a preposterous and pedestrian piece wherein a clutch of otherwise normal, middle-aged, married Americans behave like bunnies in Africa while uttering variants on the line "What happens in Tanzania, stays in Tanzania," surely is one of those shows."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...The play, directed by Sandy Shinner, is more ensemble piece than star vehicle, though Eigenberg is the attraction. (The Naperville native went on to find fame and fortune in the role of Steve Brady, Miranda's bartender guy in the HBO series "Sex and the City.") And his Hemingway-lite cockiness (and insecurity) are deftly punched up by some surprising bursts of rage -- the only surprises of the evening, in fact. Cooper does well with the tired cliche of the wimpy academic."
SouthtownStar - Recommended
"...Cradle of Man is a thoughtful and gripping drama on marriage, betrayal and on what it means to be human. It's one of the most unusual, intriguing and interesting works now taking center stage in Chicago."
Chicago Reader - Not Recommended
"...Sex and the City regular David Eigenberg, playing a nice guy, brings some warmth and humanity to Melanie Marnich's chilly, disappointingly obvious play...Eigenberg and the rest of the cast--playing three tart-tongued women (Julie Ganey, Jennie Moreau, and a very good Peggy Roeder) and another bumbling nice guy (Sean Cooper)--try desperately to bring their characters to life. But despite their efforts to add subtlety and lightness, Sandy Shinner's staging is doomed by the script's clumsy extended metaphors, ridiculous revelations, unmotivated action, and forced dialogue--the sort of problems that shouldn't have survived a first draft."
Chicago Free Press - Somewhat Recommended
"...What even Sandy Shinner’s engaging production can’t remedy are the unconvincing coincidences and contrivances, gratuitous misfortunes and paint-by-numbers depiction of ugly Americans slumming it in the Third World. Despite five cunning performances, there’s nothing here that should have stopped any presses or opened eyes or hearts."
Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...The at-ease actors give Marnich’s warmed-over Neil Simon humor more credibility than it deserves. But at what point did Marnich (and those who helped her develop this work) think it was a good idea to unreflectively treat one of the world’s poorest countries simply as a venue for the sexual dalliances of people from the world’s richest? At what point did it seem right that Tanzania be a metaphorical mirror for white Americans to gaze upon themselves? It would be different if the play were about American self-involvement. But it isn’t about that; it is that."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Recommended
"...In only its second production, the play takes a while to hit its stride, but eventually pays off thanks to Ms. Marnich's incisive writing and several rich and complex performances. As the salty lush of a mother-in-law, Peggy Roeder is a treasure, utilizing her potent comic timing to create a warm and interesting character. Julie Ganey's Debra is bright, witty and intelligent."
