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Critic's Pick "Ms. Schwend offers a close, unblinking look at a moment in the life of a woman who’s treading water as fast as she can, trying to keep her family afloat." Laura Collins-Hughes, The New York Times
★★★★ "As Utility so gently but bitingly reminds us, the best drama doesn’t need to crash about to be effective." Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard ★★★★ "Brings an unpatronising candour to its graceful, low-key depiction of life in breadline America." Maxie Szalwinska, The Sunday Times ★★★★"The political and dramatic significance of Schwend’s play lies in texture, rather than incident...Cleverly, Schwend steers away from plot-twists you expect to become momentous." Sarah Hemming, Financial Times "More than any reporter I am aware of, Emily Schwend is giving us honest dispatches from the so-called silent majority that our politicians have been taking advantage of for decades." Joe Meyers, Connecticut Post "The Other Thing is a chatty relationship drama, a spooky thriller, and a provocative play of ideas. All at once. " Mark Blankenship, Theatre Development Fund
"A ghost story with real thrills and quite a few chills." Marilyn Stasio, Variety "The Other Thing has that same horror film effect, but manages to do so in a small theater with only a couple of chairs, some eerie lights and music, and just four cast members." Taylor Wetherby, Entertainment Weekly |
Critic's Pick “Incisive… this production is about complex emotions coursing under seemingly simple lives.” Andy Webster, The New York Times
Best Bet “I loved Take Me Back… The writing is real, true, and robust.” Zak Risinger, Theatre Is Easy “A steadily absorbing study of the shattered dreams of a foolish young man… Take Me Back is dismaying, yet thoroughly convincing. As an introduction to a talented new writer, it’s an invigorating sign of hope.” David Barbour, Lighting & Sound America “Working on themes of loss and loyalty, Schwend skillfully reveals the family history in bits and pieces, building toward a confrontation… that comes as a stunning blow.” Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
“This show, steeped in realism, is an honest attempt to dramatize the inter angst many folks feel about life… This is a quiet gem.” Tom Williams, Chicago Critic “The remarkable truths that emerge from this finely crafted new play are a bright reflection on playwright Emily Schwend’s structural finesse and deep-feeling writing style.” New City Stage “Splinters… offers the discerning audience member a dozen pleasures, chief among them being Schwend’s astonishingly deft hand with dialogue. There is not a single line in two hours and ten minutes which sounds or feels inauthentic, and the characters are full, deep and complex..” Tim Treanor, DC Theatre Scene
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