The Emigrants Reviews

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...As the flatmates' alternately hostile and genial conversation exposes XX's naivete and AA's hypocrisy, Mrozek pursues the theme that communism and capitalism are both fear-based systems that take different paths toward the same goal: spiritual enslavement. Milev, who also directs, gives a wonderfully rich and complex performance as XX, and he and Mack play off each other well in this 80-minute one-act."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...But Mrozek’s work is definitively Theater of the Absurd: surreal, stylized parody that takes some serious technique to pull off. The actors seem stuck in gritty realism; it’s like watching Godot played as True West. Thus, heightened elements, such as XX hungrily using an ax to open a tin of cat food, either seem out of place or fall flat. With Milev also directing, we suspect an outside eye, with a clearer vision and absurdist style, could have helped."

Chicago Theater Beat - Recommended

"...Chicago audiences rarely get a chance to see the stimulating and provocative work of Polish playwright Slawomir Mrozek. For that reason alone, it’s worthwhile to high tail it to Moving Stories Theatre’s showing of The Emigrants at The Artistic Home. This is the first in a series of World Theater they will be presenting for the 2010 season and if their opening shot is any indication of future productions, we are all in for a real treat."