Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...Under the direction of Malkia Stampley, this fast-paced show has a lot of intensity and veracity; young LaVonne is especially empathetic but the scenes between LaVonne and Rivers all pulse with high stakes. This is very much Chicago-style acting: fearless, powerful and, as the cliche goes, in your face. For sure, the piece is more traditional than some of the radical Black writing making currently waves on Broadway, and there are moments when one too many doors are opening at just the right moment on Sotirios Livaditis' aptly realistic set, or overly convenient discoveries are being made. But those are minor quibbles, given how involved you become in the lives of these struggling Chicagoans, trying to navigate unstable lives in a city filled, then as now, with newcomers."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...Director Malkia Stampley doesn't miss a single beat in this richly layered tale, including thoughtful scene transitions that further the storyline and keep you deeply immersed in the storytelling every moment. A rich and nuanced exploration of identity, longing, trauma, and hope, The October Storm is as refreshing as the rain."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The best part about this show is that the action unfolds in a very easy-going manner as if the audience were a fly on the wall. But what this means is that there are many moments when the story is slow and sluggish; and initially, it seems a bit choppy and haphazard. Yet as the characters draw together during the second act, that is when the show makes its greatest impact. It is at the close of the performance (and especially once it is over-and on reflection) that one can fully appreciate the depth of detail and caring that went into the script and how well each of the characters is personified."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...Joshua Allen's second play in his Grand Boulevard Trilogy, each of which is set in a three-flat in Chicago's Southside, is entertaining and moving. Like his previous offering, "The Last Pair of Earlies," this drama features strong, well-drawn characters who are trying to survive changes in their world. They're also people looking for some way to connect with one another, and his character-driven story is quite captivating. However, also like his earlier play, some fine tuning and a bit of editing might help move the story along, especially in the second act. All-in-all, however, this is a captivating tale of people who, like all of us, are just trying to survive everything that life throws their way."
Buzznews.net - Recommended
"...Under the astute direction of Malkia Stampley the play has a freshness and immediacy. The tension is thick throughout the story. The connections between the characters are real. We are never allowed to rest in our feelings before another plotline presents itself, even though we know where it leads."
Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended
"...The October Storm is the second in the Grand Boulevard Trilogy by playwright Joshua Allen. It is rare that I see echoes of my life so beautifully written and acted. Allen’s dialogue sizzles and is performed by a high-caliber cast. The play is being staged now by Raven Theatre with direction by Malkia Stampley perfectly in sync."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...In this writer's view it's the powerhouse cast and deeply authentic storytelling that make The October Storm a story that does not disappoint. If you are one for family dramas and stories about the everyday, then this is one for you."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Dr. King's powerful words are given form in "The October Storm" by Joshua Allen, directed by Malkia Stampley. The Raven Theatre is transformed into the basement apartment of a three-flat in the 1960s on the South Side of Chicago, where a Black grandmother works tirelessly to protect her home and granddaughter from a wave of change that threatens to destroy their peaceful lives. A hint in the program suggests the story takes place in the same building as Allen's "The Last Pair of Earlies" set thirty years earlier, which premiered at Raven Theatre last October, with the final installment of the trilogy about twentieth-century Black families premiering next season."
