←Recommendations of Gambit

I enjoyed the back and forth between the two characters in this play, and the way the author has constructed a cage match between two fiercely intelligent people, both under the influence of a well spring of rage and self doubt. "Gambit" evokes the duel between Holmes and Moriarty in "The Final Problem" in a modern setting, and engages with some of our broader civil discourse in a thoughtful and personal way.

Right from the descriptions at the beginning this piece had more than grabbed my attention and as the play/game progressed it drew me in further still. Ross has created two amazingly powerful female characters and placed them in a back and forth where Jill is determined to get to the answer and Clementine is determined to avoid her. The wonderfully enticing dialogue, the twists and turns of the plot coupled with the overall comparison to the complexity that is Chess and this piece has an addicitive quality where you need to see how its going to end!

Ross Tedford Kendall gives us a compelling drama that plays out in a locked university conference room over a game of chess. The masterful dialogue between an aunt and her niece, lubricated with scotch from the minibar, is smart and smartly-paced, whether examining the perils of judicial activism, chess, strategy, or sexual secrets. Bravo!

Gambit is a thoroughly absorbing, at times hair raising, intellectual thriller with an explosive conclusion. It's definitely in the 'can't put down' category. Once you're in, you're in for a hell of a ride, and you're in from the very start! Two willful and powerful women who are determined to defeat the other both in a game of chess, and in life. The live chess metaphor greatly adds to the tension. The resolution offers a satisfying glimpse into their vulnerability, and a release from the beautifully drawn tension. I rate this highly and would love to see it staged!

Artemisia is dedicated to scripts which empower women, and the city and country need more groups with this focus. I would not be surprised if we keep hearing about Gambit in seasons to come. - David Zak, Chicago Stage Standard