Eco Village

See it if You can be entertained with a unique script, even if it’s flawed. Too many eye roll moments to be forgiven but not a bad effort.

Don't see it if You expect perfection. This is definitely a work in progress but there are a few things worth seeing here and the playwright has promise.

See it if You want some good actors. A really good set. If your interested in hippies and a commune style play.

Don't see it if If you want to see something meaningful or well written. This is another jumbled, non factual global warming story.

See it if you would enjoy a look at a young people's commune in today's "green" society. Some good points made/explored on a fantastic set.

Don't see it if you expect to hear every word - actors talk in all directions and I missed a lot. Immature audience reactions made it difficult to enjoy.

See it if you remember the communes of the 1960 & 70's. The situation catches the intentions and innocence of that era.

Don't see it if you need logical theatrical structure. Some of the actions make no sense while others are have weirdly disproportional responses.

See it if Sanguine millennial vies for acceptance with self-suffiency community of misfits. Detailed Off-B'way set. Remains on plot-track. Good lead.

Don't see it if Low-quality Off-B'way status. Strobe effects. Violence. Drugs. Alcohol. Whip cracking. Knives.Toys. Repeated dominatrix aspirations.Cliches.

See it if You want to see something original with a really great set

Don't see it if You are expecting a solid and polished script

Also I always get nervous When tickets are available for a production on show score and they don’t sell out. I assumed I was going to show up to a really old rundown an out dated theater. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in the theater and saw the very detailed and thought out set. Everything about this was pretty good. I do think the script needs some work and some fat needs to be trimmed. It’s a really good original idea and I will be curious to see more from this playwright. In some reviews people talk about the strobe lights. I thought the scene that involved the strobe lights was well thought out and it looked really cool... Read more Read less

See it if You're up for a good looking production, well paced and clever if ultimately unresolved, in the end rather fantastic story

Don't see it if You can't deal with themes involving hippies, idealism, communal Utopian living, lesbians, free sex, drugs, orgies or young adults.

Also Two things right up front: 1) this is a clever, constantly moving, well-written and funny if uneven script, inventively directed and given life to yet almost undermined by the young, game, likable cast that — in spite of miking — still managed to somehow be inaudible. No excuses, all round.

2) There was no warning listed anywhere for the clever if long, at times excessive, use of strobe lights at the story's climax; some people have, or could have issues with that and it's unusual for the production to not legally cover its rear.

That said, everything fits in with the youthful aspects of the evening, both conceptual and literal, and there's some good work here. Direction, set, lights and sound stand out, as do Lily Davis and Pearl Rhein, whose choices flesh out their roles believably and substantially.

The script of Eco Village, like its namesake commune, could use a little more plumbing, more work, and a more solid endgame, but it's a great start for a modern cautionary tale.... Read more Read less

See it if In the neighborhood and need a quick culture experience.

Don't see it if Surrounded by obnoxious hippies obsessed with avoiding society. Peace out. Dopey audiences with noisy phones prevail here.

Also Excellent music before and after the show. Amazing set stuffed with details, clever floors and running water. Directing was par for the writing. It could have been ten minutes shorter. For some reason, end also played at the beginning, always a counterproductive artsy conceit. Williams is beautiful and sexy. She makes it easy to forget the grand steaming mess swirling around her.... Read more Read less

See it if You are curious about life off the cultural grid

Don't see it if You like theater with a point. In this case what the main character derives from her experience is inconsistent with the experience itself.

See it if you want to have an innocuous theatrical experience that pretends it's profound. good acting and decent staging.

Don't see it if You want a intelligent analysis of a real problem This goes for the sitcom approach.

See it if You don't like musicals. It is straight acting. Acting was good. Staging was good.

Don't see it if You like straight acting.

See it if You are interested in new works, exploration into identity, family, idealism, escapism, sexual freedom via commune of millennials

Don't see it if You want a realistic story and believable, likeable characters.

See it if You are interested in a bunch of hippies trying to figure out their lives via the eco village

Don't see it if You want something light, and sophisticated

See it if You like to see rather cliche stories of people trying to start a new world.

Don't see it if You expect a deep thoughtful play.

See it if you enjoy plays with young enthusiastic casts and characters who are lost and looking for a place to belong and a purpose in life.

Don't see it if you prefer drama with more mature characters and are less episodic.

See it if you like a throwback to the 60's; staging was good though

Don't see it if you want good writing or a compelling story

See it if you like plays about people with psychological issues and a lot of baggage and who are trying to find themselves

Don't see it if you get easily disturbed by plays with painful interpersonal dynamics. If you need a convincing ending. If you need convincing characters

See it if Interestingly-staged but slow-moving stories about young people who are trying to find their way in a cultish community.

Don't see it if You are troubled by depictions of communal living drugs, violence, sex or homosexual characters.

Also This show doesn't seem to know what it wants to be - manifesto? romance? The characters all talk about the "community agreement" (it's even mentioned in the pre-performance admonition to the audience) but we never hear the details. And why does Robin never react to all her stuff being stolen?... Read more Read less

See it if Thing the idea of broken people trying to form a utopia sounds interesting

Don't see it if you are epileptic or have a problem with strobe lights. Also, the show is never fully realized in a weird way.

Also This was an odd show in that the script was.. not great? The show was clearly trying to say something, but never quite got there and so the ideas felt half formed.

The actor's did the best they could I think, but with a weak script?... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy drama done by young actors. It's predictable, but still enjoyable.

Don't see it if Strobe lights bother you.

Also The theme was similar to the 2000 movie "the beach". I thought the actors did a a good job, and all in all it was an enjoyable experience.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a child of the hippie era. It reminded me a lot of what communal living might have been like with different personalities.

Don't see it if If you don't like a show with a lot of expletives and sexual situations. Best appreciated if you were of the hippie era.

See it if you’d like to visit a contemporary hippie commune, 50 years on.

Don't see it if strobe lights bother you: only 1 scene has them, but they are intense.

Also Just before the climactic scene of this jumble of a play, “ECO VILLAGE,” Robin, whose story this is, turns to the audience to soliloquize about how “life is good.” We who’ve seen how dysfunctional & unrelentingly unpleasant life is in ECO VILLAGE, a borderline abusive hippie commune 50 years after their heyday, have to shake our heads in disbelief at Robin’s words. I am not sure what play this speech has flown in from, but it does not explain what we have seen so far. Robin in particular has been shabbily treated by just about everyone else. And after Robin’s monolog, that’s when things really get ugly. Not even the sex, the drugs or the kleptomania are able to save this one.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in young adults issues and relationships or enjoy a bit of mystery and suspense with some twists.

Don't see it if you are sensitive to open sex relationships, drug use and their consequences or if you prefer more mature characters and intricate plots.

See it if you want to see a great stage set only to be followed by childishly written and over acted play.

Don't see it if you are looking for a play that should make you think but just doesn't.

See it if you appreciate realistic, contemporary but timeless drama examining complexity and difficulty of relationships/adult identity development.

Don't see it if you limit live entertainment to large cast musicals, comedies, or light uncontroversial themes or cannot sit or focus for 90 minutes.

Also In my opinion, thematically unique, thought and conversation provoking plays like this one deserve more audience time and financial investment than Broadway shows pandering to the average intellect mainstream public.... Read more Read less