Crackskull Row NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (58)
See it if You love formula driven Irish plays performed in a sub basement
Don't see it if You rather spend your time doing something productive like washing clothes
See it if You like dark Irish theatre (though I do, and didn't like the show).
Don't see it if You're not wearing ten layers of clothing, because they pump arctic air into the theatre. Read more
See it if You like plays that have non-linear plots, deeply troubled characters and controversial subject matter.
Don't see it if If you have difficulty following a plot that shifts time periods, deals with morality issues, has trouble understanding Irish accents
See it if I just gotta say i loved it- can't give an explanation except it was a woman's trails and tribulations and not necess PC. How do we cope?
Don't see it if You don't like a thick accent, or incest or honest means of getting by or unconventional coping methods. This is in your face theatre.
See it if you like a show that grows on you and makes you wonder afterward. You begin to see the variations . Also 4 super actors
Don't see it if you are easily upset about horrible family relationships,
See it if you've seen and appreciated a Beckett play. Dark, compelling and mysterious look at death and family life where the past is never over.
Don't see it if you cannot hang in there not knowing what is going on until later--and even then it's not fully clear--and thick Irish brogues wont do. Read more
See it if If you enjoy dark comedy, you want to be challenged.and you like to analyze themes and motifs
Don't see it if If you prefer a linear structure and don't think much of updated Oedipal themes
See it if You are interested in the porousness of reality, spirituality and insanity overlying an Irish dysfunctional family drama.
Don't see it if You have difficulty with Irish brogue/Irish argot or sordid family situations.
Critic Reviews (20)
"As Masher, Terry Donnelly is variously mother Ireland, the infernal Morrigan of Irish myth, the woman you run to and the woman you try to escape...I can’t think of the last time I’ve seen a female character given this much agency in an Irish play...Beautifully written and at all times absorbing because it understands the potency of the themes it has unleashed...Few Irish playwrights have dared to be this ambitious in years. 'Crackskull Row' blazes to life with an anguished and unsettling howl."
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"There is much to admire about the production, including some fine performances...'Crackskull Row' often values dramatic potential over clarity, and while some climactic, intimate scenes are intensely dramatic, others fall into a spasmodic mode of meaningless activity. Save for a few rare scenes of sparkling chemistry, the production threatens to come away at the seams...Yet, the production is redeemed and revived by its flowing, narrative core, and the actors who bring it to life."
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"In the world of theater that tackles taboo topics, 'Crackskull Row' has undeniably added its name to the list...One leaves the theater mystified. To be sure, the show was dark and unsettling. Its themes were off-putting—or disturbing—to say the least, but it certainly is not a 75-minute display of horror. 'Crackskull Row' certainly does give the curious mind a lot to work with."
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"To watch this show, you must suspend wanting immediate gratification or clarity. All will be revealed in time. There is a powerful unsettling scene regarding mother-son incest and unexpected twists and turns. I recommend this play to anyone who appreciates good acting, writing and directing, and who is willing and strong enough to venture into an emotionally challenging place. This show is not for the sensitive or faint of heart but will leave a lasting impression."
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