Stage and Cinema
- Somewhat Recommended
"...On the deck of the pirate ship Revenge, a buxom young lass leads a blindfolded young man to a chair. Asking him to trust her, she ties him up and then promptly walks off with a bag of money handed to her by soon-to-be second mate Andy (Rachel Sleek Bañuelos). The young man sold into slavery to the pirate Calico Jack (Stef Brundage) is Mark Read (Sierra Buffum). His treacherous paramour is a local barkeep called Vanessa (Brittani Yawn), and her betrayal sets up the silliest-and horniest-maritime escapades you're ever likely to see."
Around The Town Chicago
- Not Recommended
"...All that being said, the play was never boring, in part because I kept wondering how the audience might be offended next. Plus, since much of the show is at the point of a sword, this was often just a little too close for comfort if you’re in the first row of the audience. So I definitely had to pay close attention!"
Chicago Theatre Review
- Recommended
"...While there are a lot of laughs in this production, between the continual scene shifts, costume changes and the chaotic physical demands of the script, many scenes seem filled with pandemonium and confusion. It becomes a challenge for the audience to keep track of the story because of the choppiness of the play or the production. There’s a lot of ingenious comical bits, however, in JD Caudill’s production. The attacking seagulls were funny, the strange religious scenes drew gales of laughter and Ms. Yawn’s Governor was especially hilarious, particularly when a cutout of the character took to the stage, instead of the actual actress."
Buzz Center Stage
- Somewhat Recommended
"...A quick history lesson: Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of history's most famous female pirates. Both women disguised themselves as men and sailed under the command of Captain Calico Jack Rackham, where they became part of the same crew. There has long been speculation that they may have had a romantic relationship, though there is no widely accepted historical evidence to support it."
The Fourth Walsh
- Somewhat Recommended
"...What would a Babes with Blades show be without their signature dueling? “yo ho.” gives Fight Director Carly Belle “CB” Cason plenty of opportunity to wield swords as the British continually attack the pirates. Nod out to Costume Designer Jennifer Mohr for cleverly using numbers to show multiple soldiers. Although Babes’ swashbuckling and a committed cast support this show’s production, “yo ho” gets bogged down in the storytelling. Trimming the sails would make for a smoother ride."
Third Coast Review
- Highly Recommended
"...Babes with Blades Theatre Company opens their 2026 season with the world premiere of yo ho. (a pirate play about Mary Read and Anne Bonny). This play follows the company’s mission of using stage combat to tell stories about underrepresented communities and promises a fun time for the Chicago community."
Allie and the After Party
- Recommended
"...Set in the golden age of piracy, we’re taken to the Caribbean in Babes With Blades world premiere of yo ho. Inspired by the story of two women pirates, we’re taken on a journey of gender and sexual awakening for everyone aboard this pirate ship."
