ThePearl

See it if George Kaplan is a wild ride. Fans of North by Northwest will love the starting point of this famous character who doesn't exist. The play

Don't see it if is structured in 3 parts with some overlapping elements, and this deepens the experience and themes, which include identity and politics.

Also It's engaging, thought-provoking, fast-paced, and more than a little terrifying. There's a cell of activists all called George, chickens and bad coffee, screenwriters and--horrors!--a novelist... Christina Toth is a special delight, but the entire cast is superb in roles that change in each act. Strong direction keeps the madness on track. This is an exciting piece of meta-theatre about, among other things, the nature of narrative and storytelling. See it if you can.... Read more Read less

See it if This is such a good play but maybe not well served by this production. The literal set fights agains the distancing effect of the double

Don't see it if casting; this needs to play in a more abstracted space. The New Ohio/P 73 production worked better in that regard. But very worth checking

Also out for the play itself and the superb acting. Also the play really needs the doubling to keep it interesting for the first two thirds; without that adding interest, humor, and nuance it's a pretty basic family play, so the playwright knows what she's doing in making that choice. There's a big impact from the ending, which is masterful.... Read more Read less

See it if I've loved many of Bess Wohl's plays but this one, while watchable and quite interesting in parts, failed to fully land for me. The decision

Don't see it if to focus on the relationship of the teenagers (and to write it as a two-hander), while including just the vaguest details about the camp

Also and the political atmosphere at the time, ended up feeling like the playwright was pulling her punches. Some of the more interesting ideas, as in one scene with a Dom/sub theme, weren't followed through on. The acting from two newcomers was very good, the set was impressive, and the direction kept things moving, but in the end there was a lot of summer camp romance and not enough political bite.... Read more Read less

See it if If you love new plays and theatre that's weird in the best way, you'll love this play. Arbery is engaged in a balancing act, and there is a

Don't see it if deep creative intelligence at work here. Yes, the play can get dark, as it it engages with some dark topics, including depression and

Also suicidal ideation, but they are addressed in honest and surprising ways, employing humor and terror in equal measure. The play has something to say about depression and climate change and city planning and relationships, all underpinned by an existential dread experienced in different and shared ways by all of the characters and faced with unblinking courage. Terrific production overall--excellent cast, precise, exciting directing by Danya Taymor, as well as great set, lights, sound.... Read more Read less

See it if This Dead Centre production is postmodern Chekhov; smart, high-octane, and theatrical. Frenetic in parts and also precise and intentional,

Don't see it if it's Chekhov's themes, settings, and character types deconstructed into a late stage capitalism take that is part Pirandello, Sarah Kane,

Also Durang, and Hamletmachine and all Chekhov. A thrilling evening of theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if Go see it for Linda Lavin, she brings the laughs, the gravitas, and the heart. The production is watchable—strong performances, directing,

Don't see it if staging overall. Daniel K. Isaac is reliable as always; maybe a little too low-key given the context. The actor/acting class in-jokes land

Also well. But the play itself trying to have it both ways—it’s not truly experimental, it’s got the DNA of a traditional play with some sort-of experimental/fantastical elements grafted onto it. But the seams really show. It leans away from the emotional, which is a-ok, but then it doesn't replace that with anything, so it feels like it’s lacking ballast; maybe the Wizard of Oz/home undercurrent is supposed to add this. This was a preview and the production is still being worked on so it may be different by the time it opens.... Read more Read less

See it if It was a thrill to see this seminal Ping Chong piece remounted and updated. It has continuing relevance in what it says about Otherness, the

Don't see it if journey of the artist & NYC since 1972, and our post-covid world. It's a rich, moving farewell by a key practitioner of performance theater.

See it if The production has its moments and Peter Maloney filling in as Clyde was a treat. Some clever dialogue, funny in parts, also dark, as one

Don't see it if would expect given the subject matter. Overall it felt undercooked & a bit schematic but solid for an early effort by a talented playwright.

See it if This is, simply, a thrilling show. It provides the audience with a moment-to-moment experience of time as the phenomenal David Greenspan in

Don't see it if a tour de force performance embodies Gertrude Stein’s text, holding the audience in the present tense with him. It’s flawlessly directed by

Also Ken Rus Schmoll who, with Greenspan, teases out the text’s rhythms, sounds, and humor. It’s language-rich, surprising, moving, and, yes, challenging and resistant to the easy extraction of meaning. It’s truly stunning.... Read more Read less

See it if Julia Jarcho & minor theater's take on Woyzeck is constantly surprising, funny/sexy/dark and just really really cool. See it if you can. The

Don't see it if music is great, has a punk/Kurt Weill vibe. The actors are compelling and the layers added by the songs--mostly sung by a fantastic Kedian

Also Keohan who manages to give callow and louche at the same time--and the creative doubling by Jarcho and Jennifer Seastone, enhance the overall effect. The directing is sharp and sure, as are the set, lighting, on-stage music, and sound design. Muscular, clever, well-done text and lyrics. The baby is *chef's kiss*.... Read more Read less

See it if This is a tight two-hander about, among other things, economic and social instability, a male friendship, and fatherhood, written by Samuel

Don't see it if Hunter with a lot of specificity as well as some humor and harrowing moments. It’s extremely well-acted. The direction and lighting are

Also precise and understated. The class contrast between the two characters shows, in a non-sentimental but also moving way, how some bad breaks or the lack of even a modest financial and/or social safety net can adversely affect a person or family, a harsh and real aspect of life for so many Americans and one that we don’t see depicted much on NYC stages. It’s a small, thought-provoking play, well-crafted, and largely grounded in realism. I kind of kept hoping it would transcend its specific setting and story and maybe, in a less subtle way than it does, fulfill the promise of the title, but that’s not the kind of play this is. It deals more in emotional moments than it does in theatricality or profundities.... Read more Read less

See it if This play creaks. Not at all relevant. Not that every play has to be or even should be, but for a revival if there is no current resonance,

Don't see it if it should at least be excellent material. SJP was very good and I liked Matthew Broderick too, he made some interesting comic choices

Also with weaker material. Great chemistry and the two were fun to watch. And I get that that's really the point of this production. Molly Ranson's talent was completely wasted, though. Why not cast a young actor who could shine in these small parts and also could use a Broadway credit. Anyhow, I digress...... Read more Read less

See it if Debra Messing was fine and touching. Crystal Finn was a delight. Susannah Flood and Enrico Colantoni were superb. But, in service to what?

Don't see it if Watching a woman live out her life in lockstep with passé gender roles? All that was missing was prison bars across the proscenium. It was

Also depressing. Yes, the conceit of the play (and the Thornton Wilder play that inspired it) is the march to the grave, and that is a sobering thought, a stark reminder to live life in the face of our mortality. But that wasn’t even the depressing part. Ernestine lives a life so circumscribed and devoid of agency that senility seems like an early release (although I felt, all of a sudden, like I was watching the end of Sharr White’s The Other Place). I admired Noah Haidle’s Smokefall very much, but Birthday Candles was a disappointment from a fine playwright. Male playwrights, if you’re going to write about women's lives, you need to do better.... Read more Read less

See it if Given the strong cast and usually brilliant director, this play added up to very little, which has to be laid at the feet of the writing.

Don't see it if The acting is solid, and Marin Ireland is especially good. But the play is so static and cliched that there's little the actors or director

Also could do to make it sing. It operates somewhat like the playwright's (failed) version of Mary Page Marlowe (Tracy Letts) or For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday (Sarah Ruhl) but not as sharply observed or successfully stylized (although For Peter Pan had its own issues and longeurs...). I guess see it if you're a die-hard fan of any or all of these actors...... Read more Read less

See it if A tight, entertaining play, well-honed by the talented Nottage. Each funny line lands. Under the humor is dark (also sometimes predictable)

Don't see it if backstory, giving the play ballast. The cast is superb. The direction adds a lot of texture. Loved the weaving in of a character from Sweat.

Also Loved the sandwich recipe and teamwork themes, which were giving American Hero (Bess Wohl) and Lunch Bunch (Sarah Einspanier) somewhat, but not in a derivative way. Loved the leaning into the heaven and hell theme. Loved the costumes. It's not Nottage's usual heavier fare but there's more here to chew on than meets the eye...or tooth... Thoroughly enjoyable.... Read more Read less

See it if This is a thought-proving evening at the theatre that features 3 one-act plays, Brecht's The Jewish Wife and two new plays that were written

Don't see it if in response to Brecht's. Arlene Hutton's Sunset Point and Kristin Idaszak's Self Help in the Anthropocene are both strong plays. Hutton's is

Also set in the literary world and is smart, engaging, and humorous until things take a turn, and Idaszak's, set in the future, is [largely] a sharp, well-crafted monologue with props, very well-executed by actor Lucy Lavely. With its past/present/future construct the show warns that things we think we may have left in the past, like certain kinds of persecution, are never far away.... Read more Read less

See it if The relationship between German painter Franz Marc and bohemian poet Else Lasker Schüler is at the core of this wildly theatrical play

Don't see it if written and directed by Ran Xia. The language is robust, surprising, and poetic, and the staging is full of inventive flourishes that

Also complement the play's expressionistic style. This is a play about an intense friendship and two people connecting through art, and across time and space. It's also about war, being the Other, and needing to feel secure and be seen. You may not follow every nuance of the action but it's a gorgeous experience regardless. It's also really funny in parts. The actors, Finn Kilgore as Franz and Alyssa Simon as Else, do superb work here. Musician Luke Santy provides a beautiful, rich live score, and set, lighting, and costume design are very well done.... Read more Read less

See it if This is an idea-based play by the talented Will Eno that explores life's Big Questions, not unlike Wakey Wakey and some of his other plays.

Don't see it if It's a very empathetic, humane play and is well worth a look. The structure is interesting and bold but, as the play goes on, it does start

Also to feel somewhat schematic and slow in parts. Some great dialogue and funny lines. The hospital scene was a stand-out for me. And as usual with Eno, a memorable curtain line. Thought-provoking about human life on earth, our connectedness, chance, fate, love, aging, multiverses and other mysteries, and the sometimes-absurdity of it all.... Read more Read less

See it if Martha (Stewart) as a deity with the power to recreate Sodom and Gomorrah in a fruit basket and a recent urge to flood the earth--this time

Don't see it if without a heads' up about an ark--and just start over? Why not? This clever, absurdist play by Wendy A. Schmidt imagines the possibilities

Also and tosses in some yoga, accountancy, Jim Morrison and Lot's wife, too. Actor Amy Gorelow shines in a range of roles in a play full of ideas and some sharp theatrical flourishes, with strong writing by Schmidt and fine directing by Jeri Frederickson. For fans of absurdist theatre, it's a good thing.... Read more Read less

See it if Neil LaBute's Appomattox is terrific--the clear stand-out of the Series B program. The writing, acting and directing are superb. LaBute's

Don't see it if mastery and talent are on fine display in this timely and edgy play about reparations. Sharr White's Lucky, about PTSD, is performed at such

Also a glacial pace that it's hard to get a fix on it. It has some strong emotional moments. Providence by Nancy Bleemer is a comedy; pleasing but slight. Series B is worth checking out for the LaBute alone (and that play is largely the basis of my score). Kudos to the set, light, costume, sound, projection and props folks--they do an elegant and creative job given the minimalist constraints of the format.... Read more Read less

See it if Series C has some strong moments but there's not really one stand-out play. Kate Atwell's Jesus in Manhattan is the most ambitious and

Don't see it if interesting, but at times feels like a Caryl Churchill mash-up or homage and likely needs more drafts to get it to a place where the

Also playwright's own voice and also some clarity emerge. But it is powerful. Lloyd Suh's Mandarin Duck is charming, sad, and frustrating, hinting at something mysterious that doesn't materialize. i believe in a republic is entertaining and theatrical but, for all its satirical hijinks, should have been sharper. The Tourists is entertaining and uncomfortable in equal parts, with fine performances but doesn't seem to know where it wants to go and ends up in a sentimental, yet sort of satisfying, heap. Fall is also a sentimental play, or call it "moving," if this is your cup of tea. Well-calibrated performances and controlled direction in a play about a mother with dementia, her daughter, and a caregiver. It seems churlish to say anything negative about such a worthy enterprise, and the daughter has a strong although expedited arc, but I do get a bit weary with the aging parent/Alzheimers/caregiver set-up. The title and its use in the play provides a nice homonymic/metaphoric resonance.... Read more Read less

See it if Harron Atkins's Tempo is the standout here, miles above the other Series B plays. Fine acting by Cecil Blutcher and Wesley T Jones, great

Don't see it if voice-over work, and sharp direction by Collette Robert of a play that is funny, fresh, heartbreaking, empathetic, theatrical and all-around

Also masterful. Cayenne Douglass's Oh My, Goodness features exceptional, wrenching performances by Zach Grenier and Margot White and is smartly and tightly directed by William Carden. The set, lighting, and sound design are excellent. The play itself has some lovely writing but suffers from the predictability of most "issue" plays. The other 3 plays in the series are fine but, as issue plays, are often operating in the territory of the "known" and falling into the preachy. Amanda Quaid's The Extinctionist has some good ideas that she pushes in interesting directions but the pace is way too slow--the actors were speaking slowly, not picking up their cues, and wallowing in every pause, so it was hard to get a real sense of the play. The Guard Will Escort You to Ruff-Ruff has a nice theatrical element in the form of a Chinese factory inspector and the cast is great. Privilege is well-acted and has a thought-provoking set-up but doesn't have the time to build it into much.... Read more Read less

See it if Two of the plays are knockouts--well-written, acted, directed: Rosie by Lily Houghton, who scored Danya Taymor as director and Tricycle

Don't see it if Backflip by Dan Giles, crisply directed by Matt Dickson. Amy Fox's I'm Sorry is cleverly conceived and has its moments but the start is

Also stronger than the finish. The other two plays didn't land for me--both issue plays that are earnest and may resonate for some. On balance, Series A is a strong grouping, and anyone interested in new writing and in supporting emerging artists should check it out.... Read more Read less

See it if You need to have a taste for Greek theatre, meta-theatrics, chamber opera, poetic language, and/or experimentation to appreciate this play.

Don't see it if The stylish, noirish atmosphere created by the talented set & lighting designers sets the tone for this work, in which the Euripides version

Also of Helen (the one where she's not even in Troy but off in Egypt) bumps up against the Marilyn myth. A screenwriter (the brilliant Ben Whishaw) with a Kennedy-esque accent dictates a script, stage directions and all, to a stenographer (a perfect Renee Fleming) whose gorgeous singing takes over some of the storytelling from both the script and the story playing out in the room, an office in LA, New Year's Eve 1963. This is not a perfect work, but in these days of too many easy, on-the-nose issue plays, the ambition of these creators is admirable. The climax lacked some clarity and the ending was what one might expect, but overall, the stylishness and intelligence of the production, and the music, language and acting made NJBoT a resonant journey to lean in to and experience. The Shed is a big venue, and I felt like I was watching the dimly-lit proceedings through a window, across an expanse of night, adding a voyeuristic element that made sense, given the world's gaze on Marilyn & Helen.... Read more Read less

See it if This is an experimental, immersive piece created in the room with the audience a crucial part of the show. It's audience participation-lite,

Don't see it if led by the theatre company members in a respectful, positive way. During the show, community is built, a story is hinted at, and it makes

Also you think about how we care about the people around us--friends and strangers--as well as ourselves. It's quite moving--a thought-provoking experience. Of course it also shows how easily most of us are led but the show didn't much explore the dark side of that phenomenon.... Read more Read less

See it if Fine acting and a mostly strong script by Kessler made this an absorbing evening of theatre. That said, you do have to overlook some uneven-

Don't see it if ness of tone and some unlikely events and go along for the ride. At its best, it's tensely entertaining and moving. Feels like the script

Also needs more work and streamlining but there are flashes of brilliance to be brought out and some preachiness to be toned down.... Read more Read less

See it if Strong acting all around, especially from Danielle Skraastad and Mia Barron, who had the best-written parts. Some great comic moments and

Don't see it if monologues. You had to take it on faith that Diane is making things happen because you don't really see her in action. She should have

Also been the strongest, most compelling character and she comes across as the flattest. I suppose you can argue that that characteristic allows the "girls" to project onto her what they want or need to see but I would have liked to have seen some of that vaunted "charisma" in action. Because the play is schematic and because Diane announces her intentions in advance in numerous monologues, there's a predictability, and the playwright seems slightly hamstrung by her concept. There's a climate change theme. I don't know what else to say about that...the recent glut of issue-driven plays continues. The play hits its sweet spots in the comic moments and also in Mia Barron's final turn. These are where George's writing really shines and her intelligence and clever, observational humor are on fine display. Strong direction, nice light and sound, and great set, sort of wish we could have seen the urban jungle beyond the French doors...... Read more Read less

See it if NASSIM is more theatrical than dramatic. It has good momentum, some funny moments, some touching moments (veering into the sentimental)

Don't see it if and some educational moments. The high wire act/gimmick of the unrehearsed actor gives the piece immediacy. Reed Birney was superb; a treat.

Also That said, the stage environment was very controlled--the actor was not going to fail/fall. Not that the audience wants them to, but the unrehearsed-actor-thing--performance-wise and emotionally--seemed somewhat low risk. Still, it was an interesting show and a chance to learn about Nassim Soleimanpour's real struggles and creative solutions for getting his work seen, although not in his homeland. And see him employ language (and tomatoes...) as as bridge between people. Also a chance to see some of our best actors navigate a one-time performance of a role which is scripted yet they're largely playing themselves.... Read more Read less

See it if You like earnest feminist theatre. A soupçon of irony would have helped. Interesting ideas here but not fully realized. A bit too schematic.

Don't see it if Maybe a rewrite short of being ready. It's a good looking production, mostly well-acted.

Also Worth a look for some of the performances, especially a superb Brittany Anikka Liu as Tina and a strong Lisa Ramirez as Wilma, with all credit to the playwright for creating these interesting characters I wanted to see more of. A relationship "reveal" was not all that surprising.... Read more Read less

See it if The play had some riveting scenes and some moving ones, too, but overall the docu-style made it less theatrical than you would want, despite

Don't see it if some interesting choices by the director. There's an inherent predictability in this kind of play that wasn't fully overcome. Characters

Also were underdeveloped; there to serve plot. As a shocking, lesser-known piece of America history and history of science/medicine, it's an important show. But when you're at the theatre and a largely predictable narrative is at the forefront of what you're seeing, you start to feel like maybe you should be reading the New Yorker article instead. That said, there's talent here, and Charly Evon Simpson is an emerging playwright to watch. Kudos to the Sloan program for supporting important stories that may not otherwise be seen. EST as always does a fine job and punches above their weight, with a stylish set, strong lighting design and other tech aspects, excellent performaces by the female actors (the men came off as a bit caricature-ish but perhaps that was on the page), and robust, interesting directing.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a masterful playwright's talents on display in three short, powerful plays. LaBute's dialogue is mind-blowingly good, as

Don't see it if always, and he continues to provoke us--dare us--to see the darker side of human beings on earth. The atmosphere in the audience was

Also especially tense during the first monologue, styled as a speech by a mild-mannered Hitler devotee. The piece is sharply directed by John Pierson and flawlessly performed by Eric Dean White, keeping it all under control while fielding a few audience heckles. In the middle play, there's crisp LaButean dialogue and very good, winning performances by Brenda Meaney and KeiLyn Durrel Jones. The third piece, a monologue with a lot of layers and strands, was well-shaped by LaBute's direction of a strong Gia Crovatin (in a weirdly dowdy costume). Otherwise, costumes, set, lights, sound all well-done, especially for a low-key production. Nice touch re the use of flowers in each play; in the third one, on a Marimekko mug... The show's three plays were pulled together by the themes of art and truth. LaBute can be polarizing, but even if you have your issues, there is much to admire in the boldness, precision, and talent at work here.... Read more Read less

See it if You can get a ticket or if it extends...it's a zeitgeist-y, sexy ride of a show that takes chances and is provocative and entertaining. It's

Don't see it if sort of Octoroon, Barbeque and Small Mouth Sounds all shaken up to yield something that's its own thing. Superb...watch this playwright.

Also That said, it's not a perfect play and has its longueurs, especially in the middle act, but I'd rather see something that takes chances than the half-cooked issue plays that many of the Off Broadway theaters are programming in order to be "relevant" and part of "the conversation"...... Read more Read less

See it if Donahue's directing and Laffrey's set really make this play, it's a very strong production. The play itself is clever and funny and shows a

Don't see it if lot of writing talent that sometimes lands and sometimes falls short. Except for Verson's Betty, the characters were pretty type-y, perhaps

Also on purpose, but that made it hard to engage on an emotional level. The insistence on saying "pussy" at every turn seemed more juvenile than shocking. The acting is fine across the board with Dana Delaney, Ana Villafane and Adina Verson as stand outs. And that prop delivery system is da bomb.... Read more Read less

See it if you like comedy, brilliant acting, strong directing. Two actors play several roles, keeping pace perfectly with Hindman's clever script

Don't see it if The play is a love letter to the theatre and has a lot of heart and humor. If you love the theatre you'll have a lot of fun at this show.

See it if you like theatricality, poetic language, strong writing, acting and directing.

Don't see it if you prefer plays with a linear story.

Also This three-character play by Michael Landes, with three strong performances, is riveting, while at the same time challenging, but the power of the symbols, plus strong writing and acting, make it worth it. There's a dystopian, apocalyptic vibe that's cool and compelling in this abstract piece, augmented by impressive radio effects and a stark and evocative set. The character with the flute seems to come from the edges of the female character's consciousness. Deft directing adds shape to the piece.... Read more Read less