Aristocrats NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (72)
See it if The decline of a socially & politically isolated, Catholic, elite family in 1970s Ireland who are all damaged by a tyrannical patriarch.
Don't see it if you’re looking action; this is character driven. Also, Irish accents are uneven & one, in particular, is almost impossible to understand. Read more
See it if if you like Chekhov. Although Friel and Chekhov are different writers, the exploration of strange relationships among the gentry is shared.
Don't see it if you don't like plays about dysfunctional families. Regardless, the acting and directing are first rate.
See it if you’d find it refreshing to see a play about damaged people who don’t wallow in their damage but just do what they can to get through life.
Don't see it if you hate Chopin’s music (you’ll hear a lot of it in this play), or you think an act of domestic violence shouldn’t be forgiven so readily.
See it if You're a fan of Friel (or Chekov, or even Wes Anderson). Examines the decline/trauma of a once privileged, upper class Irish family.
Don't see it if You're the sort to see an Irish play at Irish Rep, then subsequently whinge about not being able to understand Irish accents.
See it if You like Brian Friel and want to see a well-done production of one of his excellent plays. You like family dramas.
Don't see it if You want a comedy or something fast-paced. This isn’t action packed. Don’t see it if accents are hard for you to understand.
See it if you want to see an important play by Brian Friel; enjoy excellent acting, are interested in Irish Catholic history.
Don't see it if U dislike plays w/l some actors have thick accents & others do a poor job at speaking w.Irish accents; U dislike plays w/lots of loose ends Read more
See it if You want to understand the amazing writer Friel, and/or his take on history, Ireland, theater, humanity. Beautiful play, eh production.
Don't see it if You want to see a fully realized dynamic production of this play.
See it if You like shows about dysfunctional families with good acting. You don’t mind slow-moving shows.
Don't see it if You want a fast-moving show. You have trouble with Irish accents. I couldn’t understand 1 actor at all. Read more
Critic Reviews (12)
"This production...never does cohere, despite plenty of persuasive acting"
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"blends gently drawn pathos and delicate comedy in roughly equal and satisfying measure."
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"It may be an authentic representation of the Catholic upper class, but as drama it’s deadly."
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“As it moves from a wedding that nobody seems to want to a funeral that signals the end of an era, 'Aristocrats' becomes a landscape portrait of sorrow, its figures illuminated by the playwright's penetrating insights and deep reserves of empathy. Gesturing to the house, Casimir tells Eamon, ‘I think you understand what it has done to all of us.’ Thanks to Friel, the damage is exquisitely inventoried."
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"a little less well made than other Friels."
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"Brian Friel's Ballybeg aristos face reduced circumstances, with varying degrees of grace"
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"...there is no passion in this Big House. I guess that was absorbed, too."
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"This is a production filled with good intentions that misses the mark."
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