Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...But I missed the great wall of harmonic sound that should accompany "Hard Candy Christmas" and, overall, I thought the tempos were too slow and the band, well, lacking enough verve and zest for this particular piece of material. In other places, the show is far too busy when it should be letting the material do the work; this is especially true in the famous ballads, which just need to be sung simply with skill and heart. It's a tricky, deceptively fragile show: it's easy to overplay and end up as unintentionally condescending to the working-class characters."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...The ensemble here really knows how to keep the energy going. It's a small cast for a show with so many characters, so some of the Chicken Ranch girls double as members of the Aggies football team. Jenna Schoppe's choreography is excellent, and this ensemble knows their stuff-one of the performers playing a Chicken Ranch girl was sidelined at the end of act one and was replaced by a standby performer, but nobody ever missed a beat."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The story celebrates life itself. The women employed by Miss Mona ( stunningly played by Anne Sheridan Smith) , the Madam of the house.Her performance is brilliant in every way. Her right hand person is Miss Jewel ( the incredible Cynthia F. Carter, spreading her wings from her normal home at Black Ensemble Theatre). By the way, her rendition of “Twenty Four Hours of Lovin'” is superb!"
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...At this time of the year, when folks are looking for holiday entertainment that offers something different and unique, you couldn't find a finer show than this folksy, friendly "Hard Candy Christmas" treat. As one of the songs goes, it may be a "Little, Old Bitty Pissant Country Place," but in Landree Fleming's exciting, homey hit production, this is one laughable, lusty adult musical comedy that absolutely bursts with heart."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...But it's the vocal and dance highlights (terrifically choreographed by Jenna Schoppe) that will stay with patrons until the start of Lent. From big numbers ("A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place," "Texas Has a Whorehouse in It" and "The Sidestep") to the showcases ("24 Hours of Lovin'," "Good Old Girl," "Doatsey Mae" and "The Bus from Amarillo") and one of the finest musical theatre songs ever ("Hard Candy Christmas"), patrons are certain to delight in the music. It's certainly well supported by the truly fine "All Hat, No Cattle Band" led by Isabella Isherwood and particularly punctuated by Raquel Navarro on violin."
Third Coast Review - Somewhat Recommended
"...I recommend The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at Theo Ubique with some reservations. The role of Sheriff Ed Earl is too central and needs to be on the same beat with high energy as the rest of the cast. It needs some tightening and some work on the chemistry between the sheriff and Miss Mona. The cabaret setting makes it a fun way to spend the evening. Some of the actors wait tables before the opening and during the intermission."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Each member of the cast brings The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to life and have us wondering if Miss Mona’s will be shut down for good. For those looking for an upbeat night out at a fun musical, this would be a good fit for you."
Evanston Roundtable - Highly Recommended
"...The ensemble of actors, switching roles from Chicken Farm employees to hypocritical city officials, engages us completely in their antics. Best of all, they perform their superbly choreographed dancing totally in step with each other. As a chorus, they deliver too."
BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended
"...It's just a "lil' ole bitty pissant country place"... but it is certainly something to see! Theo Ubique's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a rollicking good time filled with political upheaval, heartfelt moments, and some of the best choreography I've seen in community theatre to-date (major kudos to choreographer Jenna Schoppe). Made famous by the 1982 film featuring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, this musical is less of a celebration of the libertine than it is about the perils of hypocrisy, especially where the "moral majority" is concerned."
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...Cynthia F. Carter and Marc Prince both give strong performances as Miss Mona’s second-in-command, Miss Jewel, and the local constable, Sheriff Dodd—no slouch in the singing department themselves. Chamaya Moody, Michaela Shapiro and Halle Bins deserve mention as they define their relatively minor characters as memorable standouts."
