Sex With Strangers at Citadel Theatre Company

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Directed by Scott Westerman, this two person play is solidly done and in the intimate space of Citadel Theatre, maybe even more tense and intimate than the original Steppenwolf production(s) of 2009 and 2011. The set (Sotirios Livaditas) is multi- functional, but I for one would have liked a wall hanging of some type to differentiate where we were. A rustic photo in the Michigan homes and perhaps a skyline of Chicago in the second apartment. Paul Kim’s costumes were very functional, but I would have liked to see Olivia with a different shirt somewhere along the line. That pink tank top bothered me. I am sure she could afford more than one tank!"

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...The script’s second act holds a few problems with the way things ultimately pan out. But the talented cast and Mr. Westerman’s skillful direction wins out, smoothing over all the bumps. For theatergoers easily offended by four-letter words, or some tame, onstage love-making, this might not be their cup of tea. But for smart audiences who enjoy watching two intelligent characters spar, attract each other and learn from their experiences, this is the play for them."

Chicago On Stage - Recommended

"...Laura Eason’s Sex With Strangers is a play about love, lust, the publishing industry, modern technology’s role in our lives, and control of your own identity. It’s a lot to take on in a single two-person comedy, but Eason is up to the task, and the play sparkles with enough wit, compelling dialogue, and twists and turns to make watching it a pleasure. Citadel Theatre’s new production of the play, featuring Nina O’Keefe and Rich Holton, is a two-hour express train: Scott Westerman’s direction keeps things fast-paced and crisp, precisely what is needed for this show. I’ve rarely experienced an evening at the theatre that went by more quickly, a tribute to all concerned. This show may have its flaws, but overall it is a little gem that rewards its audience with the pleasure of a solid, well-written, well-acted night at the theatre."

Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended

"...Sex with Strangers is a play I read and loved in college, and I loved it all the more in performance. Eason’s script is smart, funny, and insightful, raising questions about truth, ambition, technology, and human connection through the story of Olivia and Ethan, writers of different generations who meet at a writer’s retreat in the woods and fall into a complicated romance as Ethan works to get Olivia’s brilliant but obscure work recognized using the massive online following he’s gained from blogging about his sexual misadventures."