About Love NYC Reviews and Tickets

80%

(45 Reviews)

Positive

89%

Mixed

11%

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Enchanting, Romantic, Absorbing, Entertaining

About the Show

Based on Ivan Turgenev's short story, this new play with songs and music tells the story of a young man, whose summer in the Russian countryside changes everything.

From the show:

A young man expects to spend a quiet summer with his parents in the Russian countryside, but soon discovers those three months will be most consequential of his life, as he learns the difference between love and passion, and the ephemeral nature of life itself.

About Love is a new play with songs and music, based on the exquisite short story, “First Love,” by Ivan Turgenev. Featuring a haunting jazz score by Nancy Harrow and a versatile cast of six playing eighteen characters, all within a bold, theatrical staging by Will Pomerantz, About Love promises to be a unique theatrical event.

Best known for his novel Fathers and Sons, and his play, A Month in the Country, Ivan Turgenev was one of the first Russian writers to achieve international fame. About Love is a fresh re-telling of one of his most memorable stories.

Member Reviews (45)

Poignant, Well staged, Strong acting/singing, Enchanting, Absorbing

See it if you like coming-of-age stories. Joys/woes of 1st love. Gr perfs fr 2 leads. Clever adaptn. Modern songs underscore timeless emotions. Go see

Don't see it if you only like political focus; this is ABOUT LOVE (tho social status matters). Untradl story-telling. Gr band. Effective barebones set/costu

Enchanting, Great writing, Absorbing, Riveting, Entertaining

See it if You enjoy great storytelling. This is an engrossing story, made even more enjoyable with the addition of music. Great acting/costumes.

Don't see it if You don’t like bare bones staging. Six actors playing multiple roles and using mostly only an assortment of chairs for a set. Read more

Entertaining, Exquisite, Clever, Absorbing, Ambitious

See it if If you like Russia stories [ literature]. Well acted and each has multiple roles. A play of awakening.

Don't see it if If you do not like a time piece that takes you on a journey. Russian literature. Bare bones staging.

Tender, Touching, Romantic, Lovely, Wistful

See it if 16 y.o. boy falls for 21 y.o. beauty surrounded by suitors in 19th c. Russia. Ecstatic highs & lows. Wonderful direction, acting & music.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in a surprising romantic tale that will evoke memories of your first love. Alternates use of narrative & dialog. Read more

Enchanting, Great staging, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if u want a charming (& tragic), well-acted, simply (but effectively) staged, uniquely told memory play about the joy & anguish of first love.

Don't see it if you will be as bothered as I was by a jazz score to accompany a 19th C Russian drama. Read more

Engaging lead player, Strong ensemble cast, Great story, Handsome, Accomplished

See it if you love Russian lit or great writing & are OK with the Story Theater genre.

Don't see it if you want to see a play, as distinct from a story told onstage. Read more

Delightful, Great singing, Great acting, Entertaining, Romantic

See it if you enjoy a story well-told by an energetic, small cast, many speaking for the main character, occasionally bursting into song w/a good band

Don't see it if you want full staging - here clever use of minimal staging and props, some just motions, don't fail to enhance the story. Hard seats up frnt

Enchanting, Magical evening, Romantic singing, Charming performers, Surprising structure

See it if you feel like you need a vacation in a foreign place where romance suggests improbable possibilities that may never come again.

Don't see it if Russian class issues irritate you. Youthful romance depresses you. Small casts doubling & tripling confuse you.

Critic Reviews (5)

"About Love Is Actually About Power and Blinkered Notions of Masculinity: Ivan Turgenev's First Love receives a new stage adaptation"
Read more

"I can't speak to the wisdom of musicalizing 'First Love' because the people behind 'About Love' haven't really done the job…you could remove them from the production with no material difference in the storytelling."
Read more

"'About Love' is a rewarding and melancholy theatrical experience as it taps into the folly and heartbreak associated with first love. Additionally, the play makes a compelling case for reevaluating Turgenev's contributions to world literature."
Read more

"The lovely show is best described as story theater in which all of the characters narrate at one time or another...and all but the hero and heroine play multiple roles. If one is looking for a musical, this is not it but it eventually is a captivating staging of the story, if a bit on the long side."
Read more

Score: 92% "...an intriguing lovely evening about first love, and forbidden love, and confusing hard love, and the games that get played in-between. Everyone is picture-perfect."
Read more