All The Natalie Portmans

See it if You want a coming of age story that has many obstacles for the main character.

Don't see it if A central conflict. The show tries to cover too many topics and the conceit of having Natalie Portman appear grows tiresome quickly.

See it if You're looking mostly for something entertaining and well acted, and aren't so bothered by whether it lives up to its potential.

Don't see it if You're particular bothered by tonal inconsistencies and cliches. Or if you're looking for something lighter in tone.

Also All the Natalie Portmans is a good play that doesn't live up to its full potential. There's certainly a fair amount about it I like, and it has a lot of interesting ideas, but as goes on it becomes increasingly disinterested in its most interesting themes, instead focusing on a cliched melodrama that I feel like I've seen before. But the strong acting more than particularly by the lead), makes up for it.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of young Kara Young’s acting: She nearly transcends her material.you expect the plot & characters of a psychological family dr

Don't see it if you expect the plot & characters of a psychological family drama to cohere.

Also I liked C.A. Johnson’s “The Climb” last year. The current production of “ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS?” Not so much. Some blame for this goes to the clunky production. The small stage is crammed with the stuff of the same unspectacular contemporary US household kitchen-living room combo that you’ve seen a dozen times already this season. This gets awkward when pieces of furniture for scenes that take place outside this domestic wasteland have to be added to the existing clutter. But the script is at least in part responsible for the flat evening. Neither plot nor characters cohere; poor mom is a different mom every time we encounter her. Somehow all the characters end the play more hopeful than ever, even though just about everyone’s material conditions have deteriorated from poor to awful. Nice trick, but the 11th hour mood lift feels unearned. Kara Young as the play’s central character is gripping; her fellow actors are good. This may rescue the evening for you.... Read more Read less

See it if best thing about this study in poor black family dysfunctionality is bold performance by Kara Young as teen resisting implosion of her world

Don't see it if overlong & exhausting, ills of poverty accumulate, but 2 what end?; use of NP come-to-life as inspiration 4 Kara is a gimmick w/o payoff

See it if You want to support young, up-and-coming black (and female) playwrights and actors.

Don't see it if You’ve seen enough down-on-their-luck family plays. There’s nothing unique about this one, except one character loves Natalie Portman.

See it if you want to see another depressing play about the hard lives of the urban poor. This one adds a touch of lesbianism and an imaginary friend.

Don't see it if you have seen one too many depressing dramas about a struggling black family.

Also The fantasy element does nothing to enhance a basically grim story.

See it if To see a hardworking, talented cast do their best to breathe life into a very weak script.

Don't see it if Takes more than a gimmick to make a compelling play. And this isn't a very inspired gimmick.

Also Basically your typical unhappy teen with an imaginary friend who she uses to escape reality. There's no tension and no real stakes. Not sure why there are even two acts. A bit of humor doesn't save things. Too much, "I'm broken, this family is broken" type dialogue.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a well-acted tale of a 16 y.o. in poverty struggling with an alcoholic mom but possessing a resilient spirit.

Don't see it if you don't want to see what could be a strong one act play stretched into two acts by adding fantasy sequences that weaken the plot.

See it if you're ready for an intense drama about a family in crisis, trying to maintain their optimism & dreams as their world crumbles.

Don't see it if you prefer lighter fare and happy endings that are tied up in a nice neat bow.

Also Do you need to know about Natalie Portman before seeing this show? It sure wouldn't hurt. In this play, 16-year-old honor student Keyonna lives in poverty, but has big dreams that she shares & acts out with her imaginary friend, actress Natalie Portman. Natalie is her safe place; her brother Samuel is her surrogate father & protector. Their mother is an alcoholic, & every time she falls off the wagon, she drags the family deeper into ruin. The first act is compelling & intense; overall, the performances are honest & committed. Unfortunately, act two is overlong & slogs down the rabbit hole of sentimentality & clichés. By the time the play concluded, i was no longer particularly interested in this family's depressing circumstances. I've seen Kara Young (Keyonna) in a few things recently, & she is a force of nature to be reckoned with. Montego Glover (mother) needs to dig deeper. but Joshua Boone as Sam & Renika Williams as his girlfriend Chantal are engaging actors I hope to see again.... Read more Read less