City Stories NYC Reviews and Tickets

"The London that exists in the mind of James Phillips, who created these six short plays is a wondrous, languid place made of silky metaphor...For this seductive and consistently well-acted production, Theater B at 59E59 is set up cabaret-style, which helps it seem only logical that each play is introduced by a singer accompanying herself on the piano. Mr. Phillips’s imaginative stories are also punctuated with thought-provoking observations."
Read more

"The poignant stories have just the right touch of fantasy that leaves a great deal to the imagination…The music in 'City Stories' is the ideal complement and the prose is enthralling. Experience these fascinating journeys into longing, love and life."
Read more

"James Phillips writes so beautifully that one wishes he would find more interesting things to write about. 'City Stories,' is filled with striking turns of phrase and observations that linger in the mind, but the stories themselves are marked by a whimsical, airy-fairy quality that can prove cloying…Gregory's lovely piano and vocal work consistently adds to the evening's introspective mood…It's strange to be so simultaneously seduced and irritated by a play."
Read more

"Each of the actors in the ensemble is featured in at least two stories, and each play has been directed meticulously by the playwright, who made sure to spend time differentiating the roles his actors from one play to the other...A seamless production in many ways, Phillips’ latest is nothing short of ambitious, and Gregory’s music is the perfect companion. Thoughtful and engaging, the enchanting collection of English fairy tales known as 'City Stories' is a serendipitous affair."
Read more

“Phillips’ inspired collection of plays defies cliche...Some of the narration drags on too long, and the script favors telling over showing. When pivotal moments are just passively relayed, sometimes their full emotional impact doesn’t quite come through...But the heart of this production is its relatable humanity...Combined with the scintillating score and eloquent prose, ‘City Stories’ is worth experiencing.”
Read more

"If the back wall weren’t black but exposed bricks you might almost think you were in a comedy club, not an evening of contemplative, semi-dramatic, lightly comedic, romantically tinted, magically realistic, imaginatively metaphoric “Tales of Love and Magic in London,” as the evening’s subtitle puts it...Trimming five to seven minutes off each play would go a long way toward keeping everyone’s eyes open. Soothing your audience to sleep is no way to run a cabaret, even a theatre cabaret."
Read more

"Every aspect of this production manifests the unities of drama like a well-crafted monument to creativity...The poetic writing, the distinctive characterizations, the heightened dialogue and the acute sensibilities of the actors who make us believe every important word they say is stark and real. This production is a must-see. I can’t rave about it enough and I am tempted to drop in another night."
Read more

"The ensemble is full of strong and personable actors...The dreamlike quality that is an innate part of this piece also serves as a downfall from time to time with parts getting a little wordy and moments too drawn out. But more often than not the stories carry you to that enjoyable state of melancholy...The most beautiful aspect of the entire production, and its driving force, is the positively enchanting original music from Rosabella Gregory."
Read more

"If this is a new genre of ‘theatre-cabaret,' as some reviewers have suggested, then I would like more of it! This is work at a sophisticated creative level, where everything depends in a very pure, basic sense on the players themselves…Great credit then to all the players and to James Phillips for his direction, quite apart from his luminous yet precisely calibrated writing."
Read more

"A sublime, atmospheric and enchanting cabaret drama, with two hours of love, hope and delight…Rosabella composed the music for this show and what a brilliant composition it is! A perfect match in my opinion to the stories and one could be totally forgiven to be completely absorbed and lost within its layers of beauty…In essence this evening delivered exactly what it promised...This show, cast, composer, writer and director are a match made in heaven!"
Read more

"In all the stories the dialogue is, I suppose, lyrical, and probably works on paper, but on stage sounds mannered and phoney...Characters are underdeveloped and used simply as a conduit for the many, many words...What’s clever about 'City Stories' is the way it interweaves songs with stories, and I certainly can’t fault either the music or the voices of the various singers. But overall, I found it a draining experience."
Read more