Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...That's a constant faux-tragic narrative in professional tennis, of course, thanks to the combinations of long careers and, well, the reality of physical mortality (although some of those players surely understand how to delay). And it's the preoccupation of Tim Porter (Ryan Hallahan), one of the central characters in Anna Ziegler's "The Last Match," the very sophisticated, high-energy and entertaining new show centered on the U.S. Open tournament and now streaming from Writers Theatre in Glencoe. (The show was intended to be seen live prior to the pandemic; the streaming production takes its place.) Even Tim's player-coach girlfriend, Mallory, puts in the knife: "You wish you were 18," she says. "And that your body didn't make creaking noises and the people didn't call you old on TV.""
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"...Fromm's cast scores nonetheless because it is so intensely watchable. For Russian challenger Sergei (Christopher Sheard), American world champion Tim (Ryan Hallahan) and their romantic partners Galina (Heather Chrisler) and Mallory (Kayla Carter), everything rides on the U.S. Open match. Its outcome will be life-changing for all involved, its consequences lifetimes in the making. Tim, once named the best tennis player in the world by the New York Times, is now 34 and plagued by injury, self-doubt and personal tragedy. Sergei is the volatile young upstart who once idolized the American player but is hellbent on taking him down."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...This is a gripping tale that takes place on what appears to be a large table tennis sans net, rather than an actual tennis court. On the wall there is a scoreboard where as the "match" goes on, we get to see the scores as they apply to the matches. note: this is a series of events, not just one match where the two are facing each other to see who is the true champion."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...In this streamed virtual presentation, beautifully photographed for the screen, great credit must go to Dialect Coach, Eva Breneman. She's worked hard to maintain a consistent, believable Russian accent from Ms. Chrisler and Mr. Sheard. Also of note are the simple, but effective set and lighting, courtesy of William Boles and Christine Binder, respectively. In addition, Pornchanok Kanchanabanca has composed a score and created an authentic sound design that fully enhances this production. This is one production that Chicago audiences won't want to miss."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Director Keira Fromm keeps all of this flashback-oriented narrative in focus. The play's basic structure also echoes the tennis in its back-and-forth shifting from the ongoing match, played in full light on the "court" of the stage, to smaller, more intimate moments shown in the spotlight, and Fromm handles it all brilliantly. She also helps guide her actors to some truly dynamic performances as they grapple with the complexities of Tim's internal and external struggles, the emotional roller coaster of Mallory's pregnancies, the battle between determination and recurrent self-doubt in Sergei, and the playful manipulations of Galina."