Chicago Tribune - Somewhat Recommended
"...No one here feels especially vulnerable to anything. So, in essence, the show concentrates on a structural critique of the situation in which Lucy finds herself and a celebration of her personal resilience. I found myself craving fewer, longer scenes, allowing the actors to dive deeper without being so interrupted by the sliding doors on Yu Shibagaki's set, more elegant than functional. But Bronte fans will find plenty here to intrigue them."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...Lookingglass Theatre Company's take on Charlotte Bronte's 1853 gothic novel "Villette" features sumptuous visuals and a skilled, charismatic ensemble. Unfortunately, those significant attributes can't quite overcome a choppy adaptation that renders Bronte's rich, sprawling story thin and disjointed and shortchanges its characters."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...With a stellar cast, beautiful scenic design by Yu Shibagaki, and rich costume design by Mara Blumenfeld, the joy of this story unfolds with the same understated grace of Lucy Snowe herself as she boldly navigates her own existence."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...When one attends Lookingglass Theatre, one expects something quite physical in nature. We have had many productions that are almost circus like performances and with their staff, it is more that usual. To go there for a play that is based on the work of Charlotte Bronte, might be considered "off the wall". Guess what? They are presenting the World Premiere of Sara Gmitter's "Villette" based on Bronte's novel."
Third Coast Review - Recommended
"...Villette is an 19th century tale played on an strikingly modern stage set. The playing area is bounded by two walls of sliding screens and a few pieces of period furniture as needed. The contrast between the contemporary set design and the period story can be viewed as playwright Sarah Gmitter's view of heroine Lucy Snowe as a 19th century woman dealing with problems of income, career and romance in a 21st century manner. Audience members may "recognize a lot of Lucy's story as parts of their own story," the playwright comments in the program notes."
Chicago On Stage - Recommended
"...That Villette has instead become more or less a footnote in the Bronte story is probably not due to the superficial similarities with Jane Eyre that I mentioned above. (Hey, Jane Austen's single base plotline powered half a dozen well-remembered books and an entire industry!) Who knows what causes the vicissitudes of literary Fate? Still, like Lookingglass Theatre's Sara Gmitter, Villette does have many admirers, attracted to the novel by its more mature understanding of the effect that past trauma can have on our lives. Gmitter, who worked for years to adapt the novel into a play, condensing its many characters down to half a dozen and totally eliminating some side plots, finally has opened her much-delayed love child with a talented cast under the crisp direction of Tracy Walsh."
Picture This Post - Recommended
"...VILLETTE is a classic drama that creates an intricate social world with strong performances. Anyone who likes comical romances and a dose of gothic mystery should enjoy this play."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...Charlotte Brontë’s undiscovered gem, Villette, offers a hero unlike any you’ve encountered before. Suddenly without family, friends, or funds, Lucy travels alone to an unfamiliar land, determined to carve a path for herself. An eclectic carousel of characters (and one mysterious ghost!) soon draws Lucy into a complicated maze of multiple doorways leading towards fulfillment or peril – which door should she choose?"
NewCity Chicago - Recommended
"...The wordiness of the play is reflected in the stage design by Yu Shibagaki—rooms and scenes are revealed using sliding panels decorated with Brontë’s handwriting. The stage furniture is minimal—a narrow bed, an armoire, an armchair, a bookshelf. As the feelings of the characters deepen, more of the back of the stage is revealed, with spring flowers and a wonderful display of hanging, illuminated glass bottles to represent the stars."