Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties NYC Reviews and Tickets

78%

(187 Reviews)

Positive

82%

Mixed

13%

Negative

Members say

Funny, Great acting, Clever, Quirky, Entertaining

About the Show

In MCC's unpredictable new comedy, five women collide at the intersection of rage, love, and the “thea-tah,” provoking each other to take a look in the mirror and face the person they didn’t know they could be.

Meet five different women named Betty: one rich, one lonely, one charismatic, one lovelorn, and one who keeps working on her truck. Oh, and one has decided to stage a production of that play-within-a-play by…that old English guy, what's his name? This New York premiere invites us all to be a little braver, live a little louder, laugh a little harder, and unleash our inner Betty.

Member Reviews (187)

Funny, Intelligent, Relevant, Quirky, Great acting

See it if You like quirky, raw, HONEST storytelling with some fierce actors all hitting every note. Very timely, topical and sincere.

Don't see it if You’re homophobic or misogynistic...I mean...you’re exactly who SHOULD see this...but you’d hate it. Read more

Quirky, Surprising, Delightful, Silly, Romantic

See it if Betty Betty Betty Betty & Betty seek their identities while developing an absurd play. Much talk of pussy. Creative and fun. Made me happy.

Don't see it if You won’t like a crazy chick relationship play about growth, love & self esteem. You won’t enjoy a mix of straight, lesbian & bi Betties.

Ambitious, Clever, Raunchy, Thought-provoking, Slow

See it if Vulgar, profane & gender outrageous, Silverman's black comedy about second-wave feminism calls up its triumphs & missteps Fine ensemble work

Don't see it if Raunchy & explicit sexual sitauations may put-off (or bore) some Repetitious structure slows plot momentum but Donahue's staging covers well

Crazy mixture of fierce feminist and lesbian politics + transformative power of theater played by 5 actresses all named betty: unlike anything you've seen before

See it if series of short, explosive often hilarious scenes; outrageous set; creative rethinking Midsummer Night's Dream as lesbian-based tale

Don't see it if all over the place; characters by design cartoon-like; you don't find vagina-centric play amusing/I do

Too preachy on women's rage.

See it if You appreciate women's stories about sex and rage.

Don't see it if You want more in depth story telling.

Series of feminist vignettes, Some parts funny, Absurdist, Some parts tedious.

See it if OK w 5 diverse women "exploring" their identities (literally, for 1) & finding their voice. Avant-garde, occasionally touching, gender-fluid

Don't see it if Feminist manifesto w repeated use of word "pussy" not your thing. Some interesting ideas re loneliness/love, some good actors, but it's odd. Read more

Clever, Disappointing, Funny, Great acting, Great staging

See it if you like quirky plays.This is a fun look at gay issues.However,it never really explores them or moves you.It's cute &fun, but didn't teach

Don't see it if you are homophobic.Or if you are looking for a show about lesbian issues that will move you or help you understand. It's fun and cute, but.

Intense, Indulgent, Funny, Confusing, Ambitious

See it if there ever wasn't a reason to see Dana Delany on stage. She is at her best in this role.

Don't see it if you were hoping to see Lea Delaria play something other and a big old butch lesbian. Read more

Critic Reviews (26)

“If you’re wondering whether you’ll enjoy the revolution, Silverman’s 'Collective Rage' makes an excellent (and hilarious) test case...For all its political and aesthetic cred, the production is entirely a delight...A trenchant and snappy production; even the props get laughs. The best revolutions are, after all, clear of purpose and expertly timed...The same could be said of the cast, which radiates the kind of gusto that actors working with enjoyable material don’t need to fake."
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“It’s not that ‘Collective Rage’ is a very bad play...it’s a very normal one...The show’s five actors are its saving grace...Donahue does confident, compassionate work with his ensemble — pushing the comedy but retaining the characters’ humanity — and he and his designers keep the show swift and clean...’Collective Rage’ might want to reveal its heart, but like many a hipster, it waits too late and, despite its sassy exterior, is a little too scared.”
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“Forced and repetitious. As demonstrated by the cutesy subtitle, the playwright seems tickled to death with her own cleverness...There are some funny lines...But the unfocused work adds up to much less than the sum of its parts...The actresses throw themselves into their roles with admirable fearlessness and energy, while Donahue's staging seems designed to keep things moving quickly enough to help us overlook the writing's scattershot elements.”
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“With touches of absurdity, this play...can feel thin and representative at times, but the journey remains a wacky romp underpinned with emotion...Donahue’s colorful production is mostly zippy...The director embraces the play’s unpredictability...With moments of hilarity and poignancy, 'Collective Rage' offers a broad spectrum of queer voices rarely seen on stage, and Silverman and these performers make sure we hear them each distinctly.”
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“’Collective Rage:’ is an indefinable creature that knows exactly what it is — a rare breed that leaves you with the best combination of befuddlement, curiosity, and delight...Silverman and Donahue confidently guide us through the simultaneous creation and destruction of the metaphorical boxes in which our five Betties live...Each of the five women embrace their theatrical characters, gaining inspiration from their assigned roles to seize what (and who) they want."
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"Delightful bit of heartfelt absurdism...The story is told through Silverman's series of quick, sharply-written vignettes, played by a stellar cast in director Mike Donahue's slickly energized production...Verson's tender, empathetic performance will have audiences laughing, crying and cheering her on every step of the way...'Collective Rage' is a little weird and a lot of wonderful."
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"So confidently do all five cast members skate along the play's thin surface, they make it seem better than it is...In any case, Donahue's direction goes a long way toward keeping things buoyant...At best beguiling and at worst harmless, 'Collective Rage' is sufficiently of the moment that it is likely to bring pleasure and relief to an audience starved for new female voices. But it would have been even better if it had something to say...It's a cute idea--but where is the collective rage?"
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"'Collective Rage' looks at the intersection of race, class, gender identity, and sexual politics through the prism of five women named Betty. They've got a lot to say and watching them meet and compare notes is a hilarious delight...Cleverly directed by Mike Donahue...Granted, Silverman's play needs some fine-tuning and fleshing out. It's easy to enjoy it in Donahue's inventive production with a strong cast, but one suspects it would pale in lesser hands.
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