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Reviews (2015-2024)

"Christopher Sylvie is the mysterious teen Nihar, who trades sex in the San Francisco streets by day and hides in buildings at night. Despite all the damage done in his short life, Nihar is the most sure of himself, and Sylvie's forceful and unblinking portrayal persuade us that "facts" cannot always be trusted, and the truth is whatever you're willing to believe."

 

- Jeffrey R. Pierce, The Elgin Review

 

"Impassioned performances by a vigorous, youthful ensemble."

Richard Pahl, Pahl's Pen-A review of King of Shadows 

Christopher Sylvie (left), Melody Jefferies, Jaime Patriarca and Joe Cattoggio in Janus Theatre Company's production of King of Shadows.

"Peters delineates his characters quickly and effectively, but only gay drag artist Phillip (Christopher Sylvie in a lively, campy turn) has enough personality to be interesting"

 

- THEATER REVIEW Alone, with Friends
by Jonathan Abarbanel,
Windy City Times
2017-07-12

 

Christopher Sylvie as drag artist Phillip in Prop Thtr's world premiere production of Alone, with Friends by Lee Peters.

"Karen Fort, Rick Reardon, Don Schroeder and Christopher Sylvie were also noteworthy performers."

- Danielle Levsky, New City Stage

 

"One of the amusing scenes shows Thiers (played here by Christopher Sylvie) in a bro-mantic relationship with Otto von Bismarck (Rick Reardon)."

 

- Nancy Bishop, Third Coast Review

 

Jean Cabet (Christopher Sylvie, left) and Papa making fun of Monsieur Theirs and Otto von Bismark in Prop Thtr's production of The Last Days of the Commune by Bertolt Brecht.

"Christopher Sylvie’s Silvius is handsome, charismatic and quite funny. Sylvie’s got a real command of language and knows how to tell this shepherd’s story."

- Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review

"Katherine Siegel, directer and co-artistic director of the company, finds the comedy in this familiar piece. She has assembled a cast that is skilled at both physical comedy, as well as hitting the humor of the dialogue."

Stephanie Dykes, Picture This Post

"Two of the other sets of lovers in this play can be problematic characters, but I thought the actors did a good job of making them as unproblematic as they could be without altering the script. Silvius (Christopher Sylvie) is in love with Phebe (Alice Wu), but the feelings weren't reciprocated. Phebe is in love with Ganymede. And Ganymede makes a deal with her that if she still wants to marry him after she learns this one thing, which is that he is a woman, she can, but if she doesn't she has to marry Silvius. I understand that Rosalind wants to look out for Silvius because she is empathetic and he's madly in love with Phebe. But no one should be forcing women into marriage by tricking them. But the actors did a good job of showing Phebe seeing Silvius in a new way and not just begrudgingly marrying him. That makes it seems less like she is being forced into something she doesn't want to do. She doesn't get to say a lot more after she discovers who Ganymede really is, but she uses expression and movement to show that she is not angry about marrying Silvius."

- Ada Grey, Ada Grey Reviews for You

Silvius (Christopher Sylvie) explains his love for Phebe in Eclectic Full Contact Theatre's production As You Like It directed by Katherine Siegal.

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"When Mrs. Claus entrusts Barney with a package to be picked up by a hunky deliveryman named Drew (the adorable Christopher Sylvie), Barney becomes sexually aroused and aware that he is gay." 

All of the cast and crew of “Barney the Elf” as well as the staff of the Pride Arts Center have imbued this production with so much love and honesty and heart that you are guaranteed a Happy “Holigays!”

Jeffrey Leibham, Around the Town Chicago

The cast of Pride Films and Plays' production of Barney the Elf. (left)

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"I came in expecting a realistic drama, but the reality of the play was so much better, and I want to sell you, if no one else has yet, on the supernatural aspects of the storytelling, which are magnificent." Jessie Bond, Splash Magazines

"And what's not to like about a running Spanish-English-Portuguese trilingual gag involving attempts to rid the apartment of a ghost with burnt sage and sprinkled drops of Lake Michigan water, led by Amelia Bethel as sorceress Leona, who learned everything she knows about placating the spirit realm from the Internet?" Max Maller, Chicago Reader

"Audiences are dropped directly into his living room, jerseys and posters adorning the wall, feeling the tension of watching a particularly close FIFA match, smelling the burning sage and Febreze as the characters attempt to rid the place of his scent." Lindsay Eanet, Howler Magazine

"The director Christopher Sylvie uses the ensemble cast and their setting effectively and symbolically." Patrick McDonald, Hollywood Chicago

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Cristiano (Rolando Serrano) and Bash (Alex Roggow) play FIFA during an awkward first date in Nothing Without a Company's world premiere production The Soccer Player in the Closet directed by Christopher Sylvie

"With each pivot in the plot, the other characters — Milena, Leona and Coby — start to uncover secrets about themselves and how difficult it is to be Latinx in America. They discuss leaving their dreams behind to support their families, which relates to how Latinx families often guilt their children into staying put as opposed to chasing their dreams elsewhere.

The Soccer Player in the Closet, then, does a great job of laying out these different factors that contribute to the depression that first generation Americans face" Marissa De La Cerda - Fourteenth East Magazine

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"The cast do an extraordinary job."

"A special shoutout to Chris Sylvie, who stepped in at the last minute as Eddie."

 

Sarz Maxwell Buzz Center Stage

Eddie (Chris Sylvie) exposes scandalous photos of George (Casey Dean, middle) and Tommy (Ryan Cason, right) secret relationship that they are hiding from the public in Pride Arts' production Tommy on Top directed by Jay Espana

"It’s very difficult to describe this brief but compelling production without spoilers – I’m starting them already! – so you’re just going to have to trust me: see SUNSET: TWO ACTS ON A BEACH. Really. See it. You will so not be sorry."

Sarz Maxwell Buzz Center Stage

"Nicely, Chris Sylvie's often buoyant John is contrasted effectively by Aaron Cappello's truthful hesitancy as Dan. Cappello, who ultimately gives the most natural performance here, and Sylvie truly ground these circumstances, allowing audience members to reflect on their own encounters and personal histories as well."

Brian Kirst Windy City Times

"as the second act  begins, where John, played by the winsome and appealing Chris Sylvie, is looking for love at the same beach mens room.  Dan, played by Aaron Cappello, closeted and married dad arrives. A situationship ensues that maybe will develop into something more.  Played as a vulnerable and frightened construction worker who is trying desperately to square his idea of masculinity with what he most desires, their interaction takes us back to a time so very long ago when love could not speak its name."

Angela Allyn Chicago Stage and Screen

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Dan (Aaron Cappello) and John (Chris Sylvie) look out into the sunset as they connect for the first time at the beach in Open Space Arts' production of Sunsets: Two Acts on a Beach directed by David Zak

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