The Emperor Jones NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (94)
See it if you love O'Neill. This play remains so relevant "Ain't I the emperor - the laws don't go for him". The lead Obi Abili was brilliant.
Don't see it if racial dialect caricature makes you cringe.
See it if you enjoy inventive staging and seeing a tour de force performance by a brilliant actor that has relevance to today's politics.
Don't see it if you hate puppets or surreal, expressionistic costuming and staging. This is not naturalistic theater.
See it if You like re interpretations of scripts
Don't see it if Want traditional stagings
See it if enjoy masterful performance of powerful acting, creative staging and choregraphy of a classic.
Don't see it if want something light and fluffy Read more
See it if you want to see a brilliant, creative production of a rarely performed Eugene O'Neill play, featuring dazzling Obi Abili in the title role.
Don't see it if you are unable to listen to politically incorrect language and/or you only like lightweight fare. Read more
See it if a magnificently staged classic appeals to you. Puppets, lighting & music create a magical jungle world in which truth becomes justice.
Don't see it if you are looking for complex characters or plot.
See it if you enjoy classic theater brought to life with amazingly powerful dance and puppetry. Highly entertaining.
Don't see it if you do not like intense theatrical performances of classic plays.
See it if you enjoy see the full scope of a playwright's work and/or like the use puppetry. Themes in this century old play are still fresh today.
Don't see it if expressionistic plays leave you cold. This is an important O'Neill play that's well done but not his best.
Critic Reviews (25)
"It’s a play that every O’Neill fan should see, and one could do worse than choosing The Irish Rep’s current production that offers plenty of compelling visuals, and a mostly powerful performance by its lead...Jones is a challenging role for any actor and Abili does bring the heat and the intensity if not an extreme emotional range...If he is lacking chemistry at the opening, he has found the proper equation by his final scene."
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“With Brutus the sole character for much of the show, success relies on Obi Abili’s excellent performance as the tormented ruler. Directed by Ciaran O’Reilly, Abili captivates with the powerful way he captures Brutus’s descent. Some of the surrounding material becomes somewhat repetitive...But Abili maintains the strength of the story line through his powerful portrayal of a man falling from power, life, and himself."
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"An expressionistic masterpiece. Under the boldly inventive eye of director O’Reilly, O’Neill’s controversial 1920 play thumps and swirls itself deeper and deeper and with increasing wonder into the fissured psyche of its title character...Even with stellar acting and directing, the elements that lift this production to its greatest heights come from its technical team...The expedition pays off handsomely, as this production captures all that makes O’Neill’s play powerful and haunting."
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"Under O’Reilly’s inventive direction, Abili delivers an engaging adrenaline-driven performance...'Emperor Jones,' despite its rich themes and enduring questions, is not without problems. In his efforts to address the evils of racism, O’Neill resorts to language that is racist and a purely psychological reading of the play is problematic. Seen through the political critical lens, however, the play provides a treasure trove of redemptive conversation concerning the dangers of despotism."
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"Abili fills the stage with ample physical and vocal force although his words, written in heavy 'Negro' dialect, are sometimes muffled. At one point he whips his throne platform with one muscular blow after another, such that you shudder at the thought of what the effect would be on a human back...I missed John Douglas Thompson's performance so I can't compare him to Abili but, for now, Abili has set the high standard I'll remember the next time someone tackles 'The Emperor Jones.'"
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“Abili is a force to be reckoned with, I just wish I had understood him through the heavy dialect. His presence and acting are masterful and powerful and extremely psychopathic. As he waved the gun around, I was actually cringing that it might go off…The direction by Ciarán O'Reilly is chilling, and choreographer Barry McNabb shines as his forest and witch doctor (Sinclair Mitchell) come springing to life.”
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“Prepare to be immersed in the vengeful actions of a spirit world made lucid by a sensational production of ‘The Emperor Jones’…The symbiotic creatives at Irish Rep, under the adroit helm of Director Ciaran O’Reilly, offer a visually and audibly inventive, palpably menacing, magical scenario. O’Reilly, proven skillful with both naturalism and musicals is also apparently superb with the inconceivable. Concept and coordination are as outstanding as his lead’s performance.”
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"Controversy has surrounded the play from the very beginning because of its use of stereotypes, speech, and rampant use of the N-word...Regardless of where you find yourself on the racist controversy, it’s hard to deny the sheer power of the play, which is both uncomfortable to watch and utterly captivating in this intense and intimate production. Abili fully embodies the role...'The Emperor Jones' can still shock, providing no easy outs, particularly in this poignant version."
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