5-star review Archives - 1 Minute Critic

Gary Cole and Audrey Francis in Steppenwolf's "Catch as Catch Can."

Gary Cole plays both mother and son in ‘Catch as Catch Can.’ And that’s just the beginning

Lauren Emily Whalen Jun 16, 2026 0

Gary Cole plays an Italian mother and her son in Steppenwolf's "Catch as Catch Can"—a gripping Chicago premiere that's funny,…

Reviews

The devil’s in the details, and Goodman Theatre’s ‘Covenant’ has plenty

Lauren Emily Whalen May 12, 2026 0

York Walker's 'Covenant' at Goodman Theatre earns its 5 stars: an all-Chicago cast, a killer twist, and a deal with…

Brendan Hunt in "The Movement You Need."

Reviews

Inside Brendan Hunt’s Beatles obsession lives a love letter to his mom

Lauren Emily Whalen Apr 29, 2026 0

Emmy winner Brendan Hunt brings the Beatles and his late mother to Steppenwolf in a bittersweet solo triumph.

Reviews

‘Kenrex’ puts a broken justice system on trial and the verdict will haunt you

Matthew Wexler Apr 26, 2026 0

Jack Holden is electrifying in the Olivier-winning "KENREX," a true crime thriller now playing Off-Broadway.

Reviews

Nathan Lane in ‘Death of a Salesman’ asks: how much of Willy Loman lives in you?

Matthew Wexler Apr 9, 2026 0

Joe Mantello's Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman" stars Nathan Lane in a production that asks how much of…

Reviews

‘Theater of the Mind’: David Byrne knows you better than you think

Lauren Emily Whalen Mar 28, 2026 0

David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar's immersive "Theater of the Mind" invites you in, shakes you up, and sends you home…

Rohan Maletira and Ismenia Mendes act out a scene in Jonah at DC's Studio Theatre All photos credit Margot Schulman

Reviews

‘Jonah’ knows what it costs to keep loving. Studio Theatre’s production invites you to feel it.

By Nathan Pugh Mar 21, 2026 0

Rachel Bonds' 'Jonah' follows one woman across a lifetime of learning who and what to trust.

(l-r) Suzzy Roche, Grace McLean, Alana Rquel Bowers, Nina Ross in "Cold War Choir Practice."

Reviews

‘Cold War Choir Practice’ has a plan for the end of the world. You just won’t see it coming

Matthew Wexler Mar 10, 2026 0

Ro Reddick's 'Cold War Choir Practice' detonates: magical realism, a fractured family, and America's gift for global anxiety.

The cast of '11 to Midnight' poses onstage.

Dance Reviews

In ’11 to Midnight,’ TikTok’s Cost n’ Mayor deliver the year’s best dance party

Ryan Leeds Feb 11, 2026 0

By Ryan Leeds Pastel Post-it notes plaster the doors and inside walls of the Orpheum Theater, where audience members of…

June Squibb in "Marjorie Prime" on Broadway.

Reviews

June Squibb in ‘Marjorie Prime’ asks if AI can ease grief or just complicate it

Matthew Wexler Dec 8, 2025 0

June Squibb leads a stellar cast through "Marjorie Prime," Jordan Harrison's unsettling play about AI, grief, and why we keep…

Gary Cole plays both mother and son in ‘Catch as Catch Can.’ And that’s just the beginning

The devil’s in the details, and Goodman Theatre’s ‘Covenant’ has plenty

Inside Brendan Hunt’s Beatles obsession lives a love letter to his mom

‘Kenrex’ puts a broken justice system on trial and the verdict will haunt you

Nathan Lane in ‘Death of a Salesman’ asks: how much of Willy Loman lives in you?

‘Theater of the Mind’: David Byrne knows you better than you think

‘Jonah’ knows what it costs to keep loving. Studio Theatre’s production invites you to feel it.

‘Cold War Choir Practice’ has a plan for the end of the world. You just won’t see it coming

In ’11 to Midnight,’ TikTok’s Cost n’ Mayor deliver the year’s best dance party

June Squibb in ‘Marjorie Prime’ asks if AI can ease grief or just complicate it

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Bonnie Tyler dies at 75, leaving behind pop’s most unlikely vampire anthem

Dolly Parton’s new Broadway musical has us clocking in early, nerves and all

Roshan Sethi’s ‘The Simp’ turns Hollywood into one long audition

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