Love in Hate Nation NJ Reviews and Tickets

84%

(56 Reviews)

Positive

88%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great singing, Entertaining, Delightful, Relevant, Great acting

About the Show

Joe Iconis ("Be More Chill") returns to Two River with this world premiere musical about love and rebellion among teenage girls in a 1960s juvie hall.

From the show:

"Joe Iconis is “…The Future of Musical Theater.” – The New York Times

A turbulent rock romance set in a 1960s Juvie Hall, Love in Hate Nation uses classic “bad girl” movies as the inspiration for the story of young people caught between eras of a changing America. Sixteen-year old Susannah Son is carted off to the National Reformatory for Girls to get her head put on straight. There she meets the aggressively incorrigible Sheila Nail, and a relationship forms which leads to an all-out “revolution in the institution” as they attempt to break out of the boxes society has created around them. Girl Group Wall of Sound harmonies are filtered through a punk rock spirit in this rebellious and romantic new musical.

Member Reviews (56)

Quirky, Refreshing, Great singing, Cliched, Clever

See it if You are an Iconis completist , like girl groups, women's prison movies , and bright , young talent

Don't see it if You need male voices and intricate rhymes

Ambitious, Entertaining, Intelligent, Great singing

See it if Joe Iconis tells another story about youth, but we can all relate; smart and sassy. Very talented cast.

Don't see it if Have to travel.

Quirky, Must see, Edgy, Entertaining, Great singing

See it if you are an Iconis fan, want to see several stars in the making, or want to get some super catchy tunes stuck in your head

Don't see it if you don't like 60s cult films, you can't skip over a few slow points, or are put off by an all-girl (well, 95%) cast

Quirky, Great staging, Great singing, Entertaining, Clever

See it if you enjoy edgy new musicals with a pop young vibe.

Don't see it if you prefer peppy old-style musicals with simple and safe stories. Read more

Quirky, Delightful, Resonant, Refreshing, Entertaining

See it if If you enjoy a great score by Joe Iconis in a show with an interesting and novel plot.

Don't see it if If you need to see a very traditional musical with elaborate sets. Read more

Confusing, Ambitious, Great singing

See it if You enjoy 50s girl group music (the music seems to be inspired by it). You appreciate good singing.

Don't see it if You want a show that makes sense. There were a few side stories that weren't clear. Read more

J. iconis needs to collaborate on his books, Book & characters need retooling, Drawn out & predictable epilogue, Second string cast, Hairspray meets chicago meets annie

See it if love, love Joe Iconis. Although this show doesn't have the same catchy tunes as his others, despite many reprises of several numbers.

Don't see it if want great acting/singing. Most of the cast feel like second choices. Plot points can be seen a mile away. The "revolution" in Act 2 drags Read more

Overrated, Insipid, Disappointing, Cliched, Banal

See it if If they like repetitious mayhem.

Don't see it if if you enjoy good theater.

Critic Reviews (7)

"In ‘Love in Hate Nation,’ the Revolution Will Not Be Scrutinized: Joe Iconis’s new musical celebrates women’s prison flicks and girl group harmonies. But his teen rebels could use a cause."
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"'Love in Hate Nation' Is Not the New Orange Is the New Black: Joe Iconis's women-in-prison musical makes its world premiere at Two River Theater."
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