Amy and the Orphans NYC Reviews and Tickets

81%

(394 Reviews)

Positive

89%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Thought-provoking, Funny, Absorbing, Entertaining

About the Show

After their father’s death, two unhinged siblings reunite with Amy, their movie-loving sister who has Down syndrome. Hop in, buckle up, and hold on for dear life in this raucous family road trip.

Together, they careen down the Great American Long Island Expressway, navigating strip malls, traffic jams and some serious (and not-so-serious) family drama. An unexpected turn reveals the moment that changed their lives…and the fact that Amy may be the only one who knows her own mind. Written by Lindsey Ferrentino, who made her New York debut at Roundabout with the world premiere of 'Ugly Lies the Bone,' and directed by Scott Ellis ('The Elephant Man,' 'She Loves Me'), 'Amy and the Orphans' is a rollicking ride that proves it’s never too late to follow a new road.

Member Reviews (394)

Cliched, Disappointing, Relevant, Slow, Resonant

See it if Jamie Brewer shines as Amy despite the mediocre play surrounding her Flashback subplot about Amy's parents far more interesting storyline

Don't see it if Disappointing & flat attempts at humor register as bad sit-com Three stalwart actors try to generate some speed into this lame "road-trip"

Tv for the stage, Forgettable, Well-meaning, Disappointing, Slow

See it if you have a loved one associated with the production & have to see it to keep peace with them.

Don't see it if you like your live theater to feel alive, not like a TV retread. Read more

Absorbing, Ambitious, Clever, Great acting, Refreshing

See it if follow 3 adult children suddenly orphaned & their relationship with their sister who has Down Syndrome, & discover secrets held from them

Don't see it if don't like presentations of of a mental incapacity on stage or family plays that bring up growing-up issues & offer inconclusive resolution Read more

Great acting, Great writing, Funny, Moving, Thought-provoking

See it if You want a well-written, realistic family drama that goes beyond the cliches. You want a look at the treatment of people w/Downs Syndrome.

Don't see it if You dislike family dramas. You prefer a 100% comedy or drama.

Entertaining, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Meaningful

See it if you're interested in family based true stories and how parental decisions can affect their children; serious topics served up with humor.

Don't see it if you're looking for fantasy. This is important subject matter and I feel the book falls short. Sometimes too much humor is a distraction.

Disappointing, Fluffy

See it if You want to see a play that deals with people that have special needs and how their families and other individuals treat them.

Don't see it if There is a female that plays one of the characters most nights but if you go on a Wednesday or Saturday afternoon you get a male Read more

Entertaining, Funny, Great acting, Relevant, Ambitious

See it if you want to see the latest work of a fine young playwright who combines comedy and pathos skillfully.

Don't see it if you like your comedy straight without serious overtones.

Great acting, Great writing, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Entertaining

See it if You like contemporary plays about a family dealing with the issue of a Down Syndrome sibling after a parent’s death. Lots of challenges

Don't see it if Mental illness topics upset you. You have no compassion. Recent family death upset you. Read more

Critic Reviews (27)

"Insightful but uneven new play...Ms. Brewer’s presence lends a compelling center of gravity...The problem is much of what surrounds her...Despite eager performances from Mr. Blum and Ms. Monk, their characters feel cut from shiny, synthetic cloth...Wisely, Ms. Ferrentino allows Amy to have the last word in a monologue...While you’ve probably heard most of these words before, it’s unlikely they’ve ever had the defiant, heartbroken resonance they acquire here."
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"Jacob and Maggie are forced to reckon with the mistakes of their parents, and Ferrentino gives the audience a leg up on that understanding through flashbacks to their mother and father at a couples-therapy retreat. These scenes carry the bulk of the play’s dramatic weight; otherwise, 'Amy' is slim...The main attraction is Brewer’s presence. It’s not just a gimmick; it’s the point of the play, a statement for visibility. The casting is the message, and Brewer makes it effective."
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"Attempts a delicate balancing act in its audacious blending of pathos and humor. It sometimes falls off its high wire, veering too heavily into sitcom-style characterizations and one-liners. But the consistently powerful beating heart in the writing makes it easy to overlook its tonal inconsistency...Granted, there are times when the play's humor feels a bit too broad, lessening the effect of the dramatic elements...But these are minor quibbles with a play that boasts a rich, aching humanity."
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"There’s much to admire about Lindsey Ferrentino’s new play 'Amy and the Orphans' — and just as many nagging issues. Pluses include its big heart and fine-tuned ensemble...On the surface, the play is jammed with laughs and comic relief. But ugly truths lurk underneath. But not all of the jokes or dramatic revelations convince."
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"Almost everything about the production, directed by Scott Ellis with as many zigzags as a car that missed the exit, feels disappointingly inauthentic...We've seen this story since time immemorial, and considering how deep 'Amy and the Orphans' has the potential to be, her willingness to take the easy route is particularly disappointing. There's a much more stimulating play in here...It's not a total loss, though. There are two actors that keep us — and the play — going."
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"So loaded with stellar performances that it might be a little while before you notice what a cunning trap the playwright, Ferrentino, has laid...What this young couple has to do with Amy and her orphaned siblings is not clear for a long time...It raises new questions about their characters and their view of their collective past...A rather raucous, wisecracking comedy is turned into the poignant account of one family's unraveling...She is a writer with many more surprises in store."
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"A smart and perceptive blend of a laugh-out-loud 'road trip' comedy and a serious examination of the well-intentioned but faulty and potentially harmful assumptions we make about individuals with disabilities...Entertaining, provocative, wonderfully acted play, which has been masterfully directed by Scott Ellis. It is a deeply layered work that provides a sobering lesson on how we as a society have too often failed to provide for the needs of individuals with disabilities."
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"In presenting persons with Down syndrome and how their families deal with them, Lindsey Ferrentino's 'Amy and the Orphans' puts on stage a topic usually avoided by our theater. While the initial comic, vaudeville type scenes belie the serious intent of the play, it eventually packs quite a wallop as it gets to its real message: Down syndrome individuals are capable of being independent and productive members of society if they are given care and education in their formative years."
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