TimeLine has partnered with Court Theatre and Remy Bumppo Theatre to present Fugard Chicago 2010. Visit for details, ticket discounts and more.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"Pay close attention to the punctuation in the title of Athol Fugard’s 1982 play, “‘Master Harold’... and the boys,” now receiving a winning revival at TimeLine Theatre. It tells you much of what you need to know about the painful human dynamics at work in this luminous drama — a work born out of the racial divide in apartheid-era South Africa, but one that remains enduringly vivid as a meditation on love, loss, anger, entitlement and pride ... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
"This show is staged on a richly detailed set by Timothy Mann and any chance to see “Master Harold” brings rewards. Every time you see this autobiographical work, its masterful minimalism reveals yet more about the human condition and the power of ordinary people who can both fight and care."
"The conflict between the youth and the wise old Sam is nothing less than the struggle for the soul of South Africa itself, in this warm and beautifully acted and directed production."
Listen to Jonathan Abarbanel's 'Pick of the Week' on ('Master Harold' reference starts at approximately 6:40 in the audio clip)
STEADSTYLE CHICAGO
"This is a sparkling production with three strong characters and Wilson's direction is smooth and simple, yet intense. For 100 minutes (no intermission) we are in Africa, we are in a small restaurant (a very detailed set design by Timothy Mann) and these men are real. ... Every piece of the puzzle fits to perfection, making the total experience one worth viewing."
"Director Jonathan Wilson orchestrates the performances with a keen eye for the revealing
small talk that escalates into the explosive final minutes ... the ending
should leave the attentive viewer shocked and dismayed. ... The
TimeLine production does right by the play with its thoughtful, incisive
acting and directing.
"Director Jonathan Wilson's fine cast — Alfred H. Wilson as Sam, Daniel Bryant as Willie, and Loyola University senior Nate Burger as Harold — skillfully handle Fugard's dialogue, which seems to ramble but in fact brilliantly keeps the tension rising, ebbing, and rising again."
"This is a moving work that everyone should see as a reminder about injustice. The power of friendship and the destructive nature of institutional racism collide as Fugard puts a face on it in this landmark work. ... Kudos to Timeline Theatre for mounting Fugard’s most autobiographical work. The performances due justice to the work’s powerful message."
"For every minute of the 100-minute, dialogue heavy production, [Nate] Burger’s words, mannerisms and emotions are packed with the realism required to shatter the audience’s heart in tandem with Hally’s. ... [the play] will provide intellectual food for thought long after the curtain drops."
— "Through director Jonathan Wilson’s meticulous guidance, ‘Mastor Harold’ and the Boys combines brutal, sincere acting with understated production elements that evoke apartheid’s early days in a way that makes them feel chilling and here to stay for a while. ... All of it comes together to make TimeLine Theater Company’s production a captivating, harrowing success.
— "Oppression and what makes someone a man of magnitude are topics discussed in Athol Fugard’s ‘Master Harold’…and the Boys, which is presently receiving a very intimate production from TimeLine Theatre Company."
— "Timeline transports the audience into a stormy day in the 1950s. Fugard takes the audience back in time to South Africa."
