The House That Will Not Stand Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...But Boseman also has a lot of creative, immersive ideas that offer new insights into a play that uses the idea of a house to mean not just a specific New Orleans place but the entire institution of slavery, maybe crumbling, maybe not. All of the performances have their moments, including the quite commanding Britt Edwards as the placee Beartrice Albans. Kaylah Marie Crosby, Aysia Slade and Sierra Coachman all deftly embody the variously frustrated daughters of the house, so to speak. Sandra Adjoumani, who plays La Veuve, is very much alive and Shenise Brown, whose enslaved housekeeper, Makeda, is really the conscience of the show, clearly understands how to anchor all that goes on here while reminding us that our individual fates may or may align with what we expect."

Chicago Reader - Recommended

"...As the title implies, the house itself is a character and a symbol of a history as tangled and ever-present as the Spanish moss that hangs over the roof (terrific set and lighting design by Kevin Rolfs and Levi J. Wilkins, respectively). The fears and horrors of slavery also hang in the air, but so do the songs and sounds of Africa, thanks to Bryan Nicholas Carter’s “man with the bamboula.” His percussive background music counterbalances the increasing fears and anger of Beartrice, whose sense of place in the white world is crumbling beneath her feet."

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...Invictus Theatre Company continues its season with The House That Will Not Stand by Marcus Gardley. Under Aaron Reese Boseman's direction, the outstanding cast brings to life the story of a house filled with two generations of free Black women and their enslaved servant that runs the gamut from harrowing to heartrending."

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...Following the smashing success of its production of Angels in America, Invictus Theatre Co. notches up another triumph with Marcus Gardley's Obie-winner, The House That Will Not Stand. In this (very) loose adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba by the great Federico García Lorca, Gardley transposes the action from pre-Spanish Civil War, Andalusia, to a house in early 19th-century New Orleans, where Beartrice Albans has just begun mourning for a recently deceased husband; well, not quite husband, but we'll get to that later."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...This production, directed by Aaron Reese Boseman on a set designed by Kevin Rolfs, is a combination drama, with some very funny spots, covering Voodoo, slavery, emancipation, love, death and growing old. There is also a little bit of craziness in the family, and as I am not one to give away mystery and mysterious happenings, there are some wonderful albeit zany moments that will shock many of those in the audience."

Buzz Center Stage - Highly Recommended

"...This production marks Invictus's first offering since their remarkable Angels in America, and it stands as an equally compelling successor. Guided by the skillful direction of Aaron Reese Boseman, The House That Will Not Stand unfolds as both a gothic ghost story and a poignant parable about the boundaries of freedom in 1813 New Orleans-a city poised between the fading opulence of French colonialism and the strict racial divisions of the emerging American regime."

Chicago Theater and Arts - Highly Recommended

"...The House That Will Not Stand at Invictus Theatre Company is a compelling expose of racism and misogyny representing several vertebrae in the backbone of our country. These are fundamental defects baked into the DNA of the nation with repercussions passed forward through generations."

Allie and the After Party - Highly Recommended

"...On the eve of a legal change and the night after her second husband's death, Beatrice Albans and her household try to keep their house from metaphorically falling down during this time of change. The House That Will Not Stand tells these women's stories during a very specific time period and through powerful and striking performances."

Werner's Theatre Reviews - Highly Recommended

"...As someone who knew little about the history that The House That Will Not Stand explores, I found this production both eye-opening and exhilarating. Boseman and his creative team demonstrate a deep understanding of the material and a clear vision for how to bring it alive in the intimate Windy City Playhouse space. With a new season on the horizon and more projects ahead for Boseman, there is much to look forward to from Invictus Theatre and the talented company behind The House That Will Not Stand."

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...As the current administration plans to remove the history of American slavery from schools and museums, here is a work that keeps the record alive. "The House That Will Not Stand" is not only a gripping drama with a stellar script, delicious design and standout performances-it will change how you view the legacy of human bondage. Do yourself a favor and become acquainted with this story before it disappears."