Anything That Gives Off Light NYC Reviews and Tickets

81%

(6 Reviews)

Positive

83%

Mixed

17%

Negative

Members say

Great singing, Thought-provoking, Funny, Confusing, Absorbing

About the Show

National mythologies and personal histories collide in this rowdy collaboration between The TEAM and the National Theatre of Scotland.

An American woman and two Scotsmen meet in a London pub, nursing their individual grievances and sense of political betrayal. When the ashes of a legendary social activist and kickass grandmother demand to be laid to rest, the trio head off on a transformative journey between the past and present, the real and imagined, Scottish highlands and Appalachian mountains, in search of a fitting ending. "Anything That Gives Off Light" features a throbbing score by the Bengsons that mixes the Scottish-American folk tradition with stomping punk, and the TEAM’s trademark athletic performance style.

Member Reviews (6)

Confusing, Intelligent, Great singing, Thought-provoking, Absorbing

See it if You want to see an intense concert/musical hybrid. You are a fan of the Bengsons' music.

Don't see it if You dislike musicals that are not entirely linear. Dislike indie-folk-rock and Scottish music. Read more

Resonant, Profound, Indulgent, Great singing, Absorbing

See it if you've ever lived in Scotland or loved a Scot, ditto Applachia, ditto "rural America" at large. You love cool songs and whisky.

Don't see it if You want a linear plot or traditional structure. This show is about emotions, lived experiences, shared history, and personal myth-making. Read more

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

See it if You’d like to be carried away to London, Scotland, and over the ocean to Appalachia. This tiny show feels as big as the world

Don't see it if You need linear shows, don’t want to hear diverse opinions, or can’t handle a full range of powerful emotions onstage Read more

Cliched, Quirky, Great singing, Funny

See it if you love Scotland, Rachel Chavkin, & the Bengsons. It's entertaining, but it's heavy-handed. We get it we should all listen to each-other.

Don't see it if you're looking for a tradition show. You don't want to hear about the dangers of climate change, fracking, & guns

Edgy, Thought-provoking, Dizzying, Great singing, Confusing

See it if You enjoy riveting Scottish stories, set to an indie-folk soundtrack. You enjoy intimate evenings of theatre.

Don't see it if You need a perfectly clear piece - the story gets lost in itself and is a bit confusing.

Relevant, Great acting

See it if you want to explore the connections of the US (Appalachia) and Scotland, and the performers are wonderful! Music is outstanding.

Don't see it if you want an 'easy' play. There's a lot of content and the connections explored weave into each other.

Critic Reviews (4)

"A collaboration between two adventurous theater companies that ultimately gets lost within its dizzying breadth of aspirations...'Anything' digs beneath contemporary surfaces to uncover social roots and explanations for the fractured here and now...The show’s jumps among different worlds can induce whiplash...If you pay close attention, though, you’ll find some interesting aperçus about the semantics by which the Scottish (and British) and Americans define themselves."
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“For a show called 'Anything That Gives Off Light', everything seems awfully hazy...Amid its unclear perimeters, this messy, misty narrative deals out plenty of compare-and-contrast talk...The songs, at least, are lively and are brightly performed...The rest of the show is scarcely so entertaining...Ultimately, I found this to be as didactic and tiresome as it evidently is terribly sincere...Making this production even less viable is some lackluster acting."
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“A pulsing and melodic performance piece...The transformation works well in its current incantation as it is able to soar...and reach into the hearts, minds and ears of the audience and take them on a thought provoking road trip...An entertainment and a thought piece that focuses on whether we are stuck in our histories, or whether we can cast off the constrictive ties and reinvent new and better histories for ourselves in the modern world.”
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"A strong and thoughtful play with music...As for the production, performing in Joe’s Pub yields mixed results. When the characters are in the Flying Scotsman, it is akin to immersive theater and very engaging; when they venture out on the road trip, real and imaginary, it is a little distancing...The ensemble works extremely together seamlessly, playing multiple parts...Elements all combine to create an ambiance, a taste of and for Scotland and Scottishness."
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