Chester Bailey NYC Reviews and Tickets
About the Show
Production Covid-19 Safety ProtocolsShow-Score Member Reviews (106)
See it if intense... absolutely loves it
Don't see it if Not for the faint of heart
See it if The show must be seen by all theater lovers. A gem of a production in all respects.
Don't see it if You want something light and fluffy, this is not it.
See it if You enjoy phenomenal acting and storytelling. It's a 2 man show (father and son in real life) and the story and message is fantastic.
Don't see it if You are looking for a light and happy show. You are triggered by death, war, disability, sexual abuse.
See it if Moving, superbly acted, beautifully written. It’s a father-and-son 2 hander with the deep emotional layers this script deserves.
Don't see it if You can’t handle profound tragedy right now even with insightful examination. Read more
See it if You like complicated, beautifully written,acted plays that are difficult and demanding. 2 person narratives
Don't see it if You want a light easy night out ,fast paced simple stories. This is about guilt,consequences and different points of view
See it if Another Irish Repertory Theatre hit! Chester Bailey is a moving drama of tragedy & fate thru the eyes of two characters. Outstanding acting!
Don't see it if If you are looking for a light show, just skip this one.
See it if …to experience a deeply moving story, expertly presented-acting; sets; lighting; costumes and direction, all superb. Small stage magic!
Don't see it if You’re looking for something light and fluffy. This is a dark story with many twists and turns. It requires your attention but rewards well!
See it if Great acting, absorbing plot, just terrific.
Don't see it if War dramas turn you off.
Critic Reviews (6)
"Dougherty also expresses great compassion for those, like Chester, who would rather retreat to the fortress of their mind than face the harsh wilderness of reality. That kind of empathy is increasingly rare in a culture obsessed with the truth."
Read more
Even if Chester Bailey were a much weaker play, it would still be irresistible for the sensational father-son teaming of Reed Birney and Ephraim Birney. But Joseph Dougherty's beautifully shaped two-hander builds to a walloping climax, resulting in the kind of silence that is the greatest tribute an audience can give. Dougherty is interested in how the mind deals with unimaginable trauma, creating alternate realities in self-defense; he follows both of his characters down some notably dark psychological pathways, reaching conclusions that may leave you shaken.
Read more
"Acting dynasties, you see, still do happen, and at 'Chester Bailey,' we're allowed to observe and celebrate a glowing one."
Read more
"Dougherty’s play, under Ron Lagomarsino’s deft direction, speaks to the unease that suffuses our post-pandemic attempts to resume a “normal” life."
Read more
"This play is titled Chester Bailey, but it should be titled Philip Cotton. Cotton is the person who holds up the sky in this show. It is he who transforms as we watch."
Read more
" 'Chester Bailey' has been seen as a cautionary tale about the impossibility of curing the delusions of people who believe that what they see with their own eyes is not true, but fake, while what they read online or hear from their acquaintances, no matter how distorted, is the truth."
Read more