REVIEWS

“Ellen Chorley (who both wrote [The Too Tall Princess] and stars in it) is quite obviously a talented, enthusiastic actress who is great at what she does. Her newest children’s play has a sweet message about accepting other people’s differences and a cast of five that skillfully plays at least a dozen characters between them—no mean feat.”   -Jill Stanton, SEE Magazine, The Too Tall Princess- Edmonton Fringe 2008 (Ellen Chorley: playwright / producer/ actor)

“The concept of a Bronte burlesque is so seductively kooky, on the surface, that this artful, dark and strangely dramatic Send in the Girls production may take you by surprise. That’s what happened to me. … What playwright Ellen Chorley has created is an unsettling little memory play about ambition both stifled and fed by isolation, about worldly success, about family dynamics- literary history and hypothesis framed by burlesque numbers that, like songs in contemporary musicals, happen at moments of intense revelation.”  - Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal, A Bronte Burlesque- 2014 (Ellen Chorley: playwright / producer/ actor)

“It's a dark story, and Chorley as Louella is riveting as the chain-smoking brash columnist who exploits others to build a reputation. Chorley has a great eye for detail and her character is the quintessential she-devil.” -Anna Borewiecki, St. Albert Gazette, The Hollywoodland Burlesques- Edmonton Fringe 2014  (Ellen Chorley: playwright / producer/ actor)

“One of those modern-day explorers is Linda Wood Edwards, who in the aftermath of a bruising romantic breakup, decided in 1996 to find her soul by hiking the 55-kilometre Chilkoot Trail. This is the arduous route from Alaska to Canada followed by most of the gold stampeders. In a tale written by Edwards and ably presented by Ellen Chorley, Edwards is almost as poorly prepared as the olden-day prospectors.”  -Gordon Kent, Edmonton Sun, Trail and Error by Linda Wood Edwards- Edmonton Fringe 2016  (Ellen Chorley: actor)

“This show hooks you with sex appeal, but then surprises with real, raw emotion, dramatic tension and first-class acting chops. Polished, world-class burlesque it's not. It's better, because of the emotional commitment of the performers and the clever, saucy script, and because it's a powerful celebration of sensuality and the female form, in all its shapes and sizes. And while the scantily-clad performers gyrate and demure, what impresses you most is not just their hotness, but their brains behind all the glitter. Now, that's burlesque.” - Marliss Weber, VUE Weekly, Tudor Queens: A Burlesque- Edmonton Fringe 2011 (Ellen Chorley: playwright / producer/ actor)

“Princess Confidential has an amazing central theme, a great having the male detective seek out the assistance of the female princess. It’s a great message for the young audience members. And the fairy tales provide familiar ground to provide the framework…. For it’s inspiring story and great acting, Princess Confidential: Familiar Melody is a great show to check out.”  - Justin Bell, Edmonton Sun, Princess Confidential: Familiar Melody- Edmonton Fringe 2015  (Ellen Chorley:  playwright/ director/ designer/ producer)

“Shakespeare’s Sirens doesn’t even need this five-star review, though they more than deserve it. They opened to a packed house their first night out, and I expect will play to a roaring crowd each performance till their last…. Good luck getting a ticket.” - Liane Faulder, Edmonton Journal, Shakespeare’s Sirens: A Burlesque Revue- Edmonton Fringe 2016 (Ellen Chorley:  playwright/ performer/ producer)

“The third entry in the series of children’s plays by Ellen Chorley stands strongly next to the others, as both Simon (Neil Kuefler) and Abigail (Merran Carr-Wiggin) amuse, entertain, and even subtly educate kids while also keeping the attention of the adults in attendance. Fairy tales are updated, clues discovered, and the answers fall into place as Reid and Abigail act out roles in them. It’s a smart, savvy little production that breezes by in an hour” - Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal, Princess Confidential: Fortress Falls- Edmonton Fringe 2017  (Ellen Chorley: playwright/ director/ designer/ producer)

“Carr-Wiggin and Kuefler have more fun than any detectives in history. Acting out fairy tales as an investigative tactic is absurd, but playwright and director Ellen Chorley understands that kids like to take their absurdity with absolute commitment and sincerity — not winks.”  - Todd Babiak, 12th Night Theatre Blog, Princess Confidential: Fortress Falls- Edmonton Fringe 2017 (Ellen Chorley: playwright/ director/ designer/ producer)

“Chorley not only catches the cadences and ebb and flow of breathless teen romance but has the skill to pyramid laugh upon laugh until you want to cry out, ‘Enough!’” — Colin MacLean, GIG CITY, Everybody Loves Robbie- Northern Light Theatre 2020 (Ellen Chorley: playwright)

“The ending is not wrapped up with a neat bow, much as the audience might be rooting for that. I’m happy Chorley didn’t go for this Hollywood-style wrap-up because it just wouldn’t feel believable. High school relationships end messily – or at least mine sure did – and I enjoyed how this play ends right at a moment of painful clarity. Reality bites, man.” - Mel Priestley, GHOSTLIGHT THEATRE BLOG, Everybody Loves Robbie- Northern Light Theatre 2020 (Ellen Chorley: playwright)

“Ellen Chorley's script was brilliantly constructed and although it was full of highs and lows, it was truthful and engaging, supported by wonderful direction by Trevor Schmidt, who kept it flowing much in the way that high school tumbles by for a teenager… Every high school drama student (past and present) should see this show.” - Kristen Findlay, FINSTER’S FINDS THEATRE BLOG, Everybody Loves Robbie- Northern Light Theatre 2020 (Ellen Chorley: playwright)