Chicago Reader
- Recommended
"...St. Nicholas doesn’t boast the overt comedy and splashy stage effects of Kevin Douglas’s Untitled Vampire Play at Lookingglass Theatre (are two simultaneous productions sufficient to dub this a hot vampire summer?), and the pacing occasionally lags as this solo show approaches two hours. However, McPherson’s minimalist play offers a subtler flavor of horror, which this production pulls off well—the kind that holds up a mirror to humanity and shows a monster peering back."
Talkin Broadway
- Highly Recommended
"...Black Button Eyes Productions is currently presenting Conor McPherson's St. Nicholas at City Lit Theatre. McPherson's play is an intriguing story about stories, authors and subjects, art and critics, and, of course, vampires. Black Button Eyes delivers a creepily cozy production, with Ed Rutherford directing Kevin Webb, who gives a compelling performance."
Stage and Cinema
- Highly Recommended
"...A one-character play that runs almost two hours might seem like a bit much, but fortunately for us, the Critic is played by Chicago theatre stalwart Kevin Webb. Webb gives a phenomenal, beautifully controlled performance of a bitter, angry man whose contempt for the world is exceeded only by his contempt for himself. He's far too young for the part, but it doesn't really matter. It's a gripping turn, and I was thoroughly absorbed."
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...Theatergoers who enjoy fantasy and horror stories, especially with a generous touch of humor, will thoroughly relish ST. NICHOLAS. And for audiences who appreciate going on a captivating journey with a skilled and engaging storyteller, this master Thespian has a show for you. Kevin Webb absolutely owns the stage, which has been beautifully transformed into an intimate drawing room, designed by Jeremiah Barr. Mr. Webb delivers McPherson’s riveting, picturesque supernatural tale of terror with frenetic finesse."
Third Coast Review
- Recommended
"...Black Button Eyes’ new solo show, St. Nicholas, gives us a look at the life of a jaded theater critic, who may also become a vampire. (I’m sure there are plenty of theater people who would applaud this analogy, present writer excluded, of course.)"
Splash Magazine
- Recommended
"...A jaded, cynical theatre critic (Kevin Webb) is notorious for tearing productions apart before the final curtain has even fallen. However, when one of the productions he reviews features a captivating actress who completely enchants him, he impulsively follows the theatre troupe from Dublin to London. His pursuit soon leads him into the path of a group of vampires, who offer him a dark and dangerous bargain. The play explores themes of obsession, desire, the supernatural, and the power of storytelling."
BroadwayWorld
- Highly Recommended
"...As one of the most prolific actors in Chicago's storefront theater scene, Kevin Webb captivates and commands in this one-actor show that contains very little action and movement. The production relies solely on Webb to work his dramatic magic in this slow-paced storytelling that really calls on the audience to slow down with him. Webb perfectly captures the distaste his character has for his fellow humans as it seeps out of every crisp word delivered with a smooth Irish accent — but also with a scathing bite."
