Chicago Tribune
- Recommended
"...I won’t spoil that musing but I will say that the show bops along in a quite delightful way; Neveu knows the architecture of exurban, Midwestern culture (life working retail on Elston or Touhy Avenues, say) and this long has made his series of A Red Orchid plays central to the Chicago theater’s soul."
Chicago Sun Times
- Highly Recommended
"...There's nothing quite like a birthday to bring out the existential anxieties lurking within. So it goes for the three flawed, funny, utterly recognizable women in Brett Neveu's latest drama, "Revolution," which opened in a world premiere production Saturday at Old Town's A Red Orchid Theatre."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...On the latter score, this may be the best post-pandemic play I’ve seen so far in terms of emphasizing that we find joy where we actually find it, not where we expect to see it. West, a longtime legend on Chicago stages including Red Orchid’s, is a marvel. But Shum and Blim also bring highly relatable truth to their portrayals of young women just trying to figure it all out while the world keeps unfolding in new and scary ways."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...It’s hard to make new friends as you get older. That’s true in a lot of people’s experience, at least, including for the characters in Brett Neveu’s play Revolution, now in its world premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre. The play is a slice of life depicting people with rather unglamorous existences on the occasion of a birthday that, while not the gateway to middle age, is not exactly welcome."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...But make no mistake: the inimitable Natalie West, another A Red Orchid Ensemble member, is the reason to see this production. She’s a national treasure. Known to many theatergoers as Crystal on the television sitcom, “Roseanne,” the talented Ms. West is also an accomplished stage actress. Natalie’s a gift to any theatrical production in which she appears. A true mistress of comedy and non sequiturs, Natalie has appeared at just about every Chicago theater. Besides the many productions at A Red Orchid, she’s been seen and adored at Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Steppenwolf and the Goodman, among others. In this new production, all Ms. West’s comic and dramatic talents are on display. She truly makes this production a true must-see."
Chicago On Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...There are a lot of twists and turns within this unexpected party—and I will not spoil them for you—but these three very different people are a joy to share an afternoon or evening with. Neveu’s plays at A Red Orchid and elsewhere are tremendously varied in style and theme and Chicago is fortunate to have him among us. This one hits on pretty much all cylinders; it is vibrant, unusual, hilarious, and even poignant. It’s an easy play to recommend."
PicksInSix
- Recommended
"...There's a play running now through October 29 at A Red Orchid Theatre on Wells-"Revolution." It's a piece written by the fine writer and teacher Brett Neveu, and the play and story themselves become a real subject of conversation; they ask a lot of questions. Mr. Neveu does so in touching on a great many different subjects along the way of its tightly-drawn 90-minute run. I enjoyed it muchly, don't get me wrong here. I'd recommend it to any aspiring playwright who wants to see how a first-rate writer can put together dialogue and conversation in an economic way, while still making its point."
Chicago Culture Authority
- Recommended
"...These three actors have wonderful chemistry even though Georgia borders on caricature early on. But as the ragtag shindig continues, we see the toll that loneliness and alienation have taken on her. Could friendship offered with pure and open hearts help keep the world from closing in on Georgia? Maybe they’ll find out over several rounds of Cheetah Ritas just across the lot, while the rest of us remind ourselves how little it costs to lead with kindness–and how rich the payoff can be."
BroadwayWorld
- Recommended
"...REVOLUTION is a meditation on friendship and the search for connection. I appreciate that Neveu’s writing is contained and grounded; it doesn’t stretch too far and Puff, Jame, and Georgia make only the kind of grandiose statements that humans would in real conversations. And after all, who can’t relate to the desire to connect with others and have the kind of best friendship that Puff and Jame share?"
NewCity Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...The dialogue is funny and touching; performed with brio and full commitment by the three actors. The girls quote from “Macbeth,” which makes sense, since the three are alley versions of the three witches, gathered around their magic pile of alcohol and candy. The wonderful set by Kotryna Hilko, lit by Erica Lauren Maholmes, looks just like an alley behind a shop, complete with water stains, smashed soda cans and grass growing between the pavement cracks."
