The Grotesque History of Marie Antoinette presented by Players' Wing Theatre West at Athenaeum Theatre

Chicago Reader - Not Recommended

"...since there's no meaningful point of view the jokes seem like filler and his lead character never develops--she's ditzy, imperious, and screechy for two solid hours. Michael Gillett's uneven cast isn't sharp enough to exploit the script's humor, and generally sluggish pacing further hobbles the production."

Windy City Times - Not Recommended

"...The Grotesque History of Marie Antoinette is a comedy that isn’t very funny, mainly leaving only the distortions—literally, the grotesqueries of the title—for the audience. These come in the form of masks and movement broadly borrowed from commedia dell’arte, which is—at least—appropriate for the historic time period. It’s difficult to assess whether or not a different directorial approach would add value to the play, although a less raucous production would be more palatable for the audience and might give the work’s—and history’s—ironies better play."

Chicago Free Press - Recommended

"...as Marie Antoinette, Christine Rosencrans is a marvel to behold and reason enough to see this production. Reminiscent of Jean Hagan’s Lina Lamont from “Singing in the Rain,” Rosencrans’ characterization of the ditzy, luxury-worshipping Hapsburg monarch shedss new light on this familiar history."

Time Out Chicago - Not Recommended

"...A few moments of this tiresome play offer a glimpse at what Sheola was going for—a Monty Python–esque skewering of a familiar historical tale, embellished with geekworthy minutiae. Problem is, he hasn’t the wit or light touch to pull it off. Instead, he slathers on historical backstory with a trowel, leaving the less-than-adept cast members gasping through wooden expositional speeches."

ChicagoCritic - Not Recommended

"...Billed as a dark comedy, The Grotesque History of Marie Antoinette wasn’t funny. No one laughed. Not a good sign. This troubled production suffered from several maladies. First, the din from the air conditioner combined with some mumbling from several actors rendered much of the early dialogue incoherent."