★★★ Funny, smart ‘North Plan’ will keep you on edge

Just as you cannot put Baby in a corner, you cannot put Kate Buddeke in a cage. Not without expecting some fireworks.

But a wire lockup is where Buddeke, playing a petty Missouri criminal, resides during the first act of director Kimberly Senior’s zesty new production of “The North Plan.” Jason Wells’ black, dystopian and darkly entertaining comedy imagines a world in which the Department of Homeland Security has assumed all governmental powers and wanders the country commandeering police stations and locking up federal officials who don’t share its paranoid worldview. Buddeke’s live-wire, on-the-edge performance adds a certain out-of-control element to events that Wells clearly intends to escalate into a kind of pervasive panic. You never quite know (and it feels like the rest of the cast never quite knows) where Buddeke is going next. “The North Plan” is fun, smart, involving and just disturbing enough for a Saturday night on the town.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

★★★½ Funny, scary and believable. The audience literally jumped to their feet cheering.

The plot is solid. The characters are genuine. The dialogue is smart. The intrigue and absurdity is pure “Pulp Fiction.” Under the masterful direction of Kimberly Senior, the drama and comedy both escalate into a volatile conclusion. At the show I saw, the audience literally jumped to their feet with thunderous applause and cheering. Buddeke is amazing.

— Chicago Theater Beat

★★★★ 90 minutes of pure fun!

It is always nice to see one of the “first look” productions from Steppenwolf make it to a regular production on one of our other stages. Theater Wit, that cozy new theater on Belmont, is now presenting the local premiere of Jason Wells’ slightly wacky comedy, “The North Plan.” A play that is filled with comic touches but a story that is far from funny. [A] smartly timed production, brilliantly directed by Kimberly Senior. Over the years, I have enjoyed the work of Ms. Buddeke and she continues to impress me with her powerful character building. Stark is another powerful actor as is the adorable Ms Sandy. This is roughly 90 minutes of pure fun.

— Around the Town

Highly recommended. An adventure in political conspiracy and dark humor

The North Plan takes a sinister hypothetical scenario of the not-so-distant future and infuses it with comedy — both dark and light. Directed by Kimberly Senior, the show accomplished multi-layered scenes of mischief, tension and impact. Will Zahrn delivered a stellar performance as the straight-shooting Chief Swenson along side the timid, but clever pre-law jailer, Shonda (played by Lucy Sandy). Carlton’s (Kevin Stark) sincere passion for the truth found balance in Tanya’s (Kate Buddeke) wild outbursts, snide comments and flexible moral ground. The North Plan is an adventure in political conspiracy and dark humor and Theater Wit provides the perfect intimate setting to appreciate the details.

— Gapers Block

Highly recommended. Funny, scary, as well as a cautionary tale. Wonderful theatre.

Split-second timing… With clever plot twists and a few surprises, The North Plan is a fun ride in a dark comedy. Kate Buddeke is terrific as the wacky Tanya while Kevin Stark is most effective as the whistle blower. The North Plan is funny, scary, as well as a cautionary tale — and — it is wonderful theatre.

— Chicagocritic.com

A finely tuned laugh machine!

Tom Hickey enters as Pitman, a sleazy, sociopathic Homeland Security agent who is a joy to hate. The second act provides a chance to showcase the understated comedic talents of Will Zahrn as Chief Swenson. With every one around him pushing the manic up to 11, Zahrn’s Swenson remains cool and implacable.

— Centerstage

★★★ Too Funny

The six-member ensemble all show a nifty flair for comedy, led by the inimitable Kate Buddeke as Tanya… Kevin Stark is great as Carlton, a man who may (or may not) hold the key to saving the country with the enemies list embedded in his laptop computer. Carlton’s desperation manages to be funny and intense at the same time, not an easy acting feat. Tom Hickey is outstanding as Pitman, who is both scary and comical. Hickey’s Pitman is the kind of nasty, outwardly bland character who makes an audience nervous every minute he’s on stage.

— Dan Zeff, Chicagoland Theatre Reviews

★★★ Tightly focused. Farcical high jinx!

“The action here, given a good deal of menace in Kimberly Senior’s production, raises provocative questions about the use and misuse of the Constitution in our post–September 11, perpetual-war state.”

— Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago