“Berman’s character looks like a ghost, a consequence...I swear you see a woman carrying a great burden on her shoulders, and so the stakes of the drama rise exponentially.”
— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Poised yet vulnerable”
— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Berman...is a beautiful and vulnerable actress”
— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
“Emily Berman, choreographed as the eye of the family storm, shouts to be heard, spins pretty top notes flecked with dreams, and displays a warm middle voice that beautifully matches her hard-won self-reliance. ”
— Aaron Hunt, New City Stage
“Emily Berman’s subtle performance as the emotionally overwhelmed Tessa is only surpassed by her extraordinary alto.”
— J. Scott Hill, Chicago Stage Review
“The piece opens on the wedding day of Tessa (Emily Berman, a newcomer with a remarkable presence and earthy, penetrative voice)”
— Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
“Berman beautifully evokes a portrait of a young woman trying to find her emotional legs following the collapse of her wedding. Tessa is hurting inside, but Berman gives her a brave front that exhibits a maturity which asks for no coddling from parents who would love to coddle her.”
— Dan Zeff, Chicagoland Theater Reviews
“Besides having a beautiful voice for singing the Blues...Berman’s unloved wife moves from stoic resolve to collapse in heartrending fashion. ”
— Clint May, Chicago Theater Beat
“Berman was the standout, depicting a woman who’s striving to provide her politically dissembled country with an identity, a privileged place in art history, and thus a respected name in the world”