Chicago Tribune
- Somewhat Recommended
"...Roston is still obsessed with Hathaway, bringing his solo show, dubbed "Twisted Melodies," to the Northlight Theatre in Skokie a decade after Congo Square, following other stagings. As before, in the show we meet Hathaway alone in his hotel room, trying to play and work as he fought off demons that told him that others were coming to get inside his skull and steal his talent and his work."
Chicago Sun Times
- Recommended
"...Directed by Ron O.J. Parson with sensitivity and a keen ear for the foundational sounds of Hathaway's music, "Twisted Melodies" is equal parts tragedy, celebration and harrowing depiction of intractable mental illness."
Daily Herald
- Recommended
"...The result under director Ron OJ Parson is a respectful, compassionate tribute to a distraught artist animated by an actor whose impassioned performance feels as if Hathaway's music is pouring from him."
Chicago Reader
- Highly Recommended
"...Carefully directed by Ron OJ Parson, Roston's show at Northlight is nothing short of wonderful. And although Roston is alone on the stage, he's never quite alone. Not really. This one-man show has a costar the whole time-the audience. Whether real or imagined, Hathaway sees us. He feels our presence. Seemingly alone in his hotel room, tortured by the voices he cannot quiet, the audience becomes a sounding board. A duet partner. A friend. It becomes everything he needs as he struggles to record a song that plays back static. Or worse, the Duke, whose existence has plagued him for years."
Talkin Broadway
- Highly Recommended
"...As an actor, Roston finds and judiciously delivers sparing moments of genuine comedy, including his falsetto performance of a hymn as little Donny. In exploring Hathaway's motivations for telling the story to his "angels," Roston also moves deftly between charm, shyness, anger, confusion and paranoia. Finally, his singing voice is more than up to the challenge of portraying, rather than impersonating, Hathaway's true gift."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews
- Highly Recommended
"..."Twisted Melodies" is a captivating portrayal of Donny Hathaway's life, masterfully written and performed by the exceptionally talented Kelvin Roston Jr, who invites audiences into the mind of a man whose brilliance was inseparable from his pain. I had the opportunity to witness Roston's performance of "Twisted Melodies" about a decade ago at the Congo Square Theatre at the Athenaeum Theatre (See Picture Below). However, at the time, I didn't realize he was the artist and playwright behind it."
Around The Town Chicago
- Highly Recommended
"...If you are ( or perhaps were , at one time) into soul music, and knew the name Donny Hathaway, an icon of the 1970's, you are probably aware or heard about his inner struggles with schizophrenia. Kevin Roston, Jr., one of Chicago's elite talents, has written a story about this man and takes us deep into the sole of the singer, composer who "was soul"! Rosten also takes on the role for this one man show that has been directed to perfection by Ron OJ Parson. The Jeff Awards have an award for solo performance and I for one, truly feel that this 105 minutes ( no intermission) should take it for 2025!"
Chicago Theatre Review
- Highly Recommended
"...TWISTED MELODIES is like nothing that theatergoers will have ever experienced before. Theatergoers will be enlightened and emotionally moved by this story of a true musical genius. But it’s the play’s sheer creativity, its profound artistry and its outstanding theatrical and musical performance, that are guaranteed to impress and entertain every audience member. This theatrical profile of a musical artist is much more than simply a jukebox entertainment. It’s a journey beyond the music. Please, do not miss this exquisite production."
Buzz Center Stage
- Highly Recommended
"...Do we ever really know what someone is going through? We devour what people create, savoring the beauty in their art; we read the words they write, feel the emotions they convey, listen to the music they play, but do we really know what is just beneath the surface? One is left asking this question after viewing the masterpiece that is Twisted Melodies now playing at Northlight Theatre."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...Donny Hathaway is a name tattooed in my mind since childhood. His singing style was otherworldly, blending traditional gospel with R&B and funk. He could bend a note like no other singer and was a virtuosic piano player. Kelvin Roston Jr. inhabits the soul, genius, and suffering that defined Hathaway's music and his life in Twisted Melodies. It is a one-man show at Northlight Theatre written by Roston Jr., who also serves as music director, and he stars with a bravura performance as Donny Hathaway."
