Review: Teatro Vista Productions' BOTH at Steppenwolf Theatre

In the midst of its 35th Anniversary Season, Teatro Vista Productions premieres Both at the 1700 Theatre at Steppenwolf Theatre—marking the company’s first production in its new residency. Dedicated to multidisciplinary artists of color, Teatro Vista continues its mission of empowering artists to tell their own stories. With Both, audiences are treated to a gripping family thriller that balances laughter, shock, and emotional depth.

Xochi (playwright Paloma Nozicka) is reeling from a devastating year: the loss of her twin brother Sebastian (Yona Moises Olivares) and the anticipation of a child with her boyfriend Sam (Brian King). Hoping to reconnect, she gathers her estranged family—her mother Angela (Charín Álvarez) and brother Juan (Eddie Martinez)—for a baby shower at her lake house. The uneasy reunion takes a chilling turn when a man appears who may be Sebastian. As Xochi struggles to process grief, memory, and doubt, she is forced to confront whether this stranger is truly her brother—or something else entirely. Through poetic language and unexpected twists, Both explores family, loss, love, and the fragile nature of truth.

Having worked together on her first play Enough to Let the Light In, playwright Nozicka and director Georgette Verdin effectively bring this intimate yet unsettling world to life. Nozicka’s script is layered and suspenseful, keeping the audience guessing while grounding the story in emotional authenticity. With notable work for Kokandy Productions’ Jekyll and Hyde and Nozicka’s previous play, set designer Sotirios Livaditis creates a lavishing atmosphere in Xochi’s lake house while also giving a feel of something eerie hiding inside. 

The technical elements heighten the play’s dual identity as both family drama and psychological thriller. Sound design by Satya Chávez and lighting by Maximo Grano De Oro seamlessly guide transitions between past and present, reinforcing the story’s eerie undertones. Johan H. Gallardo’s costume design subtly reflects the family’s emotional journey, shifting from muted tones of mourning to brighter hues that suggest the possibility—however uncertain—of healing.

The cast balances the comedy and drama in this complicated family dynamic of Both. Nozicka and Moises Olivares present a brilliantly genuine portrayal of twin siblings with elements of possible supernatural connection. The past scenes between the two actors before Sebastian’s disappearance is so sincere, it becomes tragic when we are brought to the present when Xochi is not convinced her brother has returned.

Álvarez and Martinez perform well as the family members still dealing with family trauma and disagreements while trying to find solace or someone to blame. As Xochi’s boyfriend Sam, King is authentic in performing a man torn between being loyal to his girlfriend, and seeking support from his Best Friend in Martinez. As Angela’s friend who is mistaken as a psychic, Ayssette Muñoz plays Cynthia, a woman who relates to the family’s loss and is desperate to help even if it may be seen as harmful.

As an introduction to both Teatro Vista and Paloma Nozicka’s work, Both is an excitingly chilling premiere. It’s a compelling blend of horror and heartfelt storytelling that will welcome newcomers and longtime supporters alike. As a fan of theatre and psychological thrillers, I found Both captivating from start to finish—and I strongly encourage Chicago audiences to experience it during its run.

BOTH performs until May 10th at the 1700 Theatre at Steppenwolf Theatre. For more information about Teatro Vista Productions, visit the company’s official website. 

For more information about Steppenwolf Theatre Company, visit their official website.