Blue Ridge NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (143)
See it if You like dramedy and the challenge of troubled individuals working to be less troubled
Don't see it if Intimate dramas of human struggle, both intrapersonal and interpersonal, does not appeal to you Read more
See it if Great acting from a well balanced Cast and good writing appeal to you
Don't see it if You have no sympathy for people fighting their own personal demons
See it if you are interested in seeing people struggling to better themselves. Surprisingly funny moments. Touching. Great acting.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy single set plays that have a single dominant theme of rehab that runs strongly throughout.
See it if You like complex plots about people in recovery where grasping the underlying meanings of things are not always clear. Acting is superb.
Don't see it if You like straightforward plots with clearly drawn characters. But you will miss a great turn by Marin Ireland.
See it if you want a play about people in pain that subtly challenges what you think about feminism and racism without beating you up with dogma
Don't see it if you don't like sad, intense plays; you prefer perfect political correctness
See it if you are a Marin Ireland fan (I am). Another brilliant performance.
Don't see it if you prefer that the entire play hangs together and is consistent. Pretty soon into the second act, the play falls apart.
See it if you want to see yet another great performance by Marin Ireland, as well as a terrific cast. The characters are well-drawn.
Don't see it if you don't want a play that attempts to take a deep dive into mental health issues, but concludes in a seemingly tacked-on, unsatisfying way.
See it if A brilliant performance by Marin Ireland. Fast paced show that explores gender roles.
Don't see it if If offended by sexual talk, swearing. Read more
Critic Reviews (28)
"Ireland is exceedingly well cast as a woman grappling with explosive rage issues in 'Blue Ridge'...At best an intriguing portrait of a troubled woman, 'Blue Ridge' is not otherwise a satisfying play, due to a sadly underwritten script as well as to its flat staging by Taibi Magar...'Blue Ridge' is a case of a good idea insufficiently dramatized: Composed in a realistic manner, the play never leaves the house’s common room until its final scene."
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“In a time when many people have trouble dealing with their feelings, Abby Rosebrock's ‘Blue Ridge’ is a fascinating account of people attempting recovery from various emotional and physical problems. Some of the play must be taken on faith while other parts remain unclear. However, Taibi Magar's production for Atlantic Theater Company will not let you lose your concentration for a moment. Much of this is due to Marin Ireland's titanic performance, one you will not easily forget.”
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"Even with Ireland and the stellar ensemble on board, ‘Blue Ridge’ fails to live up to its dramatic potential. Despite some powerful and occasional comic scenes, the parts don't add up to a really satisfying whole...While the characters are all interesting their stories are not fully enough explored since they're basically satellites to Ireland's Alison...Numerous questions about their backgrounds and interactions remain as frustrating loose ends.”
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“A brilliant new drama...performed flawlessly by a virtuoso ensemble...’Blue Ridge’ gives us a safe opportunity to get to know six deeply troubled characters...The love and connection between Rosebrock’s characters is the script’s most endearing quality...Rosebrock’s script is brilliant—understated without being vague, and volatile without being melodramatic...Magar’s direction is just as subtle and complex as Rosebrock’s writing...One of the great new plays of 2019.”
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“Magar brings an effortless grace to Rosebrock’s flowing script. Nothing seems forced or hurried...A quiet play, but it’s never dull. It has its occasional explosions, and its dialogue is peppered with literary allusions, humor, and unexpected personal details...Characters are well-etched. Firmly anchored by Marin’s Alison...it tells a story that’s surprisingly satisfying in its lack of resolution and surprisingly engaging given its deceptively meandering pace.”
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"The ensemble’s excellent characterizations in this production lift the piece to palatable...What I appreciated about Ms. Rosebrock’s work is that everything is not explained. After the obligatory exposition, there are historical facts and character traits in each person that exist without any explanation of what they mean or why they’re there. She’s not afraid to let her characters exist without apologizing for them."
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"Ireland reveals another fine tuned character but with a far edgier layer...She fills the space...riding high on Rosebrock’s volatile story-telling...It’s spell-bounding theatre, watching a woman so full of pain and anger collide with souls who are just as lost and damaged as she...Alison is the centrifugal force of the play, the apparent action outwards that slaps and hits all that stands around...Ireland brings...to ‘Blue Ridge’ a power that is undeniable and without boundaries.”
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"Can a play feature superb acting, well-judged dialogue, exceptional production values, and a compelling point of view and still fail to catch fire? I found myself asking that question often during 'Blue Ridge'...Director Magar has trouble setting a consistent tone...The pacing frequently turns molasses-slow, only to speed up at moments of increasingly predictable revelation....Rosebrock could spend some more time figuring out exactly what story she wants to tell.”
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