The Ruling Class presented by BackStage Theatre Company at Storefront Theater

Daily Herald - Recommended

"...Backstage Theatre Company deserves credit for tackling Peter Barnes' chaotic 1968 satire of the British upper crust. So does actor Stephen Dunn who plays the demanding role of Jack Gurney, a paranoid-schizophrenic with a messiah complex who inherits his late father's earldom. Unfortunately, Barnes' thinly plotted, overstuffed farce wears thin as it approaches the three-hour mark."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...A ferocious mix of hilarity and horror, the play boils with religious and sexual satire, loony wordplay, and feverish energy. The BackStage Theatre Company's full-throttle production, directed by Brandon Bruce, features a commanding, highly physical performance by Stephen Dunn in the daunting role of Jack, aided by a confident supporting cast and Heath Hays's inventive sound design."

EpochTimes - Somewhat Recommended

".... If they were to shave off a half hour of dialog it wouldn't hurt! The set for this production ( designed by Sean Sullivan) is massive, but probably one of the best I have seen in a low budget storefront theater. The only problem is that it is noisy and cumbersome to make the scene changes and often a distraction for the audience. As I said earlier, this is a major undertaking for a small company and under the direction of Brandon Bruce they do keep it flowing."

Time Out Chicago - Somewhat Recommended

"...Here and there, director Brandon Bruce puts together some really striking images. Unfortunately, on the way from here to there is what frames those images: Peter Barnes’s tortured and tedious satire of the British upper class."