Hannah McConnachie’s Waiting for Gadot, presented at The Chain Theatre, is a witty and unexpectedly heartfelt exploration of modern fandom, ambition, and the often-blurred line between hope and obsession. Through fast-paced dialogue, eccentric humor, and emotionally grounded performances, the play examines what happens when ordinary people become consumed by the possibility of extraordinary lives. While its premise is delightfully absurd, McConnachie never loses sight of the deeply human longing for purpose, connection, and recognition that drives each character.
The production embraces this balance beautifully, allowing moments of broad comedy to coexist with genuine vulnerability. Under McConnachie’s direction, the ensemble navigates a world that feels both heightened and remarkably familiar, where every outlandish situation reveals something truthful about the characters beneath it. The result is a comedy that earns its laughs while asking its audience to reflect on the dreams and delusions we cling to in pursuit of meaning.
Among an exceptionally committed cast, Isabel Criado delivers one of the production’s most memorable performances. Criado captivates the audience’s attention in every scene she is in with a specific and dynamic energy that brings the humorous yet poignant content of the play into a whole new, slightly surreal place. She is explosive without losing an ounce of depth, and her comedic edge is grounded in the very real world of the character that she inhabits, no matter how ridiculous the circumstances may be.
Not a moment is wasted, not a stone left unturned. Her character’s energy hinges on a charming sense of hope and optimism that Criado expertly hones, in contrast to her more pessimistic scene partner. She is hungry for something greater, and it doesn’t feel trite because Criado is hungry, as well. She manages depth both comedically and dramatically, giving a heart to a character that might otherwise be seen as a crazy fanatic. As an audience member, you empathize with a person who may have an unhealthy parasocial relationship with a certain celebrity, and she allows us to understand why someone might desperately hold onto the hope of playing even a small part in another person’s success. While other actors might deflate under the demands of such a relentlessly high-energy role, Criado is never one note.
You never know what her next move will be, and it always keeps you guessing, drawing your attention a moment longer to follow her fascinating and unpredictable journey. She is absolutely marvelous and continues to cement herself as a legitimate, well-rounded actress, as well as a force to be reckoned with.
Ultimately, Criado’s performance is a reminder that truly compelling acting lies not only in commanding attention, but in earning it. Every choice feels intentional, every shift in emotion is rooted in character, and every laugh she elicits carries an undercurrent of sincerity. Even in the play’s most absurd moments, she never loses sight of the humanity at its core.
Waiting for Gadot succeeds because of the chemistry and commitment of its ensemble, but Criado’s performance lingers long after the curtain falls. If this production is any indication of what’s to come, audiences have every reason to keep Isabel Criado on their radar. This August, she returns to the New York stage as Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the A.R.T./New York Gural Theatre, a role that promises to showcase yet another side of her remarkable range. Given the wit, emotional intelligence, and fearless physicality she brings to every performance, it will be exciting to see how she reimagines one of Shakespeare’s most beloved heroines. For anyone who has the opportunity, it is a performance well worth seeking out.
