Antigone (Fusion Theatre)

See it if You need an air conditioned room with uncomfortable seats. If you enjoy ear piercing opera moments mixed with a high school level production

Don't see it if If you can think of anything else to do like shining your shoes.

See it if You want to hear some lovely music sung with great fervor somewhat lacking in modulation. Hear an abbreviated old tale.

Don't see it if you need more than a bare stage with a hassock and gold draped pedestal.

See it if you want to see a failed experiment. Greek tragedy with operatic interludes that make very little sense.

Don't see it if you are looking for good experimental theater.

See it if you like minimal (as in nonexistent) sets and an interesting take on a classic play. You like an intimate theatre

Don't see it if sets and costumes are important to you.

Also acoustics are not great and makes some of the dialogue hard to hear as well.... Read more Read less

See it if Yoru standards are so low that anything touching on ancient Greece, however unprofessional in its presentation, is fine by you.

Don't see it if You expect a modicum of professionalism in any production on a New York City stage.

See it if you like seeing experimental theater and classically trained opera singers

Don't see it if seating matters to you, these seats are painful!

See it if Seemed labour of love by self directing lead who, though good actress, was 2 old. Antigone MUST b a young woman. Opera thrown in 4 no reason

Don't see it if Was a lazy production-no effort w/staging, props, lighting or costume. Age of 2 "young lovers" being near 40 distracting/play makes no sense

See it if you are unfamiliar with Anouilh's play, since it is great and worth knowing.

Don't see it if you want anything above a bare-bones staging. If mediocre singing offends you. Two of the arias were very good, but others much less so.

Also The idea of integrating operatic music into this play is a good one, but the choices made were very inconsistent. Some of the staging was poor.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of opera and ancient Greek classics

Don't see it if You don't like opera and have no interest in Greek tragedies

Also The operatic singing was exceptionally good. If not for that, I may have walked out.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in listening to some beautiful operatic voices, a simplistic design of a powerful show, some wonderful acting.

Don't see it if you need all the trappings of a set, props and costumes.

Also Although a wonderful production some of the characters were miscast. But there were so many excellent moments that made up for it, especially the king's solo and the nurse's busy chattering. The page also captivated the audience with his genuineness and ability to relate to the crowd. The simplicity of props gave it a cleaner focus by letting our imaginations fill in the blanks.
Worthwhile to see if you like the story of Antigone.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Greek mythology fused with a handful of opera songs. Voices were great as was the acting.

Don't see it if You don't like a long show and uncomfortable wood seats. Otherwise the show is a "go see it"!

See it if you want to sit through an amateur production (reminiscent of middle school or high school theater) to get an idea of the story of Antigone

Don't see it if The idea of blending opera and classic theater intrigues you and you'll be bummed if the execution falls flat. Also, there are only 4 songs.

Also Minimalist sets and staging only work when the acting, scripting, and directing are spot on. This production badly needed a large venue, big, beautiful sets, more music, and better musical accompaniment. Actors narrating in unison was painful. Actors waited for their lines to act - they did not appear to be listening to the other person in the scene and as such it came off as stiff and static. Disclaimer: I left at intermission so I don't know how the second half was.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a serious heavy dark story.

Don't see it if you like an entertaining story.

See it if you enjoy hearing a classical song with a non-scenic backdrop and the action focused on the characters developing the plot with no distracts

Don't see it if you don't like operatic singing and short scene vignettes

See it if If you like opratic arias (performed wonderfully) mixed with a modernly adapted greek play that is relevant for today

Don't see it if If you want fancy sets or major production values

See it if you like a classic text with classic opera.

Don't see it if you want a straight forward musical.

Also It's a small theater, so there isn't much room. Still this production could use more physicality and movement. Especially with passions as high as this. There needs to be a lot more tension and they just don't get there.... Read more Read less

See it if You like bare bones classics and opera

Don't see it if Waiting for the good stuff in the second is not likely with an awfully dull first.

See it if for Anouilh's version of the classic.

Don't see it if you have high expectations

Also First of all, there was not one note of Honegger's music in the show; instead the actors sang various more-or-less irrelevant Verdi arias (and one Purcell), well sung except for Creon's "ella giammai m'amo" from Don Carlo, which was exquisite and very moving.
Anouilh's text has held up surprisingly well and it is good to hear it again.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like a very special, intimate, intense production. The text and acting make Antigone vivid, accessible; the music gives deep nuance.

Don't see it if If you are seeking easy spectacle entertainment.

See it if You wish to see a different approach to classical theater blending more than one element in the format.

Don't see it if You do not like opera