Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Colin Woodell star in Christopher Shinn's intimate and compassionate play, where a young widow receives an unexpected visit from the twin brother of her deceased husband. More…
Set in a spare Manhattan apartment,"Dying City" explores the human fallout of global events, including the Iraq War and the terrorist attacks of 9/11, through the interwoven stories of three characters in this 2008 Pulitzer finalist.
See it if You want to see a well written play, still relevant today even though it deals with headline topics (war) more than ten years old.
Don't see it if You expect unforgettable performances. This play is written better than it’s performed here. Draws you in but leaves you unfulfilled.
See it if Nice acting. Fascinating story re: twins Being a twin myself, gave it an extra punch and more thought)) Script leaves many "whys?"
Don't see it if A two hander. Minimal set. Avoid 1st two rows for this show as stage has been remodeled.
See it if you'd like a study in how death affects people differently & how people once close can ignore you. There is something good here but lacking!
Don't see it if it gets a little tedious with the back and forth, though it is well done and the actors are great. Triggers include war and 9/11.
See it if You like plays with small casts that act well. You like the actors.
Don't see it if You want a story that makes sense or directing choices that don't leave you gritting your teeth in frustration.
Also They set up a great transitional system that they only used once. The ... Read more Read less
See it if desire 21st century look at relationships, therapy & hot button issues, like time played with & actors playing twin roles, & ideas addressed
Don't see it if don't like conflict & dredging up past, need everything carefully spelled out, & happy ending, don't care for Long Days Journey references
See it if you need to come in out of a monsoon. Otherwise save your time and money.No idea what the point of the whole play was.Acting is good.
Don't see it if you have ANYTHING else to do.Root canal is preferable to sitting through this one.Sight lines were awful.It just doesn't go anywhere.
See it if you like plays that jump back and forth between time, interesting concept of woman confronting her grief with dead husband's twin.
Don't see it if you don't want to leave the theater scratching your head over how this was nominated for a Pulitzer, want to feel invested in the characters
See it if A look at the survivors of a tragic soldier story. The actors are likeable. The story is so-so.
Don't see it if 2 actors for 3 parts is confusing at times. The denouement was not a surprise. Honestly, I had a hard time remembering this 2 days later.
See it if Sorry, can't come up with a reason. You want to support 2nd Stage?
Don't see it if You want to have fluid acting. These actors were static and lifeless. You want a narrative that makes sense.
See it if You enjoy a recent period piece about manhood, sexuality and abuse written pre MeToo
Don't see it if You like a direct, matter of fact play about Male female relationships
See it if Interested in toxic cultural climate, therapy, twins upbringing, masculinity, war, PTSD, secrets, reveals, political divisiveness.
Don't see it if don't like shifting timelines, 1 actor playing 2 parts ( though very well), not being sure of what the playwright is trying to get across.
Also Some thought provoking points are raised, but never satisfactorily ans... Read more Read less
See it if You like unusual relationship stories, stories about war or are specifically interested in plots including twins.
Don't see it if You require fully developed characters & plots with smooth transitions, or you are sensitive to bad relationships or the death of a love one
See it if you’d enjoy a play that is interesting and well performed (especially by Colin Woodell), but doesn’t feel like a satisfying experience.
Don't see it if you need a sympathetic character to get invested. They each had moments in which I thought there might be one, but it didn’t materialize.
See it if a one-act play about family revelations, twin brothers, war, and therapy sounds appealing; you don’t mind working to hold it all together.
Don't see it if you'll be confused by multiple timelines/storylines and one actor playing two parts; if you need something fast-paced and groundbreaking.
Also Dying City begins with a slow, awkward reunion between a widow and her... Read more Read less
See it if you want a well acted piece with a weak premise and meandering plot. Lots of talking, not much action, inconclusive resolution.
Don't see it if you want a play with dialog that propels the plot somewhere interesting.
See it if you want to see a show where the characters are forced to deal with who they are and who they aren't - it isn't pretty.
Don't see it if writing that runs away from the most powerful ending makes you want to run from a production.
Also This may have been Shinn's first director job, but I thought his direc... Read more Read less
See it if you like psychologically complex plays that deal with effects of upbringing, war, our society's mores, values & politics on people.
Don't see it if you dislike struggling to interpret a very psychologically complex play with politics and come contrivance "thrown in."
See it if you'd enjoy a story about family and guilt.
Don't see it if you want an action-packed story. This is a character-study play.
See it if a two-hander playing three characters is appealing, set in current times in NYC, or if Pinter-esque dialogue without insight is for you.
Don't see it if a plot that makes sense, that doesn't leave you wondering what the point of sitting there for 90 minutes is about, is appealing.
See it if you like dark historical drama re politics, military, misogyny, gay/straight/paternal/maternal/therapist patient relations, violence, death
Don't see it if you prefer light non-political theme, comedy or musical, large cast, costumes, set, multiple acts, linear plot, or 9/11 or Iraq is trigger
Also Stage reminiscent of a smart phone, tablet, or flat screen monitor is ... Read more Read less
See it if Powerful, thought-provoking and painful.
Don't see it if Not the show for you if you want a light hearted comedy
See it if good acting in a two-hander
Don't see it if not a fan of Christopher Shin. No reason it was revived. Though it was done well
See it if you enjoy sitting though 90 minutes of a play that never goes anywhere and that sounds like a lovely way to spend in evening with strangers.
Don't see it if you have ANYTHING better to do like clean out a closet, re-paper the draws in your kitchen, or even alphabetize your pantry's can goods.
Also I hated it at just five minutes into the play. It was tortuous sitting... Read more Read less
See it if Interesting play using relationships between twin brothers, one a deceased soldier, and his wife, to discuss views on Vietnam War, politics,
Don't see it if Playwright seems to cover too many issues.Plot seems contrived at times.
Also psychotherapy,therapist-patient issues.Actors performances hold your a... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see an excellent "slice of life" drama performed by 2 excellent actors.
Don't see it if You prefer light and fluffy. This is dark and intense and there are very few funny lines in it.