A Soldier's Play (Broadway)

See it if Great production, acting and story. Absorbing. Great approach to race issues within a mystery plot.

Don't see it if You prefer comedies and musicals.

See it if Solid revival of a well-written military investigation. Like the pre-cursor to A Few Good Men. Enjoyed it.Went by quickly.

Don't see it if Serious dramas are not your thing.

See it if Leon's staging of this drama of endemic racism in the 1940's military is still sadly pertinent Grier shines brightest in riveting ensemble

Don't see it if Despite being a taut, well written & highly dramatic piece, it has a 'TV courtroom procedural' feel to it Leon's movement choreo a bit stagy

See it if the idea of an atmospheric look at the barracks life of a black unit in the WWII-era Armed Forces appeals to you.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a play that confronts the blatant institutionalized racism of the WWII-era US Armed Forces.

Also In 2020 “A SOLDIER'S PLAY” feels a little like a play that lost its nerve. The atmospherics in this production are strong. And the script at several points lays bare the blatant institutionalized racism of the WWII-era US Armed Forces. We experience how a black unit has to suffer the indignity of a white commanding officer & many other injustices, some life-threatening. But the plot concerns a not-too-compelling murder mystery. And while we get to know the 3 central characters, all played strongly here, most of the rest of the characters, though winningly played, remain semi-abstractions because we hardly get to know them. Leon’s production is handsome, lean, swift, tuneful & often dynamic. But I still haven’t figured out why the Roundabout thought it was a good choice to bring to B’way now.... Read more Read less

See it if Its 1944 during WWII at army camp a murder take place - Who done It? See a classic story that will have you think?

Don't see it if you want a happy go lucky show.

Also David Grier was excellent. The service man was terrific.

See it if You like shows that tell, instead of show. You like listening to narration of what happened.

Don't see it if You can't keep all the characters names straight when they are narrated at a rapid fire pace. Very confusing & hard to follow.

See it if you like taut dramas with excellent actors.Story of prejudice in the military in WWII is powerful & touching.Excellent production.

Don't see it if you have trouble keep track of characters.Names don't always track.I wish they used nicknames or some more identifying name.

See it if A spectacular cast performs this gripping tale of murder in the Army in 1944. Grier and Underwood are top notch. The story is gripping.

Don't see it if If an old-fashioned murder mystery doesn't interest you. If you are uninterested in the issues of race in the military.

See it if Enjoy a well scripted well cast drama about race, the south and the military.

Don't see it if You do not enjoy intense drama with some twists and turns to it

See it if 1944 murder of a black officer on a Louisiana Army base & its investigation; the black men in the barracks recount their sides in flashbacks

Don't see it if don't want issues of racism (towards the black investigating officer & in the privates' flashbacks); occasionally confusing as to characters

Also Pleasantly surprised by Grier in a nonlikable role. I think he did a great job.... Read more Read less

See it if you’ve been waiting for Charles Fuller’s play to make its Broadway debut; invested in racial tensions among close-knit groups of men.

Don't see it if un-invested in male-focused plays, racial tensions, and court-case-like dramas that require you to pay rapt attention to many quiet moments.

Also Part suspense thriller, part timeless reflection upon racial relations in the USA, Charles Fuller’s war & murder drama A Soldier’s Play (punctuated by music, rhythm, gunshots, and shockers alike) may feel clear-cut and even repetitive at times. Yet, it is a memory play (the dead Sergeant Vernon C. Walters, played mesmerizingly and eerily by David Alan Grier, “steps into” scenes) that haunts theatregoers, too. The performers—from Blair Underwood’s Captain Richard Davenport, uncovering the truth about the dead Walters—to three white actors who have to spout vitriol and racist remarks with all the realistic contempt they can muster—are riveting. The finale—which I won’t reveal—may have been controversial in the early 1980s, when the show made its off-Broadway debut. But now it feels uncomfortable in the right way, asking us to consider how easily we turn against one another, how unaware we are of pain and trauma we cause, regardless of race. One decision, one open wound, is felt for ages.... Read more Read less

See it if Wonderful cast. Great script! Riveting. I love mystery investigation dramas! Don't miss. Fabulous pacing.

Don't see it if you only like musicals.

See it if In a murder mystery, explores the internalized / institutionalized racism and classism. Nuance might get lost on "color-blind" folks tho.

Don't see it if Gun/shots or man being shot are triggering. Military men isn't your thing. Internalized racism 101, but some audience might not understand.

Also Diversity: almost all of the male cast are Black men. Diverse range of Black men of the 40s: poor to middle class, highly educated to country. All but one of the main characters are Black.
Ticket from HipTix for $30. Seat in rear mezzanine corner.... Read more Read less

See it if A beautifully acted and well told story about Black soldiers in Louisiana. Part murder mystery, part historical dialogue.

Don't see it if You aren’t interesting in racial issues and serious events.

Also The three leads, as well as the men playing the soldiers, were consistently excellent in their portrayals.... Read more Read less

See it if Military based murder mystery amidst racial attitudes in wartime 1940's.Great performances by all.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in a wartime murder mystery.

See it if you want to see a fairly interesting take on the complexities of black racial identity with some phenomenal performances

Don't see it if you want a murder mystery with a satisfying payoff; you are a white person unwilling to accept that this play wasn't written for you

Also In some ways, I recognize that I should not be judging this show, which examines biases and internalized racism within Black communities. I am a White man in 2020, and, while I found some of the characterizations reductive and arguments simplistic, I am not a member of Black America, so I am likely missing nuance and understanding that I might otherwise possess. That awareness notwithstanding, I don't think the show has aged particularly well. What may have felt groundbreaking forty years ago (this show won a Pulitzer), now feels heavy handed to me. But if you're looking for a stageful of very strong performances providing employment to a panoply of young Black actors, look no further.... Read more Read less

See it if Black hating black is worse part of institutionalized racism. Strong performances.

Don't see it if Looking for levity, not here

See it if You are okay seeing mildly interesting play, with some good acting, despite the play’s dated nature.

Don't see it if You prefer subtle and layered writing, which you will not find here.

See it if the premise intrigues you.

Don't see it if you want to see a new and topical play.

Also Underwood carries the show quite competently, but Grier is spectacular and makes this a worthwhile evening.... Read more Read less

See it if you like intelligent, well-acted plays that explore trenchant issues in an intelligent and complex way

Don't see it if you want something that has real dramatic drive and is going to go to unexpected places

See it if you want to see why this play won a Pulitzer. 40 years later it is still a riveting evening. Well acted great set

Don't see it if Racial issues trigger you. you want a light evening in the theater, This is NOT a comedy

See it if you want to see a serious and unusual play on a WWII army base. Wonderful African American actors, imaginatively staged, unexpected ending

Don't see it if you don't like plays that deal with race or you only want light entertainment.

Also David Alan Grier especially outstanding!

See it if you did not see the excellent movie with a far superior cast. This is politically and socially relevant but the casting misses the mark

Don't see it if you have seen better. The story is important but it needs a tighter cast and a more smoldering anger kept under the radar to be accurate

See it if You want to see a powerful historical play with a racist theme with amazing acting.

Don't see it if You don't historical plays or plays about racial prejudice.

See it if Well cast and directed production of Charles Fuller's World War II play which still packs an honest gut punch on racism in the military.

Don't see it if The play is powerful with a variety of believable characters, but too often relies on narration when dialogue would be more effective.