Chris Gethard: Career Suicide NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (120)
See it if Raw, honest. So important! Everyone should see it. Not about being entertained... and self and truth.
Don't see it if You want a traditional show or are expecting guffaw comedy.
See it if Experience the ups and downs of a person struggling with major depression while pursuing a career in comedy. Moving and insightful.
Don't see it if You prefer lighter material, or don't like solo shows.
See it if you want to see a unique stand-up comedian present a unique one-man confessional about the ups-and-downs of depression and moderate fame.
Don't see it if you're not willing to face your own demons as Gethard lays his own soul bare for you; you can't find the humor in human foibles & frailties.
See it if Sensational, humanistic, funny handling of taboo topic of personal depression. Gethard's sly, engaging persona eases discomfort level
Don't see it if If mental illness/addiction issues strikes to close to home. Still, serious yet empathic & at times hilarious tone yield upbeat results
See it if you enjoy stand-up with a plot, have interest in issues of depression, anxiety and suicide presented with self-deprecating humor
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with public discussions of suicide & depression, don't like one person shows or hearing a comedian recount their life
See it if you're a fan of Chris Gethard.
Don't see it if you're not into one man shows.
See it if You enjoy one person shows and/or are interested in the topic of clinical depression and anxiety. Still is a comedy show with lots of laughs
Don't see it if If the topic of depression, anxiety and suicidal thinking is not one you want to hear about. Read more
See it if You like standup and find quirky, nerdy personalities appealing. Chris handles his personal demons with charm and grace. It's absorbing.
Don't see it if You would find the subject matter too triggering/depressing. Not for everyone-some walked out. Some parts are uncomfortable or squirmy.
Critic Reviews (22)
"While solo shows about tough times and garden-variety depression are not exactly rare flora on the theater scene, Mr. Gethard, who confesses he’s been depressive since he was a preteen, confronts with a bruising and sometimes hilarious frankness his longstanding urge to pull the plug on himself...Mr. Gethard’s delivery often belies — thank goodness — the dark waters he swims through...He definitely qualifies as significantly funny."
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"Depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and graphic descriptions of the horrific side effects of psychotropic medications are not normally the stuff of which comedy shows are made...Fortunately for both him and us, he does it so entertainingly that the show's title, 'Chris Gethard: Career Suicide,' is unlikely to prove prophetic...That he manages to be simultaneously funny and moving while doing so is the key to the success of the show, sensitively directed by Kimberly Senior."
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"Gethard is part stand-up comic and part poignant storyteller, moving seamlessly between self-deprecating jokes and heart-wrenching moments...While suicide attempts, alcoholic blackouts, and graphic stories about pharmaceutical side effects don't seem like fodder for comedy, Gethard skillfully makes them funny without ever losing sight of the seriousness of his subject matter. He pulls this off partly because he's talking about his own life, but also because he is unflinchingly honest."
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"The short, bespectacled, seemingly serene Gethard proves to be an expert guide to his own personal Via Dolorosa, never playing his suffering for an easy laugh, yet never losing sight of the absurdity of his situation...It's a high-wire balancing act, and his director, Kimberly Senior, must share the credit for seeing that he never puts a foot wrong...'Career Suicide' becomes surprisingly moving as Gethard finally begins to find an equilibrium that allows him to flourish professionally."
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"Gethard comes across as incredibly genuine and sincere, in his desire both to tell his story and to provide comfort to others who have gone through what he has and continue to fight the good fight every day. Although not everyone will relate to references to medications and their side effects, Gethard does a service by opening up...He shows the pitfalls of remaining silent about one's struggles, and also how much better it can be through humor and hope."
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"This show packs comedy with pathos and tragedy with laughter in a masterful mixture...Gethard has a vibrant ear for telling description...This narrator is someone you grow quite fond of as the show proceeds...He’s ready for anything, in the moment, in control of the room...This show manages to be a sad, funny, full-throttle, honest, life-giving journey...Timing is everything, and Gethard is a master."
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"Gethard simply tells us the real absurd truth about himself, his longtime companion, Clinical Depression, and the rather unconventional, often scary dark, sometimes slightly scandalous, truly silly trip they have taken together...Director Kimberly Senior employs a raw method of storytelling that is without overly theatric distractions. Nothing feels contrived...Gethard is an excellent host who will make sure you have a good time."
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"It is a delight to spend any amount of time in his thrall. Yet I can’t help but marvel at how closely 'Career Suicide' hews to every stereotype of one-man shows, right down to Gethard reenacting conversations by taking a step to the side and turning his head. He’s an incredibly skilled improvisor, a thoughtful conversationalist and a wholly fearless dismantler of form...For all of 'Career Suicide’s' soul-plumbing honesty, there’s still a tangible barrier between performer and audience."
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