Days of Rage

See it if You have memories of or want an idea of what it was like to live as a passionate youth during the turbulent Vietnam War era.

Don't see it if You don’t like to be reminded that there were (and are) reasons to be angry with the way our country is being run.

Also I liked this show a lot. A good representation of how passionate (mostly) young people can get about truly horrific situations but don’t always channel that rage in the most constructive ways.... Read more Read less

See it if An interesting show despite an unremarkable story. Levenson’s script stars and performances are solid. Went by quickly.

Don't see it if You don’t like shows about the Vietnam era or can’t relate to the blind naïveté of youth.

See it if Levenson's tries hard to capture 60's idealism (against current climate??) & falls short Cullman's rapid-shot direction masks script's flaws

Don't see it if Tonally dissonant as it often seems to mock the sincerity it professes to advocate Acidly captures the privilege of entitled white revolt

See it if you want to hear a terrific playlist of late 1960s whiteboy rock played at high decibel level between dozens of punchy but uneven scenes.

Don't see it if you were hoping for cogent political analysis of an admittedly confusing era in US society.

Also Over the past few years I’ve seen several plays that consist of very short, punchy, unresolved scenes separated by blaring music, often some era’s greatest pop/rock hits. I don’t think this is an effective way to tell a story in the theater: Things unroll like a screenplay deprived of film’s ability to cut away to a fully new world. “Days of Rage” feels paradoxically both scattered & boxed in, though intermittently funny & peppered with occasional social insights, until the last few scenes when things at last start to pack a punch. The set, a 2-story house that a few would-be revolutionary college dropouts share in 1969 with the 4th wall cut away, is tricked out to move forward & back, but mostly that just reinforces for us how much the essentials remain the same. The playlist of interstitial music is totally boss, however, & the tense last several minutes almost redeem the slack (though speedy) previous goings-on.... Read more Read less

See it if An anti-war collective of drop-outs has a reckoning when their own perish.Trip Cullman's edgy direction. Tavi Gevinsson's heiress is great.

Don't see it if Casual bomb detonation talk. Polyamorous relationships. Bi-level shifting stage.

See it if Worth seeing for the young cast. The set is fantastic. One of those two story sets with lots going on.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a play about radicals in the 1960s. Ultimately doesn't really work or make sense, but entertaining.

Also Spoiler alert: This play had a great line -- "A toothpaste heiress, who knew?"
which got a big laugh in the context of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to hear a bunch of young performers ramble about their political beliefs and talk of bombings and killings they hope to do.

Don't see it if You hate deafening scene change music. You're seated towards front since bilevel set. You hate shows that keep repeating the same thing.

See it if you like large stage sets.

Don't see it if Lots of repetitious talk, little drama and tension; the portrayals are no more than caricatures; story poorly told and ineffective.

Also I concur with Theatermania's description of "overproduced and underwhelming."
Satire or no satire, trivializing the passion, dedication and earnestness of the 60's era activists seems to be antithetical to what the writer is trying to portray. As can be seen from the evening's audience reaction, this is a play of little importance.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see something that takes place in 1969 but is very relevant today.

Don't see it if You’re not interested in seeing a different perspective on the way some people may have behaved during the protests of the Vietnam war

Also Overall I really enjoyed everything about this play. The acting was great, the set and costumes were magnificent and it was a very interesting choice of music along with the section of each song they played during the scene changes. I typically don’t like history lessons when I go to see Theatre. There were some reviews where people stated that it was disrespectful to actual protesters of the Vietnam war. I am sure there were many protesters of that war that did not behave this way but there may have been some that did. Everyone has this idea in their head of what it was like and what people were like during that time. I respect this author for showing us people behaving in a way that we may not have expected. There may not be much written about these people in history books but I’m sure they existed... Read more Read less

See it if You want to watch naive characters who think they are smart run around for 90min. Occasionally funny and smart. Interesting slice of life.

Don't see it if You want a story that has actual substance. Interesting characters in a boring story that felt forced.

See it if you're interested in plays about youth getting caught up in messy personal relationships and dangerous politics.

Don't see it if you not interested in plays about ideology, activism, growing up and young people getting in over their heads. Good play, but not great.

See it if you like well acted plays about the '60's.However, do NOT sit in front 4 rows.It's a 2 level set with no concern for sight lines.

Don't see it if Set is WAY over-designed.You don't need 2 levels or a set that moves forward.Also overwritten.Points are made early."Surprises" are obvious

See it if For your Lauren Patten cycle. If you like Steven Levenson. If you have no memory of a fraught time in US history.

Don't see it if You want any meat on these bones. You are not interested in activism-lite.

Also I actually knew people like these in my youth. I didn't like them any better then than I do in this play, It all just seemed frivolous..
Children of privilege who co-opted the problems of others.
This play infuriated me. The tease of potential violence.The absolute lack of subtlety.
If there was a desire to elucidate how well meaning people get it wrong and wreck havoc--its not tough enough. And if it is supposed to be the havoc that is wrought--again it falls short.

The bombing they all voted for gets lost. The horror gets misplaced in the subplot of the heiress. Consequences? The Black kid who has maybe the most to lose in this situation--draft bait, interracial relationship, family expectations stands as the voice of reason and family values. He is a cypher.
The tag at the end which wraps up everyone's lives held my interest more than anything else.
Tavi G continues to underwhelm me. Mike Faist was better than I remember in a weak role. But mostly it was just a waste of time.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy historically based pieces on the 60's protest movement with energized, albeit naive students.

Don't see it if trite predictable endings are appalling. The story rolls off the edge of the precipice they bring you to.

See it if interested in the counterculture's reaction to the Viet Nam war. Potential not completely realized, but holds interest, nonetheless.

Don't see it if it bothers you that you're not always convinced by the stated motivations of all the characters & what the playwright is trying to say.

See it if Attempt at revisiting 60’s protest era gets the details right but not the heart. But happy to see a young audience & they loved it.

Don't see it if If you want the truth of that movement you won’t find it here. Shrill acting, shallow characterizations. Plot reveal is contrived.

See it if a fan of the cast, desirous of returning to late-1960s anti-war ideologies, or want a fast 90-minute work that will hold your attention.

Don't see it if seeking a perfectly-crafted play; over “teen-angst” shows; or disturbed by violence, sexuality, drug-use, and some brief backside nudity.

Also Idealistic desires to do more launch a quintet into tenuous personal and political scenarios in Days of Rage. Led by a fine cast (notably Mike Faist and Lauren Patten), DoR is a 1969-set, angst-riddled work saturated with timeless themes (racism, war, violence, gender roles, sexuality) but doesn’t seem to know if it promotes vital rebellion or satirizes youths’ naiveté. Maybe both, but 90 plucky minutes is far too little to decipher what may be happening beneath the surface. DoR did hold my interest; set design is great. Yet, I felt like I was reading an abridged section of Nathan Hill’s The Nix, uncertain if I was to root for these dreamers or mock their savior complexes. Still, there’s something that holds our minds, if not hearts. That Steven Levenson penned this play in 2009 and calls it a “cautionary tale” about an era in which he feels “ambivalent” says all: there aren’t full answers in DoR, just a portrait of young lives uncontrollably unraveling--like the world around them.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in youth rebellion, political issues in the 1960's, excellent acting and interesting characters.

Don't see it if you are bothered by characterizations that are complex but are given a somewhat flawed treatment, making them not quite believable.

See it if Wish for a glimpse inside the minds of 70s revolutionaries - naive people

Don't see it if A bit self-absorbed characters and situation.

See it if The line between idealistically fighting for what's right and a extremist terrorism via among young white people, but this could be anyone.

Don't see it if Political theory jargon go over your head. Young white people "saving" people of color annoy you. Gun/shots are triggering.

Also Ticket from online rush via TodayTix for $27.50. Seat was row J on the side and view was fine.... Read more Read less

See it if you have an interest in Vietnam war counter culture stories. it was an interesting look at figures that probably existed during that time.

Don't see it if you need to relate to the characters you are watching or if you don't like choppy, episodic plays

Also For me this play was not a total loss. It held my interest throughout, but I was expecting more from the guy who wrote Dear Evan Hansen. While I am sure these radical characters were around during the Vietnam War, they weren't likable and it was hard to relate to them. The play itself was a lot of yelling and felt very loud between the angry characters and the set change music. The epilogue was clever in the technique used to end the story.... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays of disaffected youths complaining or stories about protesting the Vietnam War.

Don't see it if you need characters with much substance or if you like plays to have points and a clear point of view.

See it if You believe in a cause, and want that level of commitment in characters, want great acting, want to remember the misguided beliefs of youth.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a complete story, or need a nice tidy ending, hate politics, hated your youth and all your beliefs. Great performances.

See it if you might be interested in what went on behind closed doors as young, rather naive students attempted revolution in 1969

Don't see it if you have seen better plays on the subject. This one doesn't have much to add.

Also I was a student in the 60s, the same age of the characters in this play.I had firsthand experience of the events of the times. I thought some of the 'funny' moments were mocking of what we sincerely strived for. The vast majority of the audience last night was the age if the characters. They laughed at some questionable points and gave this play a most puzzling standing ovation. I felt sad, as if they hadn't a clue about what those times were really about.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see what Levenson does when he isn't crafting a good book musical; for some good performances; for a tiny bit of nostalgia

Don't see it if you have any respect for or real memory of the era, expect insights or a new perspective.

Also Really disappointing. Such a misinterpretation of the people and the history and the importance of issues we still face today. The era deserves a respectful, challenging, analytical look at the good, the bad and the ugly of what happened and what resulted. Too bad.... Read more Read less