Fully Committed NYC Reviews and Tickets

"Mr. Ferguson brings such warmth and variety to his performance that you may not notice that in the more than 15 years since the play opened Off Broadway, it has acquired a slightly sour aftertaste. Back in 1999, the words 'income inequality' were not on the lips of every economist, pundit and politician...Lively as Mr. Ferguson is, and as frequently hilarious as ‘Fully Committed’ can be, it feels shrunken in a Broadway theater."
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“Before he became a household name, Jesse Tyler Ferguson was one of New York’s most inventive comic character actors. You can sense his delight at stretching those muscles in the revival of ‘Fully Committed’...Ferguson's performance is necessarily broad, and not always precise: a half-British accent creeps into several voices. But it hardly matters. The actor’s likability glazes his hamminess with sugar, and the play, while not very filling, can be enjoyed with few reservations.”
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"Ferguson is not a television star for nothing. He gradually builds the performance from a base of detailed realism...Still, it’s an inversion of the 'Fully Committed' of 1999...Asking a play that is basically a clever stunt to support the weight of this more complex interpretation is asking for trouble, which here takes the form of a strange pall. As a result, 'Fully Committed' never quite reaches the pitch of mania you may be hoping for, as if it were on beta-blockers."
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“Somehow doesn't add up to much more than a string of sometimes-funny jokes...The play doesn't lend itself to bloated Broadway treatment, no matter who is starring...It's impossible to escape the nagging feeling that this flippant satirical comedy is being swallowed up by its outsize production...Within those limitations, Ferguson excels, bouncing among 40-plus distinct characters without ever tripping up.”
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“Ferguson juggles all of these personalities rather deftly, making only a few fumbles. It takes about three calls for the ego-tastic chef to really take shape, and reservations manager Bob never really becomes instantly identifiable...Yet one can’t help but wish that for his Broadway return Ferguson had chosen something more substantial. 'Fully Committed' is full of laughs, but leaves you wanting more.”
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“Without bringing anything special to the role...Ferguson’s performance should remind the industry why this clever trifle is among the ten most-produced plays in the country...The funny voices and comic poses Ferguson adopts to play all these characters are no more amusing than they need to be. But he shines as one character: Sam. Not only does he bring a sense of true if battered humanity to the role, he also gives Sam all the satisfaction he deserves."
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“The immensely likable Mr. Ferguson doesn’t quite have the vocal flexibility necessary to impersonate so widely varied a gallery of characters, and so the tour-de-force aspect isn’t fully realized. Even so, his acting crackles with physical energy and comic life, and it won’t take long for you to shelve your doubts and buy into his performance. The play itself is a piece of very well-made fluff...The laughter is pretty close to nonstop. If it’s light entertainment you crave, you’re in luck.”
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"It’s alarming to see Mr. Ferguson do so little with such a juicy role...He plays them all with a whirlwind of clumsy, poorly timed confusion, rattling off the various voices that come and go with accents that often change in the middle of a sentence, making the whole thing absurdly hard to follow...Trapped in a straight jacket by Jason Moore’s shrill direction, all that was once fresh and funny has been ground and grated into a colorless mush."
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“Tyler Ferguson navigates these human mountains and valleys, major torrents and tricky rivulets, with precision and even empathy; it’s a virtuosic performance and the audience, you should pardon the expression, eats it up. Derek McLane’s just-squalid-enough set...is spot-on. At barely 70 minutes, ‘Fully Committed’ is not so much a meal as an amuse-bouche, that clever little thingy the chef sends out before your meal to tickle your palate...A gulp and it’s gone.”
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"Jesse Tyler Ferguson is very good at playing one type of character — frazzled, excitable, fussy...The problem is that in the solo show 'Fully Committed,' Ferguson must bring to life about 40 people...As charming as Ferguson is, impersonation isn’t among his strengths and he comes up short…The endeavor feels like an acting stunt, and the writing isn’t sharp enough to make up for it. As satire, 'Fully Committed' has the fiery bite of lukewarm oatmeal."
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“Mode doesn’t chase stinging satire, just laughs—and snags a few good ones. Director Jason Moore keeps things moving briskly and as dynamically as possible...Ferguson has proven himself a likable clown...But that’s not the same as being a chameleon capable of shifting instantaneously from one vivid character to another…People on the other end of the phone line are rarely remarkable. The actor is fully committed, yes, but the production isn’t totally satisfying.”
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“For the most part, it is an empty, overextended actor showcase. By the end, it has become a whirling blur of silly voices and high-strung personalities...If it was being staged at a smaller space, it may very well have been captivating. But on the Lyceum Theatre stage, it looks naked. The overly elaborate set (full of pipes, file cabinets and chairs that ascend to the heavens) also takes attention away from Ferguson’s performance.”
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“Modest downtown houses may have been a better fit for the piece, which is light on both plot and jokes. Its character switcharoos are the primary source of entertainment, and even in one of Broadway's smallest houses, the comic effect of Ferguson's rapid-fire metamorphoses dissipates over the first five rows of the theater...He is clearly among the rare breed of performers built for this demanding genre...however, this may not be the right vehicle to win return customers.”
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"Above all else, 'Fully Committed' is a performance showcase...Ferguson, despite being an appealing clown who is empathetic as Sam, doesn't show the same kind of skill at crisply differentiating between his characters. He fares much better during Sam's sincere moments talking with his dad...Without an expert mimic taking charge, 'Fully Committed' is little more than pleasantly amusing with a sweet finish."
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"In some ways a 'New Yorker' cartoon brought to life, thanks to its breezily incisive view of modern Manhattan manners, 'Fully Committed' is a sly exercise in one-man farce…Ferguson's touch remains infinitely light; he never, ever presses for a laugh. He also has a faultless ear for the absurdity hidden in his many characters' dialogue…The fleet and funny 'Fully Committed' proves to be an ideal vehicle for Ferguson, letting him display his full range of comic skills."
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“It's no small challenge to play this many people...but Ferguson does it with effortless style...Ferguson could, however, stand to up the volume a notch. As distinctive and delicious as all these creations are, they're not yet up to full Broadway size...There's still something for everyone on this menu, which makes ‘Fully Committed’ the rare nutrition-free amuse-bouche that genuinely, unapologetically amuses.”
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"With the help of director Jason Moore, Ferguson has brought to life a character who isn’t just a vehicle for a turntable of personalities, but a human being with needs, desires, and a deep longing for a sense of fulfillment…Backed by an affable and charismatic lead actor, 'Fully Committed' is a well-rounded production that is fun and energetic, and—between the myriad of characters popping in and out of the story—has a message full of heart and sincerity.'
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“The problem is that though the venue is not overwhelmingly big and Ferguson brings enormous charm and energy to this demanding role, ‘Fully Committed’ hasn't aged all that well...Given Ferguson's big fan base and our appetite for fun entertainment, ‘Fully Committed’ remains enjoyable, even if more an appetizer than a really full meal...If his characters are sometimes a bit hard to tell apart, he does enough of them with amazing smoothness.”
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"Ferguson makes it fast and funny. This is not a particularly great or even good play. It is, however, a sort of grand audition. Ferguson goes from zero to 60 in a nano-second...No one leaves the theatre talking about Sam. They leave talking about Ferguson who delivers the goods. This is an actor of some talent and discipline. He is not just a funny red headed guy. He has the chops, and I look forward to seeing him cast in a show that lets him shine."
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"While I still don’t consider myself an enthusiast, I must admit that Ferguson’s flexibility takes an intense amount of focus and his work here is an accomplishment…'Fully Committed' seems to be swallowed up the massive house...The material itself is humorous...Still, it seems like a plate of hors d’oeuvres at a party: If the tray passes in front of you, you’ll probably eat one and enjoy it, but there’s no real reason to seek it out."
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"Becky Mode’s hilarious satirical look at haute cuisine and the wacky and often short-tempered people who populate that world…Ferguson is a gifted physical comedian, and as he bounces around the stage in director Jason Moore’s production, he works a lot of empathy into his performance.…While it’s not cutting-edge cuisine, Ferguson makes sure it’s delicious."
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"Keeping all these balls in the air as he shifts from role to role is an admirable technical feat but the material bogs down in repetitiousness and lack of dramatic tension. Ferguson is likable but, with the characters being so cartoonish and the need to differentiate them requiring such obvious choices, his enterprise becomes more a technical than an artistic feat. Even for a performance lasting but an hour and 20 minutes, it occasionally becomes as tiring for the audience as for the star."
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"A soufflé of a show being sold as a full expensive meal...I wonder whether there is a better choice of vehicle out there to deliver Ferguson’s talents to a Broadway audience...The satire is amusing, albeit mild and familiar...A gift for vocal impersonations is not, as it turns out, in Ferguson’s wheelhouse...But, if too many of the characters are indistinct and too few are all that interesting, one stands out. Ferguson is a terrific Sam."
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“Some of the jokes could be sharper...it is often strangely polite...But Ferguson is an actor of such irrepressible amiability...Under Jason Moore’s direction, a few of the actorly shifts could occur more quickly and not all the personae have a gestural specificity to match the vocal one. But moving back and forth among 40 distinct characters still represents a tour de force, which Ferguson wears lightly, even humbly, though with obvious enjoyment."
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“Jesse Tyler Ferguson is giving a master class in hysteria...This is a true, theatrical, palate-cleansing delight...The only questionable aspect of the production is the set…’Fully Committed’ is a laugh riot, and a thoroughly satisfying one. The star is as busy as one of those plate-spinners from vaudeville days, keeping things airborne as they throw more and more at him. Ferguson is a joy to behold, and — needless to say — fully committed to your hilarity.”
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“A one-person play for theatergoers who hate one-person plays....Fans of this restaurant-reservationist comedy will not be disappointed...Under Jason Moore‘s otherwise spot-on direction, a few of Ferguson’s haughtier female callers get blurred. He’s better with the men...The two characters that emerge as most distinctive are Sam’s recently widowed father and his baby-carrying brother...There’s nothing funny about them, and they give the show real heart.”
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“Ferguson, despite exhausting commitment to this demanding 80-minute comic showcase, is totally wrong for ‘Fully Committed’...Becky Mode’s invention requires...40-odd customers...Ferguson, alas, appears to have five, maybe six voices at his command...There are pleasures to be had...Every so often, Ferguson gets to burst into physical freedom and away from the nonstop demands of quick-change voices. In those moments, it feels good to welcome him back.”
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"Becky Mode’s one-person satire of social elitism doesn’t exactly offer burning insights, but it is very, very real and quite funny…In a tireless and nimble performance, Jesse Tyler Ferguson vigorously inhabits over a dozen characters…He comfortably commands an audience without mugging or showboating...But it's the more grounded characters who provide a sense of who Sam is, and save the show from being simply a collage of impressions and jabs at it’s-who-you-know culture."
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"He's not the world's greatest impersonator, and, especially at the beginning of the 80-minute show, some of the characters blur together...But the show soon settles down, and, despite not being a virtuoso of voices, Ferguson uses his performing skill and endearing personality to create a very engaging evening…But what most broadens Mode's satire of contemporary restaurant culture into a very human story, as well, is Ferguson's extremely appealing performance."
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“Ferguson, a five-time Emmy nominee, has given many a memorable performance in New York...This blissfully frenetic expedition takes things to a whole new level...Ferguson had help from a Juilliard dialect coach nailing all the different accents, and succeeds brilliantly…‘Fully Committed’ wraps on a note more satisfying than anything we imagine is actually cooked up at this ridiculous restaurant.”
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"Mr. Ferguson takes on the task, and carries it off brilliantly...There is an arc to the proceedings, and the climax occurs just where it should, and leads to an ending that is satisfying and full of fun. And that’s what I think you’ll join me in feeling at evening’s end. It’s always satisfying and fun and exciting to discover a brilliantly talented comedian with star quality who is himself fully committed to knocking himself out for our pleasure."
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“Ferguson uses the full space and his complete physicality, delving into an array of characters with impressive precision and focus...The problem is that the characters are all just that—characters, with over the top accents and big mannerisms. As performed by Ferguson and directed by Jason Moore, they’re caricatures who don’t always convince as human beings—even these human beings...Alas, the result feels a little underbaked.”
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"The show is a literal tour de force for Ferguson. The actor embodies over 40 characters, making each totally identifiable and distinct. More than simply changing his vocal inflections for the different personas, Ferguson is able to literally become the people presented through physical movements, gestures, and facial expressions…Thanks to a very strong performance and excellent production values all around, this is one completely fulfilling and satisfying experience."
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"Mr. Ferguson has the capability of moving at a frantic pace all over the stage but the characters and the voices somehow remain the same, static with hardly an inflection change; just raised eyebrows, nasal tones and fluttering hands make up the differences in most of the characters...For that reason, we laugh 'for' Mr. Ferguson due to his familiar endearing persona and the effort he puts in to deliver the goods."
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“A triumph of voices and athleticism from Ferguson, who sweats up a storm...The amount of concentration required by Ferguson is impressive and director Jason Moore runs a tight ship. One stray ring or bobbled cue could set the whole thing off, but Ferguson runs through ‘Fully Committed’ surefooted like an Olympian on an obstacle course. The premise loses steam about halfway through, but that's when the playwright wisely turns to Sam's personal life.”
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"Mr. Ferguson is excellent as he plays some 40 callers who all want reservations in his upscale restaurant but why do we care...It’s extremely hard for the audience to follow the conversations which come at you in very short order and most times they are hard to figure out who’s who on which phone. Mr. Ferguson is a delight but this kind of show is not up to Broadway standards."
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"A brilliant tour de force played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson...The show ran many years ago, and it is as funny now as it was in the past...If you want to laugh, you need to check this show out. You will be highly entertained, and you will be satisfied and hungry for more!...This review gets five golden forks!"
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“I had my doubts about the one-man-show thing going in, but they were quickly allayed by Mr. Ferguson's spitfire timing, physical athleticism, and rubber-faced bravado...My wife and I had a rollicking good time. We are seriously considering another attendance given the number of lines and jokes impossible to catch in just one sitting. Mr. Ferguson perfectly captures the pain, absurdity, and, strangely, the power of one consigned to such a position."
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"Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays 40 characters with near-pitch perfection…Both his physical stamina and his dialect precision is impressive…There is not much of a discernible plot to be had in Mode's play...Subtle, the play isn't.,,,As a divertissement, 'Fully Committed' excels. It is an amuse bouche, as there is no better way to pass an evening other than, perhaps, at Pasquale Jones, Cafe Altro Paradiso, or Le Turtle. But you'll never get a reservation there, anyway."
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“I thought I'd be rolling in the aisle...Unfortunately, as cute and adorably cuddly as Jesse Tyler Ferguson is, he's just not an over-the-top character actor--and that is what 110% of this role requires...On a stage about eight times larger than what the show should be presented on, I found little to enjoy and many-a-glance at my watch to check when 90 minutes would finally be up...Sorry Jesse. I really wanted to fill your reservation book up!”
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