Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...These are very talented performers - in each and every case - but the show also felt stiff, overplayed and tense at times, as if it were wanting a deep relationship with its audience, but not quite sure how to craft one. Part of the issue, I think, is that the show needs first to relax and enjoy its own existence; if the imaginative world is clear, friendly and inviting, the kids in the audience will find their way on their own. They don't need to be pushed."
Chicago Sun Times - Recommended
"..."Frozen" might have the ubiquity only a Disney-sized budget can produce, but the House Theatre of Chicago has its own magical winter's tale in "The Snow Queen." Some 15 years after Victory Gardens premiered its adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's ice-bound fairy tale, House Artistic Director Lanise Antoine Shelley has created her own adaptation."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...But in order for the story to fully land and make the connections between the personal relationship of Kai and Quin, the larger responsibilities of the characters to the world they share, and to the audience itself (the younger members of whom will definitely be inheriting a damaged planet), we need a little more clarity at the top of the show —particularly about Chione and how she views her own role on the planet. (You can watch some “prologue” videos, created by Ratke and Matthew C. Yee, about Chione’s animal companions on the House website; I wonder if incorporating something like this into the show itself would add to our understanding about Chione’s backstory.)"
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...The music and sound are handled by Kevin ODonnell and Olanrewaju Adelowe and the lighting is by Trey Brazeal. The set is designed by Sully Ratke, who also did the costumes and the entire production directed by Amber Montgomery. There are projections (Liviu Pasare) that help bring it all together. There were a few spots where sight lines get fuzzy as the characters are on the floor and those seated in te upper seats cannot see them. They are sparse and due to the design of the space, understandable. Caitlin McCarthy handles the props."
Chicago Theatre Review - Recommended
"...Chicago's treasure trove of holiday theatrical offerings is a little richer this year. One play that's not exactly new, but has a timely, contemporary new twist this time around, is making the familiar fairy tale a lesson about living in harmony with everyone around us and doing something positive to encourage the global conservation that'll effect generations to come. This new play by Lanise Antoine Shelley is perfect for the entire family although, at 85 minutes, children under ten may become a little antsy."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Recommended
"...The talent of all involved in the making of Shelley’s epic is undeniable. Well-cast and artfully designed, individual components of The House’s production sparkle and inspire; and yet, glittery tricks are not enough to mask the bloated book of this well-intentioned adventure. Provided extraneous topics are chipped away in future iterations to streamline the plot and subject matter, The Snow Queen could rival the gorgeous legend of its source material."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...The story moves seamlessly from scene to scene, often being led by the arctic fox, puppeteered by Roxy Adviento, out scanning the terrain. I cannot say enough about Jesse Mooney-Bullock's puppets. They are simple but magnificent. Chione's polar bear is a real treat, coming from out of the audience with the help of two puppeteers. They move realistically and with the characters as part of the story and as an extension of the puppeteers."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...A defining element of House productions is puppetry. Deftly integrated into the narrative and facilitated by skilled cast members, the white raven, arctic fox, and polar bear enrich the emotional texture of the play. This viewer developed deep concern for the fate of those animals, crafted from delicate spiraling materials. In the tradition of fairy tale catastrophes, the glaciers of their habitat are melting. In the reality of climate change, fairy tale endings simply don’t exist."
