Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (186)
See it if u want 2 understand “everywoman” of all ages brilliantly captured. Whole cast wonderful and Adina Verison a MUST NOT MISS.
Don't see it if the above is unacceptable to you Read more
See it if you want to see 5 extraordinary women in a fast paced piece that deals with sexuality uniquely
Don't see it if you don't like plays written about lesbians; you are offended by the colloquial word for the female genitalia repeated countless times
See it if you are in the mood for a quirky, but relevant play that is both hilarious and poignant.
Don't see it if you are easily offended but some explicit language or you are not in the mood for boundary pushing theatre.
See it if / for some absurdist female-empowerment hilarity with some great actors.
Don't see it if you want something naturalistic and plot-driven.
See it if You want an absurdly comedic skewering of women's issues in a series of fast paced vignettes with a stellar cast. I laughed out loud alot!
Don't see it if You want a serious drama or you're not comfortable with lesbian themes & talk about female genitalia. In this case, I found it hilarious! Read more
See it if you want to see five excellent actors and great staging in a play examining women's roles (sexual and societal) in today's society.
Don't see it if you are put off by a frank discussion of genitalia (meow!) and LGBTQ issues.
See it if a joyful, chaotic ensemble comedy about queering the world through community theatre. Sweet, droll, playful and delightfully rude.
Don't see it if you're offended by frank sex talk.
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
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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“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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“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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“’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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