A Soldier's Play
Closed 1h 30m
A Soldier's Play
86

A Soldier's Play NYC Reviews and Tickets

86%
(29 Ratings)
Positive
97%
Mixed
0%
Negative
3%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Riveting

About the Show

Negro Ensemble Company remounts their production of  Charles Fuller's 1981 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama set at a segregated Louisiana Army base during World War II.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (29)

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116 Reviews | 53 Followers
100
Must see, Riveting, Thought-provoking, Great creatives & cast!, Powerful theater!

See it if U appreciate 1st rate drama from Pulitzer winning playwright, seasoned Direction, passionate cast & talented support team in an A+ revival.

Don't see it if U prefer fluffy shows. U can't deal with racial & segregation facts in American history. U dislike period plays. This one is worth seeing! Read more

209 Reviews | 150 Followers
95
Must see, Riveting, Masterful, Thought-provoking, Great acting

See it if Interested in a finding out who killed the sarge on southern navy baseRacism, demotions,anger and turmoil make for a riveting showGreat cast

Don't see it if Don’t like dramas. Racism & use of disparaging terms

165 Reviews | 22 Followers
95
Absorbing, Great acting, Great staging

See it if I saw this production tonight along with my wife.Both of us thought that this play was awesome.The characterization of the play was on point

Don't see it if If you need a lavish set or that you don't want to enjoy a play dealing with the Blacks being in command.This production has a no big names. Read more

106 Reviews | 75 Followers
94
Absorbing, Great acting, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Must see

See it if want to see great acting in a truly absorbing story. A mystery, but filled with racial tensions & an insight on what racial military

Don't see it if no reason NOT to see it.Everyone should see this & look deep inside themselves as this is as relevant today as it was the day it was written

287 Reviews | 32 Followers
92
Absorbing, Intense, Relevant, Riveting, Great staging

See it if you're looking for a classic drama that still resonates today. You want a great performance from an ensemble cast.

Don't see it if the issues of racism and segregation greatly disturb you.

56 Reviews | 2 Followers
90
Absorbing, Riveting, Relevant, Great acting, Ambitious

See it if You want to see a superbly acted play. It is riveting and hearbreaking. Highly recommend it

Don't see it if You want avant guard theater. This is a straightforward who-done-it. But it will keep you engaged until the end.

150 Reviews | 17 Followers
88
Masterful, Thought-provoking, Resonant, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You enjoy a play that unfolds like a mystery that must be solved with twists and turns along the way.

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with plays that deal with racism and that use of strong language.

97 Reviews | 16 Followers
85
Relevant, Great staging, Great acting, Clever

See it if you like plays about racial issues that have not (sadly) been resolved yet and if you are a fan of In the Heat of the Night-type scenarios

Don't see it if you are a bigot or a racist Read more

Critic Reviews (8)

Theater Pizzazz
February 24th, 2018

"The noble revival that resonates powerfully on several levels...A gripping mystery story...Weldon has assembled a dedicated cast of twelve...they shine as an ensemble...Fuller writes about racism and man's capacity for cruelty and hatred...Fuller is asking us to look at ourselves long and hard in our own culture, and to question from whence this terrible capacity comes...Meanwhile, 'A Soldier's Play' will remain in repertoire...until we find the answers."
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TheaterScene.com
February 28th, 2018

"An involving murder mystery, but it was, and is, much more...As blazingly relevant today...About race and, at the same time, more than race...The audience can enjoy guessing who the culprit, or culprits, might be...Directed with much care...The only disappointing performances were those of the white officers...Fuller's writing is so strong that it can well withstand less than brilliant performances...Touches our most intimate hopes and terrors, make the play a classic in the true sense."
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TheaterScene.net
October 1st, 2017
For a previous production

"Gripping, and powerfully performed, this is a superb revival...Mr. Fuller weaves a highly suspenseful and racially charged murder mystery that justifiably was showered with theatrical accolades...Tucker’s towering performance as Waters is the muscle of this successful production...Weldon’s physical staging inventively, precisely, and aesthetically utilizes the large stage to faithfully realize the material...'A Soldier's Play' is a modern classic that has been flawlessly mounted."
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Front Row Center
October 3rd, 2017
For a previous production

"An uneven revival...The mood of this production is more melancholy and ghostly than urgent and vigorous…Tucker turns in a fine performance as the troubled Waters…Reuben has a handful of nice, subtle moments as Davenport, but saddled with the job of endless questioning and busy with way too much scribbling in his notebook, we rarely feel for him…Director Weldon finds the right theatricality...The barely there set is evidence of a nonprofit theater company in need of donations.”
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Village Voice
October 4th, 2017
For a previous production

“The sketchy scenery and wardrobe for director Charles Weldon’s rough-around-the-edges production makes plain the NEC’s shoestring budget. Fortunately, Fuller’s sharply written text, which is partly a detective story and partly a study in racism of different varieties, remains so compelling that these sparse visuals and some not-altogether-proficient acting by a twelve-member company scarcely diminish its power to engage an audience.”
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N
October 1st, 2017
For a previous production

“The heavy lifting here is done by an excellent cast, with actors doing double duty as both members of the ensemble and featured characters…At a time when the President of the United States can defend the white nationalists protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee by saying they included ‘some very fine people,’ we need ‘A Soldier’s Play’ more than ever.”
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Times Square Chronicles
October 5th, 2017
For a previous production

"The production is done well, and the story is evocative with complex themes and characters...The actors are incredible. Their articulated 'Army' movement of the characters is theatrically compelling...Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this play is its relevance to our current sociopolitical climate...This masterful and stimulating play is a must-see."
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T
September 29th, 2017
For a previous production

“The whole cast does an outstanding job. Jimmy Gary Jr. touches your heart strings in one scene when he is put in prison. Chaz Reuben shines in his role especially as the narrator. Gil Tucker is so convincing in the role you want to smack him in the face for being so nasty and righteous. The play is worth seeing. It still has something to say. Go see it to find out. I felt the second act had more impact and fire on the audience.”
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