The Luckiest at Raven Theatre

The Luckiest

by Melissa Ross

directed by Cody Estle

May 5 – June 26

Call 773.338.2177 to make your reservation.

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Lissette and Peter are best friends living their best lives. But when an out-of-nowhere diagnosis shatters Lissette's world, Peter is left trying to pick up the pieces. Suddenly finding herself at odds with her best friend and her mom – who each come bearing strong opinions wrapped in good intentions – Lissette is forced to navigate between the two while unflinchingly forging her own path for her future. This tender, funny, and keenly-observed play explores the uncertain and sometimes heartbreaking territory of how we choose to take ownership of our lives. Melissa Ross’ moving play, full of heartbreak and hilarity makes its Chicago Premiere.

Visit: Raven Theatre for more information.

Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...You might think a play about a young woman receiving a terminal medical diagnosis would make for grim viewing. But, in fact, a trio of excellent and defiantly unsentimental performances make playwright Melissa Ross’ “The Luckiest,” now at Raven Theatre, live up to the implications of its title."

Read Full Review- Chris Jones

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...When everyone on the stage is excellent, it shows a director fully in command of the material. That's the case with Cody Estle's production of The Luckiest by Melissa Ross, receiving its Chicago premiere at the Raven Theatre."

Read Full Review- Kelly Kleiman

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...While the subject matter might be hard to listen to for many, it is handled with some great humor. There is one scene near the end of the play where Lissette does what one might call a soliloquy, talking directly to the audience about what will take place in the days to come. It is roughly 14 minutes and Ms Slaughter-Mason truly grabs the full attention of each and every audience member during this scene. All three characters in this story are very real and well defined. Ms Ross has written them as if they were a part of her life and she knows or knew them. This is 90 minutes ( no intermission) of pure magic on the stage."

Read Full Review- Alan Bresloff

NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...Most of the emotional intensity of the play belongs to the two women, whose humor crackles even through the dimmest times. Ultimately, however, some of the most wrenching moments are between the friends. The magic of "The Luckiest," directed sensitively and with an eye for fine detail by Cody Estle, is that even though the first minutes of play foreshadow how the drama will unfold, it remains fully compelling, engrossing until the final, inevitable blackout."

Read Full Review- Ted C. Fishman

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...This is a mesmerizing portrait of how an earth-shattering personal tragedy can effect the others in our lives. Melissa Ross' play makes us think about facts that most of us would rather avoid. Like Lissette, we come to realize that everything that's good in our lives can be taken away in a flash. The three characters, although not all related, become a family, of sorts. In the end, care and love trumps adversity and sorrow. We are all reminded, just as Lissette discovers, that as independent as we might think we are, there are times when we do need help from others. It's in those moments, when we discover that we're all just "People Who Need People," that we learn that everyone of us is the luckiest."

Read Full Review- Colin Douglas

Third Coast Review - Highly Recommended

"...The Luckiest is the ironic title of a superb play by Melissa Ross, now on stage at Raven Theatre. It's a play about family, love and relationships and how they matter, even as life takes unfortunate twists and turns. It's a helpful message in this Covid era, and it's delivered in an appealing and humane way. Artistic director Cody Estle directs this three-hander with his usual skill, carefully building the drama and bringing out the unique qualities of each character."

Read Full Review- Nancy Bishop

Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended

"...Sometimes things just seem aligned by fate. That was the case for me this weekend, as I found myself watching three consecutive plays dealing with the acceptance of death. (See my reviews of On the Greenbelt and The Year of Magical Thinking.) Though they all are very strong, the third play, Raven Theatre's production of Melissa Ross's The Luckiest, is by far the most optimistic and enjoyable of the three."

Read Full Review- Karen Topham