Absurd Person Singular

See it if UR so determinedly nonconformist/eager to prove tolerance of divergent views you’ll pretend reviving sexism for class commentary is creative

Don't see it if pained by repeated representations of female frailty/incompetence that characterize women as so useless they justify derision/ill-treatment

Also Soul-killing class comedy represents levels of affluence thru various ways of undermining wives. 2.5 hrs of sexist jokes relying on big, knowing air quotes to create enough ironic distance to stave off criticism. It’s a common method that lets unimaginative comedians, advertisers, & producers sell detailed stereotypes of brainless, vain, servile women while claiming that’s not what they really mean. All while dismissing detractors as too unsophisticated to perceive their irony, cementing a new generation’s fluency in male chauvinism, & ensuring that gender imbalance lives another day.

A feminist stares into the abyss & sees this production of Absurd Person Singular—plus all the other women who’ve been told to “lighten up” and swallow their dignity so those w/ reactionary impulses may double down & preserve theirs. Cancel your ticket & eat the cost. There’s a shadow of a husk of a kernel of a one-time useful class critique here, but it’s not worth the price of internalized misogyny.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see how a British farce can fall on its face if poorly acted and directed, then see it. A real disappointment. Very dated.

Don't see it if you want to see one of Ayckbourn's farces that succeeded on B'way. This production does not give you its virtues.

See it if You don’t mind seeing a non-funny comedy. Have to say the actors do their best and are quite good.

Don't see it if You expect to see a brilliant Ayckbourn comedy. This one is not up to his talent.

Also To say that I was disappointed is an understatement.