Cyprus Avenue

See it if you're interested in psychotic prejudice, played 1st for laughs, then bloody horror. Emotional whiplash. Absurdism uneasily mixed w realism.

Don't see it if you dislike ruthless violence, especially after humor. Therapy sessions seemed pointless, given the crimes. Strong acting; flawed script.

See it if you don't mind disturbing violence. that part is harsh but interesting.

Don't see it if you don't care about Irish political name dropping for 30 min with no effect on the rest of the play. All other characters are props.

Also This was very uneven. There is 60 min play in there with a 30 min diatribe about the politics of Ireland. But not so much illuminating as it is ruminating. So unless you have prior knowledge of the subject and the endless parade of names being dropped, it's bafflingly boring.
Then the play restarts again and it's pretty juicy in a disturbing way. Unfortunately, none of the other characters being developed in any way it takes from what could have been a more emotional, and not simply shocking reaction.
Needs major trimming for international audiences and better drawn supporting characters.... Read more Read less

See it if You like intense or disturbing shows. The first and last thirds of the play were good.

Don't see it if The drawn out 30min scene in the middle discusses Ireland politics, it's very boring, screeches the play to halt & it doesn't fully recover.

See it if You want to see a dark...a very dark statement on what happens when we remain silent and do not call out hate for what it is when it occurs.

Don't see it if You can’t handle a violent stark look at the ugliest of truths about our society right now!

See it if to witness Rea's dynamic, committed tour-de-force in a subversive play that attempts to explain the origins of hate & how it begets violence

Don't see it if you aren't prepared for some ugly, grim, violent scenes; you expect more than a shallow morality play; you don't have the patience of Job.

Also I struggled with this play, and I can actually understand the inclination to praise this unusual and ambitious work. But I think that once you get past Stephen Rea's performance, in which he injects all the humor, pathos and despair he can muster, the play feels empty, unrealistic, and gratuitous. There's a message buried beneath all the madness, but I don't think it's ultimately delivered by this one-sided, one-note screed about bigotry.... Read more Read less

See it if uses absurdism & wickedly dark humor 2 illustrate issues of identity & extremism; brilliant volcanic/humorous performance by Stephen Rea

Don't see it if some will be perplexed by violence or find it gratuitous or won't like absurdist approach where unsure what's real/what's not

Also This play appears to be a riff on Jonathan Swift's satirical "A Modest Proposal" in which Swift proposes that the poor address their poverty by selling their babies to the rich as food. Cyprus centers on the absurd belief by Stephen Rea, playing Eric, a maniacal British Loyalist in Ireland, that his infant granddaughter is the embodiment of Gerry Adams, the IRA leader, whom Eric abhors. Rea turns in a remarkably empathetic portrayal of a highly-partisan, bigoted man by showing how challenges he perceives to his sectarian Loyalist identity by the Irish push him to delusion and homicide.... Read more Read less

See it if You love dark, Irish dramas or would love to see a brilliant turn by Stephen Rea.

Don't see it if You dislike plays by authors like Martin McDonagh, or hate intensely violent plays.

See it if Tour de force performance by Rhea about a story of bigotry and insanity - a dangerous combination.

Don't see it if The violence at the end of the play, which is visual, is extreme and beyond comprehension. I looked away but you know what is going on.

Also Knowledge of the history of Northern Ireland would be helpful.

See it if Plays in historical context interest you. You are fine with very minimal set. You can handle some gory violence in a heavy drama.

Don't see it if Off the wall characters and situations don’t disturb you so much that you can’t enjoy a play for what it is.

See it if Want to see a dark and violent play with a lead actor that will blow you away

Don't see it if You don’t understand things about Ireland. I still loved this play even though I Don’t understand the history between n. Ireland and Ireland

Also I break this play down into three parts. The first 35 minutes was really really good. I didn’t understand one thing about the next 35 minutes because I am not very smart when it comes to history in general especially history and other countries. The last 35 minutes of this play was some of the best theater I have ever seen in my entire life. Even though you may not understand the middle part of this play it’s still worth it to see this incredible performances by one of the best actors ever... Read more Read less

See it if You are ready for a really dark play about an mentally ill man who is torn between the past and the present. Stephen Rea is masterful!

Don't see it if You expect a light-hearted Irish comedy or Going My Way. You dislike dark satire.

Also The entire cast is brilliant! You should know something about Sinn Féin and the “Troubles”.... Read more Read less

See it if You like good theatre from London.

Don't see it if You want a traditional easy to take drama.

See it if you want to take advantage of the rare opportunity to see Stephen Rea on a New York stage even in a play that turns shockingly violent.

Don't see it if you don't like black humor and are repelled by violence.

Also This left me emotionally drained and then just angry. It's a close call whether seeing Stephen Rea was worth the shocking cruelty.... Read more Read less

See it if You like amazing theater that you might not necessarily "enjoy." This is a hard edged play with a good bit of comedy. But VERY intense

Don't see it if You can't deal with extreme violence and a sort of dream like quality to the production. You don't understand accents. Blood gets to you.

See it if you like bold and intense plays that push the envelope. The acting is fantastic keeps you gripped even when you want to look away.

Don't see it if you don’t like terrible plays regardless of how well-written or acted it is. It is not easy to watch and listen to racist and hateful speech

See it if you want to see incredible acting in a story about prejudice, mental illness and denial.Stephen Rea is brilliant.Unsettling script.Profound

Don't see it if you want something light or are squeamish.Acting is superb.Writing is excellent.This one makes you think about anger and politics. Relevant.

See it if A terrific performance by Stephen Rea. You might enjoy it if you are well-versed in the Northern Ireland conflict.

Don't see it if Violent. Pointless. Its “humor” did not travel well.

See it if You want to see a fully committed actor,who you maybe wished had committed to something else. Some brilliant verbiage; sum less than parts.

Don't see it if you are not interested in 100 minutes of swearing and ridicule ending in violence.You know where its going 15 minutes in.

Also Really dont know what to say about this. It is dark. Subversive. Always trying to put you off balance--but you know there is no place else to go. Stephen Rea is stellar, his frequent monologues trigger laughter, disbelief, an inexorable arc his interactions with his therapist are lovely and give us a relief from the oppression that is the deed hanging over the play.

but too often I had the time to think-well, get on with it man.

Its all so measured. so 'ordinary" until its not.... Read more Read less

See it if you love great acting, Stephen Rea is Over The Top, hard biting story of prejudice, psychosis and paranoia

Don't see it if NOT for the squeamish, the play shocks you in ways that are appalling

See it if you want an excellent portrayal of and the justification for the prejudices of entitled white men - and the resulting dire consequences

Don't see it if you object to over the top behavior and believe that prejudice and hate can be justified.

See it if It requires some fortitude to travel the emotional road of this examination of the human need to feel secure but this important look at...

Don't see it if what divides us is smart & provocative. Heavy material deftly presented, humorous moments in a dark story.

See it if you're interested by an exploration of the lengths to which someone will go to protect their identity and beliefs.

Don't see it if you have the tendency to be repulsed by lifelike acts of violence. Some moments were difficult to watch.

See it if Great acting by Rea and cast. Extremely dark and violent story of a psychotic man who commits the unthinkable. Dark humor...oh my!

Don't see it if If you prefer light dramas or musicals.

See it if you don’t mind brutal, bizarre, and bigoted behaviors; can forgive some lack of real closure; want to think deeply; like short dramas.

Don't see it if you’re uninterested in the English/Irish debate; will find blood, violence, brutality, misogyny, and racism disgusting; need uplifting work.

Also Working the central stage like a predator that may strike at slight provocation, Cyprus Avenue’s Stephen Rhea’s bitter, bigoted Eric keeps you on edge. How horrifying: seemingly-sane people can harbor such hideous feelings (about strangers, about their families, even about innocent babies) following severe trauma—or maybe just poor upbringing that leaves one bereft of human empathy. At some points, I thought, “what’s the point?” but I gather that we’re meant to be disturbed. Identity (religious, racial, gender, national), labels, words: they all build from an anti-Catholic, anti-Irish agenda left percolating too long. That a husband, father, and grandfather with a comfortable living can move naturally through life, then, without much prodding, turn into a snarling beast, is the most severe threat. Is this simply a man’s decent into madness and distraction because he doesn’t know who he or anyone is anymore? CA needs more reflection—I’m waiting for something more to settle in me.... Read more Read less

See it if You love black comedy, and aren't easily offended. David Rea is great. - the whole cast is strong.

Don't see it if play about a man who has a serious mental health issue and is ultimately unredeemable bothers you. Too dark and not funny enough for me.

Also As a rule, I like a black comedy. I love the Martin McDonagh's work, but this David Ireland play is referred to as "Savage" in the Pub's description. - and that sums it up. It's not a play that unravels (so that you see the slow decline of a character, that you have come to care about, it's more Brechtian). Rea's character in the first flashback is heavy handed and clearly mentally ill. - It only gets more dark from there. - and as I've said not in a way that allows the audience to see the humanity of this character. Overall well directed and acted, but not my cup of tea.... Read more Read less