Consider the Lilies
Tony nominee Austin Pendleton stars in House Red Theatre Company's inaugural production, a world premiere love story with tragic consequences.
... Read moreParalyzed by the fear of getting old, Paul (Pendleton) is a legendary, lonely, alcoholic painter engaging in reckless behavior. His younger actor-turned-agent, David, struggles to return Paul to his former glory. These soulmates face their demons together, creating a strong yet volatile bond, leading each to perform desperate acts for love.
- Official Site
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- 2 hours and 45 minutes
- Already closed
- The Barrow Group Theatre (Midtown W)
Cast & Creatives (12)
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Reviews (24)
6 Critics' Reviews
“If ever a play needed sharp direction this is it; instead, the play's structural weakness is exaggerated by Fail's egregiously sloppy staging on a bland, shabby-looking set of beige apartment walls, amateurishly designed and even more amateurishly lit by S. Watson...Fail's pacing is ragged, his actors seem to be blocking themselves on the fly, most scenes lack dynamic tension, there's a laughably phony beating, and, sadly, much of the acting is inadequate.” Full Review
"Fitfully entertaining but ultimately exasperating, Stuart Fail’s unwieldy drama 'Consider the Lilies' is enlivened by the venerable Austin Pendleton’s captivating performance...Fail has a facility for lively dialogue with numerous setups and punch lines that land. However, there is also a lot of stilted exposition and lengthy, stiff philosophical discourses...Fails’ direction is straightforward but doesn’t inject much energy." Full Review
"A sprawling shambles of a play. It is sorely in need of serious pruning, shaping, and revision…Kudos to Austin Pendleton and to Eric Joshua Davis for their efforts at breathing life into their respective, if poorly developed, characters. But there is way too much repetition, tangential conversations, pointless meandering episodes, and odd bits of business, so that the time drags on considerably until the play finally comes to its end more than two-and-a-half hours after it began." Full Review
"While Fail has a talent for dialogue and witty one-liners, the first three-quarters of his play lacks action…For my money, the play is worth sitting through if only to see the excellent scene between Collier and Pendleton. But Fail would do very well to take another look at his script in order to rid it of much that feels extraneous, including three whole characters and at least an hour of run time. As it stands, Pendleton’s graceful performance and million-dollar smile is worth every penny." Full Review
"Fail flirts with a lot of subtextual plot possibilities, but it all left me puzzled or disinterested. Still, Pendleton amuses as always and newcomer Peter Collier, who appears as a wise-ass, aspiring, and punkish young artist in the second act, had genuine spark." Full Review
"Austin Pendleton didn’t disappoint here, but he’s the main element of interest…The characters are given to repeating in claustrophobic loops rather than advancing. Themes are introduced such as abandoned children and uncaring parents, and new characters are brought in to keep the drama going...But the situations and language veer toward commonplace (the play could benefit from a red pencil.) The resolution is arbitrary, whether you see it as positive or negative." Full Review
18 Members' Reviews
See it if Gay alcoholic artist struggles with self-doubt and obsession with handsome agent. Austin Pendleton is a treasure. Eric Davis fine as agent
Don't see it if Seems like an early draft. Two minor characters could be cut. I also liked Peter Collier as the cocky young artist.
See it if see it for Austin Pendleton's performance. He does the best he can with overwritten material and aimless direction.
Don't see it if you expect a great play. The play itself needs lots of cuts and playwright Stuart Fail does him self no favors by also directing. It's long.
See it if you might be interested in a story about an aging "bitter, bisexual alcoholic."
Don't see it if you don't like Austin Pendleton or want to see something light.
See it if You are an August Pendleton fan. Like gay artistic men dwelling on the meaning of their lives.
Don't see it if You don't like long plays that desperately need editing and cutting.
See it if You're an avid fan of Pendleton & up for a repetitive, unresolved, nearly 3 hour mellow-drama with art-world clichés; rarely rings true.
Don't see it if You expect a developed exploration of the author's disjointed program statement regarding art & identity, self worth & conformity.
Also A play that explores the aging artist coping with the loss of his arti... Read more Read less
See it if You love Austin Pendleton and can sit through two and a half hours of slow moving mostly drivel to find a few good lines in his scenes
Don't see it if You want a well-edited, well-directed and well staged production - most of thus is really slow and lacking in theatrical substance
See it if you want to see an attempt at a serious, complex, psychological relationship play and want to see what Pendleton is up to
Don't see it if overly long, tedious, not believably, not well written or staged
See it if You enjoy great actors doing their thing: Austin Pendleton, Peter Collier, and Liarra Michelle all shine. Some interesting concepts at play.
Don't see it if The script still needs work. Further development -- and cuts -- are necessary. It would help if the playwright were not also the director.
See it if AP fan, no cost or friend/relative in cast.
Don't see it if Playwright poor director. Contrived situations prevail. 2:45 unduly long given material. Same material covered in every scene. Laggard pace.
Also Boring play; needs 30 minutes cut. Theatrical Ambien.
See it if A full- performance by a master actor/director intrigues you
Don't see it if You expect a fully polished neat ending type of play
See it if you want to see the masterful Austin Pendleton in a play he feels strongly about, as well as a solid performance by Eric Joshua Davis.
Don't see it if you're looking for a cohesive plot or a well written female character, and you have no patience for themes that take you in multiple circles
Also The play needs editing, and serious thought needs to be given to the w... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see the writings of a exciting new american playwright.
Don't see it if The play is complex and takes awhile to get going but second act makes it worthwhile.
See it if you like Austin Pendleton.
Don't see it if If you like a play to keep your interest and not keep repeating the same theme.
See it if Great acting from Pendelton and Davis; visual arts truths are woven together with questions of love, gay identity, friendships, parenting,..
Don't see it if if you do not have the patience to follow a complex story to develop and mature. in a slow motion.
See it if You want a good but unintentional laugh.
Don't see it if You don't mind sitting through a mind-numbingly badly written and atrociously acted play, and calling it a play is generous.
See it if This play, shown at a small off-Broadway theater, deserves a production in a larger venue. Austin Pendleton delivers a masterly performance
Don't see it if You need action, or if you don't appreciate great acting
See it if you like stories that parallel real life situations (the very sad and the happy)
Don't see it if you dont like long shows or gay themes (it deals with homosexuality, I dont mean it's flamboyant and sassy)
See it if you want to take a chance on some great acting by Austin Pendleton
Don't see it if you tire easily from too many subplots in over a two hour play.
Also This play could really work with some good editing