Bernie and Mikey's Trip to the Moon NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (51)
See it if you want to see a well-written, well-acted, heartfelt family drama peppered with funny moments—but don't expect We Live By the Sea greatness
Don't see it if No reason not to see it unless you are particularly sensitive to or triggered by depictions of kids with brain damage or other disabilities. Read more
See it if You like well written family dramas that deal with the dilemma of raising a child who is mentally disabled.
Don't see it if You like lighter fare and would be upset by the theme of caring for a disabled child. Read more
See it if You want to see something outside the box . Great actor portrayal of a real life family and their problems for the future care of a child.
Don't see it if If you only want traditional theater.
See it if you like family dramas.
Don't see it if you want to see something different from something like an American classic.
See it if you enjoy the quirky and comical exploration of tense family relationships, especially when a family member has special needs.
Don't see it if you expect a tight and polished script with multi-dimensional characters. This show is definitely good, but needs more work to be great.
See it if you like Kitchen Sink dramas, are inclined to like stories dealing with special needs, like sweet natured 1950s-esque melodramatic writing
Don't see it if you're impatient, don't like remedial design elements, aren't a fan of fairly on the nose, presentational dialogue and narratives. Read more
See it if like family dramas with great acting that deals with real life problems, love, commitment, choices, etc.
Don't see it if you are not into heartfelt drama with great humor interspersed.
See it if You want a poignant look at a working class family's struggles as they grapple with the intensity of an adult child with special needs.
Don't see it if You prefer to be entertained at theater with more light hearted topics,
Critic Reviews (9)
“Karpen’s production stays true to the play’s traditional approach. The cast eschews actorly fireworks...The writing is unshowy at best, but can veer into awkwardness...there is a thin line between classic and passé. More of a problem is that the show is content to flit from setback to crisis without dwelling on any of them...Still, ‘Bernie and Mikey’s Trip to the Moon’ does elicit good will, if nothing else for its stubborn refusal to follow theatrical fashion."
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"The production enjoys outstanding direction by Claire Karpen and a top-notch cast that brings Aiello's finely written story to life...These talented thespians are so authentic in their roles, you will think you are watching the scenes unfold in real time...'Bernie and Mikey's Trip to the Moon' is an inspirational human journey that is ideal for the holiday season."
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"'Bernie and Mikey's Trip to the Moon' suffers from organizational problems. As Mikey's narrative comes to the fore, it leaves dangling...questions...Most of the time, however, the playwright doesn't pull his punches, especially in a sequence that makes clear how close to disaster the Vincolos reside. And he writes plenty of juicy scenes for his solid cast...Overall, Claire Karpen's smart, sensible direction keeps the action from straying into mawkishness or melodrama."
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"On paper, the dialogue between the characters of this play's American-Italian family is sometimes two-dimensional and prone to stereotype, but Claire Karpen's evocative direction, combined with the actors' superlative efforts to flesh out their characters produces a well-formed story filled with sincerity, love and earnestness. The play is at its best telling the overarching tale, carefully doling out exposition, not answering every question asked and not attempting to plumb every plot line."
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"A highly nuanced look at the ways caring for a severely disabled family member impacts one working-class household...An intense and often hilarious family drama. Zingers fly as the scene shifts between the family’s home and Mike’s bar...Perfectly staged and emotionally complex, the story, however familiar, rings true...What’s more, the story's framing makes it easy to empathize with each character’s exhaustion, terror, and frustration."
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"A conventional, occasionally heartwarming, but sometimes unconvincing, kitchen-sink dramedy…'Bernie and Mikey' is not quite sure of how to focus its scattered moonbeams...Reminds us of the plethora of plays about people with cognitive or physical disabilities whose conditions create emotional and ethical dilemmas...'Bernie and Mikey's Trip to the Moon' is no 'Moonstruck' but it may shed just enough moonglow to light up your heart."
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"A heartfelt piece about family, love, and how we take care of each other...The true strength of the story is in the relationship between brother Mikey and his sister, Bernie, and the story’s main journey towards Mikey’s realization that while he’d been trying to take care of his sister, he was the one who was relying on her care all along...I think Aiello’s characters are each crafted with love and invite the audience to fall in love with the Vincolo family."
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"Scott Aiello’s play tells the story of an inadvertent step forward for Bernie triggering a purposeful one for Mikey. Writing is good, touching without being maudlin and periodically very original...Director Claire Karpen has so much feel for the world of her autistic characters, it’s easy to conjecture she’s reflecting personal experience. Kitchen sink directness brings the Vincolo family into fine focus."
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