Sea Wall / A Life (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (236)
See it if If you like a monologue play that is deep. Two stories about life and loss . A play that deals with deep subject matter.
Don't see it if If you want something that is lite and easy. Or a comedy.
See it if you would enjoy two spectacular monologues, by superb actors, taking you away into these moving stories of the pain we experience in life.
Don't see it if you want a snazzy Broadway show - this has minimal staging, requires you to listen intently and form your own vision of the other characters
See it if Take of two monologues. Jake’s was great. Tom’s was lacking. Can’t say much beyond. Very minimal otherwise.
Don't see it if You don’t like monologue shows about serious subjects.
See it if the big questions of birth and death approached as narratives interest you. In both monologues actors tell a story from the character's POV
Don't see it if If you want action on stage these are memories with a suggestion of action created by intercutting the stories.
See it if u want an opportunity to see these two fine actors deliver emotional (if somewhat shallow) monologues about life, death, reflection & grief.
Don't see it if u seek an invigorating, hopeful evening; u want high production values vs modest staging; u'd rather wait to see these 2 in full productions Read more
See it if You love storytelling monologue plays and are okay with heavy subject matter.
Don't see it if You’re just going to see Gyllenhaal. He’s great, but the plays aren’t memorable and are very difficult to sit through.
See it if Two actors peel away the vulnerability and deliver two monologues conjoined thematically about connecting: Life and death/birth and grief.
Don't see it if Acting is in your surnames.We know you can act, there are celluloid receipts.We deserve better than cuttings & crumbs.Sole reason 4 transfer
See it if Wonderful acting. Much more somber than I expected, But the actors were great and it was a treat to see them.
Don't see it if This is two monologues so if you want a big broadway musical this will not be for you. Read more
Critic Reviews (23)
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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★★★ "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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B+ "Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge will make you cry in 'Sea Wall/A Life'"
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"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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"‘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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"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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"Jake Gyllenhaal And Tom Sturridge Bring Power To The Big Stage."
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"Jake Gyllenhaal is a stage animal for sure. But he needs more feral turf in ‘Sea Wall/A Life.’"
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