Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...More troublingly yet, the production, which eventually gets boring due to there being so little at stake, seems to have little understanding of the contrast between backstage and out front, a crucial element of an art form that was born of putting on, and then taking off, a persona. It's all muddy and absurdly shallow here. And that introduces the danger of audiences laughing (and, in full disclosure, laugh uproariously many around me did) at what they're seeing without sharing in the crucial mutual understanding of how we all put on shows every day."
Daily Herald - Somewhat Recommended
"...Lopez's feel-good tale comes with some funny jokes and wry quips. But it makes few demands. Several moments -- Blake's quietly moving declaration of Tracy's hard-won self-acceptance and Kurysz's impassioned speech on drag's legacy -- suggest Lopez has more weighty issues on his mind. But they remain unexplored."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...As drag mentor Miss Tracy Mills, Sean Blake steals the show with a regal bearing, real-talk attitude, and quippy one-liners. Sidekick Rexy, played with chutzpah by Jeff Kurysz, delivers an emotionally charged monologue about drag as protest-"a raised fist inside a sequined glove"-but drag's history and role in the LGBTQ+ community goes largely unexplored."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...Tracy and Casey's effervescent repartee, swapped by Sean Blake and Nate Santana with the precision of rapier duelists ( a glossary is provided in the playbill for those unversed in the jargon ), eventually gives way to the author's manifesto. "Drag is protest. Drag is a raised fist in a sequined glove. Drag is not for sissies" declares Jeff Kurysz' defiant Rexy, thus affirming the power of masquerade as a gateway to the self-discovery at the foundation of liberation from restrictive social roles."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The Chicago theater scene has another Chicago Premiere that is something very special! The play is “The Legend of Georgia McBride” written by Matthew Lopez, telling the story of a down-on-his-luck Elvis impersonator ( and aren’t they all?) working at a Florida “Panhandle” tavern that is faced with financial problems as well. The owner, Eddie ( the always reliable Keith Kupferer, who appears to be having an absolute ball with this production) in order to stay open, allows his cousin to bring a new type of show to the bar, one the likes of this town has never seen before. A “Drag” show!"
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Recommended
"...“The Legend of Georgia McBride” is one of the happiest shows of the season, up there with “Five Guys Named Moe” at the Court Theatre in Chicago. The acting ensemble fits together perfectly. Sheppard scores highly with basically two major scenes, and gets the biggest laugh of the night when the heavily pregnant Jo wails that her drag-outfitted husband is prettier than she is. Kupferer makes an actual character out of the slender reed of the redneck owner of the lounge who mostly serves as his establishment’s dim master of ceremonies. And Kurysz’s transformations between Casey’s friend and Tracy’s temperamental partner are remarkable in their twin realisms."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Somewhat Recommended
"...The Legend of Georgia McBride is a play that feels like it belongs in the 1990s when it was cool to have a diverse cast for diversity sake without worrying about character arcs. Unfortunately, that is lazy writing for 2017, and all men, no matter what their gender expression, still have issues of sexism to wrestle with."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Recommended
"...Directed by Lauren Shouse, the play provides nice behind-the-scenes insight into Drag dressing and performing."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...The Legend of Georgia McBride is a play about drag queens. But somewhere in there it is also a play about life and how we live it. And it may not be perfect but it does happen to be wildly entertaining. The night I was there the crowd laughed extensively and left talking enthusiastically about the show. We critics can get picky, but the bottom line is that that is what it's all about."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Heart, sass, and spanx. In a show about drag, all are welcome in The Legend of Georgia McBride. So if you’re looking to escape for a few hours and see some truly bad wigs (in a hilariously good way), this show is for you. Just be prepared to laugh and secretly tap your foot to country music...even if you’re not crazy about country, your foot will be tapping."
