"Standing ovations are rarely awarded at fringe shows, never mind shouts of 'bravo!'.Still it was no surprise to see Lisa Harrison and Naomi Cooke showered with both for their remarkable turns as Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas in Win Wells' story of the couple's legendary love. It's difficult to know where to begin praising this elegant production - for its rich, romantic good looks or its poetic resonance? Both come courtesy of local director Brent Lott, who delves into his choroegraphers bag of tricks to capture the bittersweet essence of what is essentially Stein's testimonial to her lesser known lover. England's Harrison is enchanting as Stein, but the show stealer is Cooke, who brings Toklas to life with an astonishing depth and compassion. Although Toklas lived in Gertrude's shadow, we see her here as a delightfully eccentric, yet practical woman capable of razor sharp wit and selfless tenderness. " The Winnipeg Sun 1997

"Gertrude Stein and a Companion, does what only the best fringe shows do: it delivers a fine script in the most compelling way. This two person cast is superb, the best acting of the tenth anniversary Winnipeg Fringe. There's no point in wasting words: of the 55 shows I saw this year, Gertrude Stein was easily the best. Don't miss Gertrude Stein and a Companion: sell your paintings to get a ticket if you have to." Robert Enright, CBC Radio, Canada.

"Every Fringe Festival produces one artistic and intellectually stunning work, reminding you of the enduring power of theatre to illuminate the human condition. Two actresses, a virtually bare stage and an amazingly rich subject matter come to life in Gertrude Stein and a Companion as Naomi Cooke and Lisa Harrison reconstruct the amazing life of the two grande dames of 20th century artistic life. As fascinating for fans as it is for neophytes, this is a perfect balance of historical/critical observation and moving human drama." SEE Magazine, Vancouver