Crude NYC Reviews and Tickets

70%
(55 Ratings)
Positive
56%
Mixed
37%
Negative
7%
Members say
Funny, Great acting, Entertaining, Disappointing, Relevant

About the Show

Black Lab Theatre presents 'Crude,' a dark comedy about the fallout from an ecological disaster and the price you pay for selling your soul in the new millennium.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (55)

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180 Reviews | 39 Followers
88
Clever, Great acting, Entertaining, Resonant, Relevant

See it if You want to see absolutely top-notch acting in a well-written piece which ably breaks down a relationship, friendship and moral challenge.

Don't see it if Youd like a creative challenge-this is a straightforward piece. Also, you may dissaprove of characters choices & thus, not sympathize w/them

Nic
561 Reviews | 99 Followers
85
Resonant, Relevant, Original, Funny, Great acting

See it if a brisk, unsparing tale of choosing between your best & worst self appeals. "Younger" fans will enjoy this departure for Nico Tortorella.

Don't see it if Crisp, unmerciful writing and acting that fully realizes it aren't your thing.

416 Reviews | 190 Followers
82
Clever, Great acting, Great staging, Funny, Refreshing

See it if Like to see a married couple argue about different points of view on a topic. Are a fan of Nico Totorella and like wonderful young actors.

Don't see it if You are under age 16 or are offended by heavy drug use and sexual innuendo.

1180 Reviews | 466 Followers
81
Intelligent, Original, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Funny

See it if You like topical dramas told with humor.

Don't see it if You can't look at an issue from both sides.

172 Reviews | 24 Followers
80
Absorbing, Funny, Edgy, Original, Quirky

See it if you like a good storyline; you want to see a contemporary story

Don't see it if you are offended by language or drug use

55 Reviews | 34 Followers
79
Entertaining, Funny, Relevant, Thought-provoking

See it if You want to see a solid comedy with a great performance by Nico Tortorella

Don't see it if You can't tolerate a slow start, or you can't get past imbalanced acting talent

97 Reviews | 63 Followers
75
Edgy, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Slow, Funny

See it if you like dark humor, like world premieres, want to see the business of oil compared to drug dealers, and like modern problem plays.

Don't see it if you hate the F-bomb, hate references to Houston, aren't comfortable with drug use on stage, and hate intimate and small venues.

126 Reviews | 26 Followers
74
Delightful, Entertaining, Great acting, Funny, Hilarious

See it if you'd love watching a great comic actor upclose in a tiny venue - male lead's rendition of a drug-fueled ad brainstorming session is AWESOME

Don't see it if you're expecting a serious or hyper-informative criticism of our fossil-fuel addiction, that scenario provides the conflict but is not focus

Critic Reviews (6)

The New York Times
May 4th, 2016

"Watching Mr. Tortorella is the pleasure of this production…The play itself is too much like an extended sitcom, and the issue-based arguments that Mr. Jaffe orchestrates can seem wildly inorganic…What keeps things interesting is Mr. Tortorella, who surfs the switchbacks of Jaime’s moods with unusual grace…Do we care, though? Mr. Tortorella’s impressive effort notwithstanding, I don’t know why we would."
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Lighting & Sound America
May 6th, 2016

"If 'Crude' is any indication, Jaffe isn't doing much for the environmental cause; so blatant are his tactics that his play ends up a sermon aimed straight at the already converted. Rarely have the dramatic possibilities of a catastrophic situation been mined to so little effect...The director, Kel Haney, struggles to get much of anything out of this and her cast seems equally lumbered...The title also applies to its dramaturgy."
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Stage Buddy
May 17th, 2016

"The play, by Jaffe, pits societal issues such as environmental responsibility against the ugly realities of the corporate world and its money-driven agenda...Under Haney’s tactical direction, 'Crude' challenges audiences to consider what is worth fighting for. This dark comedy boldly makes a statement about the struggle of staying true to one’s identity and values – and how failing to do so can be the reason one's life goes up in flames."
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Theatre's Leiter Side
May 6th, 2016

"This isn’t to say that the well-acted play doesn’t offer some worthwhile thoughts; it’s just that its socially important concerns are buried in a playwriting spill of marital squabbling and irresponsible behavior that are more concerned with the personalities involved than the larger issues. ‘Crude’ covers its potentially potent ideas with sitcom attitudes the way the dispersant Corexit dissipates oil into smaller particles; it may look better on the surface but the underlying problem remains."
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The Huffington Post
May 4th, 2016

"'Crude' is Jaffe’s grenade thrown at questionable oil practices...It’s doozy banter...'Crude' is also a character study the handsome Tortorella calls on his major acting chops to portray. One of Jaffe’s achievements is that in only 85 intermissionless minutes he presents one promising young man’s total disintegration, and Tortorella is up to the demands...Directed with understanding and skill by Kel Haney."
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On Stage Blog
May 6th, 2016

“With a good amount of things that somebody might consider lowbrow and in bad taste, ‘Crude’ is full of self-irony and little delicious nuances...This is not a theatrical production to which you would take your grandmother. The good part is that all the salty humor is backed up with fresh and somewhat unconventional performances, inventive director’s work and a disturbing drama of the modern generation.”
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