Victorian Times Colonist
-“If you go to see Lady and the Hoover expecting a light-hearted spoof of the stereotypical 1950’s domestic goddess, you’re in for a shock. This is a deep, dark, gut-spilling look at the skeletons in the closet of a “perfect” American family. KayLynn Raschke is Julie, who flounces onstage in a faux-leather coat, toting her trusty Hoover canister vac along with her. Upon removing the coat, the now scantily-clad “interactive fantasy provider” explains that she’s just returned from a gig where she was “doing the young housewife” routine for one of her clients. Over the next few minutes, we watch as Julie transforms into a smoking, drinking, sex-obsessed shell, writhing in physical and emotional pain. Suddenly, she is a sex-year-old victim of incest. Then, in another instant, she becomes her mother, Annie—The perfect housewife role model, also a victim of sexual abuse. Not a pretty sight. But it’s riveting. And surprisingly funny. Just when Julie is on the brink of despair, her wry sense of humor pulls her back. Annie, too, is a hoot as she tries to be the perfect wife and mother. Her ‘affair’ with her Hoover is a boisterous adults-only frolic. If you’re looking for insightful social commentary…this is it.”

The Star Phoenix
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by Cam Fuller
-Lady and the Hoover points its hose at a lot of modern problems: Repressed memories, family secrets, guilt, substance abuse and even eating disorders are duly swept into the filter bag of KayLynn Raschke’s script.
-Raschke shines as a writer and performer
-Her acting here was superb

The Nightly University Press/
Minneapolis, Minnesota by Pratik Joshi
-Our writer spent the opening weekend following his hunches in a random tour of the fest. Here’s the best of what he found.
-Lady and the Hoover is a Three-E performance. It’s entertaining, educative and erotic.
-Raschke’s search to find where lies end and reality begins conveys the irony of our present-day “interactive” existence.
-Lady and the Hoover is an energetic performance.

Star and Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota by Judd Slivka 5/23/95
-Raschke’s writing cuts through three generations of stereotypical American women with irony and grace.
-Simply enjoy Raschke’s lines, it’s good entertainment.

Insider Other Fringe Eye-catchers Mpls/MN 6/20/95
-It purrs, it hums, it vibrates, it sucks, and it listens. Next to cats, this vacuum cleaner may well be woman’s best friend.

Lady and the Hoover is a poignant and disarming tale of a women’s journey into the world of forbidden secrets and the love of electrical appliances.

Action takes place present day, in the 60’s, and the early 40’s. Julie is a sex industry worker, whose life goes from bad to worse to better after discovering a diary hidden in her mother’s vacuum. She learns that her Aunt is actually her sister and her Mother is not what she seemed. Julie has a major meltdown and turns into her mother, Mrs. Annie Martinson. Now a high heeled, bouffant- coifed housewife having her mid-afternoon martini and calming little pink pill, declaring, “Thank god for electrical appliances!” and turns her affections on the one who really understands her- her Hoover. In her delirium, Annie regresses to her former self at the tender age of 16. This is where Julie finds out what dark secret she and her mother have in common.

Ms. Raschke’s play looks at prevalent women’s issues such as anorexia, depression, addiction, and sexual identity. In Lady and the Hoover Annie is the archetypical mother, and her daughter Julie is the classis whore. With bravery, honesty and a healthy dose of humor, they unlock the secrets and open the door to healing...

Lady and the Hoover premiered at the 848 Community workshop in San Francisco and has Toured internationally at Fringe Festivals in Victoria BC, Vancouver BC, Winnipeg Manitoba, Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Orlando Florida, Minneapolis Minnesota and Seattle Washington.