An Act of God (Jim Parsons) NYC Reviews and Tickets

"God is really killing it up there. How funny is the guy? He’s Jon Stewart funny, plus Stephen Colbert funny. (Mr. Javerbaum has written for both.) More obviously, it might be said that Mr. Parsons as Mr. Javerbaum’s tell-it-like-it-is God is, yes, divinely funny."
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"Joe Mantello’s handsome production gets much comic oomph out of Javerbaum’s excellently turned one-liners...The best thing about 'Act' is the way that Javerbaum takes the anthropomorphism of standard belief to its grotesque, logical conclusion: God realizing that He’s a narcissistic sociopath who needs help. By the end, you’re almost ready to forgive Him His sins."
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"The jokes keep landing and if they occasionally achieve a rat-a-tat quality that tends to raise smiles while suppressing laughter, they are always, at least, smart...In blending light summer comedy with apocalyptic theology, 'An Act of God ' has committed at least a minor sin, like eating milk with meat. But aren’t cheeseburgers delicious?"
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"Jim Parsons proves a surprisingly authoritative Supreme Being in the hilarious comedy 'An Act of God.' The script is both outrageously irreverent and deeply thoughtful in its exploration of religious issues. 'The Book of Mormon' seems almost restrained by comparison."
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"There is no shortage of jokes, and the hit rate is high...The problem is, this isn’t much of a Broadway show...This is still essentially a stand-up routine...May we suggest another commandment? Thou Shalt Not Charge Broadway Ticket Prices To See Jim Parsons Tell Jokes—no matter how beloved He mightest be."
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"Director Joe Mantello has shrewdly intensified the potency of the satire from its affable beginnings, but there’s no probing or sustained debate involved in these brief exchanges. The challenging questions raised by Archangel Michael do save the show from being little more than a clever nightclub act — but just barely."
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"As predictable as a Quarter Pounder, though not nearly so filling. As God, Mr. Parsons is monochromatically campy, but in an unthreatening way—the kind of camp you’d expect from a sitcom star, in other words. If that floats your ark and you’ve got $145 to blow on an orchestra seat, go thou and do likewise. Me, I’d rather go straight to hell than sit through 'An Act of God' again."
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"It’s a very fitfully written and unevenly performed (by whining, eye-rolling TV sitcom personality Jim Parsons) 80 minutes, but still. You’re out of there in time for cocktails...His loopiness in 'An Act of God' is just sacrosanct enough as a summer diversion to make you wonder what God has been smoking."
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"Much of the humor seems familiar. A lot more seems phoned in...Parsons delivers all this polished patter expertly, with a dry sense of the absurd, which makes most of the show mildly entertaining...But spend the money you saved on tickets to 'Fun Home' or 'Hand To God.'"
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"If you’re going to spend an hour and a half listening to a mildly irreverent riff on the Bible, it might as well be with Jim Parsons...And if you don’t get the joke, the new comedy 'An Act of God' spells it out in the first minute... God, however, is below his skill level. Parsons is charming as a supreme being who’s relaxed, cocky and at times a little testy. But this play is merely a glorified Top 10 list in which God gives us his revised Commandments."
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"The play by David Javerbaum has laugh-management issues. Some of it is divinely, if blasphemously, inspired. Some is sorta tired. Unevenness isn’t next to godliness. But Parsons is an ace comic act. He does deadpan and flashes the stink eye like nobody’s business, so the show is fun and entertaining."
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"It's a very funny, very promising concept, but not much of a play or even a stand-up routine...Even at 90 minutes, 'An Act of God' is long-winded and full of unoriginal jabs at common targets. There may be a play to be drawn out of Javerbaum's work, but 'An Act of God' is not it."
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"Some folks will be offended, but for the liberal-minded, it is hysterically funny; and for those troubled by the notion of blind faith, Javerbaum's ideas are strikingly clear-eyed. Under Joe Mantello's spot-on direction, Parsons delivers to near perfection with, dare I say it, his extraordinary God-given talents."
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"'An Act of God' is decidedly not an act of artistic bravery or even originality. It's unlikely to enter the pantheon of great American comedies. But if you want to see a major TV star tell some naughty jokes and wrap it all up in a feel-good cliché, your prayers have been answered."
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"Cute and charming comedy...You'd be hard-pressed to find anything blasphemous or edgy in this breezy ninety minute riff that depicts its central character as a left-leaning social commentator...There isn't a lot to chew on, but nevertheless 'An Act Of God' is a tasty and sweet stick of bubble gum, full of good laughs and silly summer fun."
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"This is ultimately a case of preaching (at best) to the converted and ignoring everyone else...Dispensed in controlled, 140-character doses, his pronouncements are good for the occasional chuckle (if you buy into the premise) or eye-rolling scoff (if you don't), but are otherwise as of-the-moment disposable as most of what's on Twitter."
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"Couldn’t this have been funnier? Yes, the script has plenty of jokes and some of them are good, but there are long passages that don’t go anywhere. With the source material, this could have been rib-bruisingly hilarious rather than merely chucklesome. And the pacing is pretty draggy."
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"While such casting is perfect and the notion for this show is nifty, writer David Javerbaum doesn’t make nearly so much of these assets as might be hoped. The 90 minutes that ensue turn out to be fairly amusing as God convivially chats about creation...The humor is scattershot. The social satire is mild. The characterization of God as a curmudgeon whose mysterious ways are simply quixotic is scarcely profound. Expect light entertainment here rather than dark or dangerous comedy."
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"It’s a One-Act of God to be precise, 90 minutes of presentational comedy that, if not quite divine, is at least good for a chuckle or two on our way to the ultimate curtain call...The writing begins to gel in the final half hour as a subtle seriousness sneaks in and mixes with a wry silliness. Amid the laughs, there are the moments of introspection and contemplation of religious self-worth that would have been welcomed from the start...Parsons’ quirky charm is generally enough to carry the day."
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"A play that tries to blend irreverent humor with social commentary and, well, doesn't always succeed...Javerbaum's satire can become rather too obvious...Parsons and director Joe Mantello emerge as the show's saving graces."
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"Nobody is too holy to avoid the occasional easy target, including the Chicago Cubs and the old joke about Adam and Steve. But the material -- some framed as questions from the audience -- takes on a satisfying number of Big Issues, including a brilliantly skewed explanation of evolution."
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"Criticism of dogmatic extremes and intrinsically liberal voice ought to be rightfully welcomed with open arms, nary a cheap laugh escapes its blunt hand. Parsons' characterization, which is fixed and unchanging, is also not very likable — while this may be precisely the point, it doesn’t make an hour and a half spent listening to his smug diatribe all that enjoyable."
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"A show about a God with issues shouldn't expect much business from church, synagogue or mosque theater parties. But it does have a couple of oddly affecting Bible-based moments that seem to have snuck in when no one was paying attention. Both concern God's touching human qualities...'An Act of God,' needless to say, isn't for everyone. It doesn't deny His existence, just the perfect part."
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"'An Act of God' is a 90-minute diversion, as often amusing as it is trifling, that has Parsons 'inhabited' by the Supreme Being... Neither heavenly nor hellish, 'An Act of God' is primarily for fans of Jim Parsons."
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"For the most part, it proves a relaxing, fun evening investigating the implications of religion on sociopolitical issues, but it can't quite overcome the trap of banter to reach a more essential destination. It also abruptly ventures into very real and hard discourse without much capacity to engage with it. Yes, Parsons is extraordinary. Yes, he will make you laugh. And yes, if you want to guffaw, I recommend the show. I enjoyed it. But if you're searching for significance, look elsewhere."
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"Summer on Broadway is when the weakest of authors somehow find a home. This year, it's apparently God...This lame thing truly needs divine intervention."
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"Parsons’s homey Texas drawl might be the key, but it helps that he can revel in the role’s shtickiness without letting it become unkosher hamminess. There’s a lot else here that works. The jokes come quickly, and the commandment-by-commandment analysis gives the play a structure...'An Act of God' is hilarious but slim. It will entertain, but it won’t inspire worship, or even an epiphany. Still, that’s probably OK."
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"The play is hip, topical and comically moralizing. You marvel at where he comes up with the mostly amusing, sometimes wickedly funny, revisionist views on biblical stories, of being omniscient, and much more. Director Mantello manages to walk a tightrope by giving Jim Parsons just enough room to maneuver without reining him in."
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"While the 'Act' is reliably amusing, some jokes become predictable. Although leavened with humor, some of the anecdotes become, well, preachy. The slanted take on familiar stories and the modern sensibility make an uplifting ending seem a little overly sweet. Political leanings and cultural tastes are pretty clear and its statements on issues such as gay marriage are probably falling on the ears of the converted."
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"'An Act of God' takes no prisoners, pulls no punches and will provide you with an irreverent, hysterical, yet somehow provocative 90 minutes in the theatre. Joe Mantello has directed with a sleekly inventive hand; Javerbaum’s script amuses to the very last line...I would like to create an 11th commandment: Thou must see Jim Parsons in An Act of God."
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"'An Act of God' delighted audience members of all ages, from teens to silver-haired 80-somethings, all who literally and truly laughed out loud to where at times one might miss the next line from all the laughter, but it was all very joyous...Overall the play is laugh out loud funny; Parsons is brilliant in his role; and it is not surprising that there have already been repeat audience members because it is one to see over again!"
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