“Critics’ Pick…Ms. Gurira weaves issues of cultural identity and displacement, generational frictions and other meaty matters into dialogue that flows utterly naturally. Her engaging characters are drawn with sympathy and, under the crisp direction of Rebecca Taichman, “Familiar” stays firmly on course even as the complications pile up.”

– The New York Times

“Four Stars…Familiar is a vigorous, fresh comedy-drama that ricochets from raw pathos to bawdy laughs, excavating deep cultural anxieties along the way…A less-committed cast or a director lacking Rebecca Taichman’s wit and verve might have let Familiar descend into ethnic-sitcom territory or suffer whiplash from the second-act dance between rom-com and identity crisis. But the piece works, throwing red meat to an excellent cast and offering plenty of emotional hooks for the audience.”

– Time Out New York

“Fantastically well-realized…[Danai] Gurira, like her director, the committed and never emotionally uninteresting Rebecca Taichman, has an incredible sense of comedy and how it plays against pathos.”

– The New Yorker

“Rebecca Taichman skillfully guides the fine-tuned ensemble through the various curves, highs and lows. Like family, “Familiar” is messy and resilient.”

– New York Daily News