Sea Wall / A Life (Broadway)
Closed 1h 50m
Sea Wall / A Life (Broadway)
82

Sea Wall / A Life (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%
(239 Ratings)
Positive
91%
Mixed
8%
Negative
1%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Great writing, Thought-provoking, Intense

About the Show

After a sold-out run at The Public Theater, this intimate evening of solo work starring Jake Gyllenhaal ("Sunday in the Park with George") and Tony Award nominee Tom Sturridge ("1984") comes to Broadway. 

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Show-Score Member Reviews (239)

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350 Reviews | 163 Followers
100
Must see, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Great writing, Riveting

See it if you want to see two great actors perform two brilliantly crafted and layered monologues. I was completely absorbed the entire time

Don't see it if you need something with a lot of action or can't focus on just one actor delivering a monologue Read more

302 Reviews | 99 Followers
100
Riveting, Masterful, Intelligent, Great acting, Emotional

See it if you'd enjoy 2 stories of men dealing with life and death. They both show a vulnerability that is heartbreaking to experience.

Don't see it if You need a large cast and lots of action to enjoy the show. These are two men who are deeply affected by events in their lives.

70 Reviews | 33 Followers
98
Thought-provoking, Profound, Masterful, Intelligent, Absorbing

See it if You want to be absolutely absorbed into two monologues about love and loss. An absolute masterwork.

Don't see it if You want a big, loud show that leaves you as a passive viewer.

519 Reviews | 256 Followers
97
Profound, Great acting, Intense, Exquisite

See it if Two men share emotional stories abt their wives,children,parents creating strong connection with the audience. Grt acting,writing,directing

Don't see it if you don't like Tom Sturbridge, JACK GULLYENHALL nor if you don't like moving stories /monologues. Read more

311 Reviews | 45 Followers
97
Resonant, Great acting, Great writing, Absorbing

See it if you enjoy superb acting displaying vulnerability & heart-wrenching performances & embracing the audience

Don't see it if You prefer razzle-dazzle to serious theater.

80 Reviews | 11 Followers
96
Emotionally tiring, Great staging, Riveting, Heartbreaking, Great acting

See it if two one acts of one man monologues which interplay with each other is intriguing to you; you want to be carried on an emotional journey

Don't see it if the pain of losing loved ones is too hard to handle at the moment; the intensity of a deliberately quiet theatre is uncomfortable for you Read more

130 Reviews | 12 Followers
95
Riveting, Resonant, Profound, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You want to see masterfully acted monologues, and have a thoughtful night at the theatre.

Don't see it if You don’t like monologue plays, quiet moments, introspection, sensitive topics dealing with life, and death, children, and parents.

137 Reviews | 13 Followers
95
Great writing, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if you don't mind one-person serious shows

Don't see it if you prefer lighter fare Read more

Critic Reviews (23)

The New York Times
August 8th, 2019

CRITIC’S PICK "Quiet Tragicomedies of Love and Loss: In a tender pair of monologues, Tom Sturridge and Jake Gyllenhaal portray young fathers shaken out of complacency."
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Time Out New York
August 8th, 2019

★★★ "Pairing two shows back-to-back sometimes brings out the best in both; sometimes, it only makes the virtues of one of them shine brighter. The latter is the case in 'Sea Wall/A Life'...Both deal with grief…But in every regard, the first of the two puts the second in the shade."
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The Wall Street Journal
August 15th, 2019

"‘Sea Wall/A Life’ Review: Double Trouble. Two dramatic monologues, by Simon Stephens and Nick Payne and performed on Broadway by Tom Sturridge and Jake Gyllenhaal, offer uninspired views of modern masculinity."
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Deadline
August 8th, 2019

"Jake Gyllenhaal And Tom Sturridge Bring Power To The Big Stage."
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Variety
August 8th, 2019

"The writing in these separate monologues is excellent, as are the solo performances, but this is no show to see on a first date."
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The Observer
August 8th, 2019

"While each piece has its distinct temperature and tone-dank, rising horror in Stephens, neatly braided strands of light and dark in Payne-they are similar in self-conscious literary patterning...Such writerly flourishes can be either annoying or pleasing."
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The Washington Post
August 8th, 2019

"Jake Gyllenhaal is a stage animal for sure. But he needs more feral turf in ‘Sea Wall/A Life.’"
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Entertainment Weekly
August 8th, 2019

B+ "Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge will make you cry in 'Sea Wall/A Life'"
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