Endlings

See it if You want to see an artist finding her voice. You still believe whites control content and perception in art, theater and life.

Don't see it if You are not interested in the unraveling of at least three plots as they then begin to interweave. A tremendous amount of swearing.

Also Again prob above my pay grade. This was an appreciative multiracial audience.

For me it just ended up a bit too kitchen sink and pretentious.

There is some gorgeous work here, but... The set and set changes were very interested in being "cute". At my performance the gimmick with the "underwater" scenes didn't work because the scenery got stuck and we saw them walking around trying to fix it. Like every thing else about this 90 minute play--it was just too busy.

There is a small simple story of our 'endlings', Korean deep divers. Then there is a film about them within the play. Next we meet our "playwright" as she struggles to stop writing white plays and give voice to her Korean self and family. Then we are back with our divers as we discover who they are in our context. Then we are back with our playwright as she writes a play within the play. And then...STOP

I was enthralled by her first monologue but subsequent steps outside the fourth wall were less effective for me.... Read more Read less

See it if Like diving into the unknown, choppy waters of the past with strange surprises and emerging in the present. Interesting immigration story.

Don't see it if Meta, non linear, playwright writing the play in the play, some strange parts aren’t your thing. Cussing older women disturb you.

Also Diversity: stars 4 Asian women! Three older and one younger. Addresses the White (male) gaze head on. Additional White men actors.
1 hour 35 minutes, no intermission.
Ticket from website for $29.... Read more Read less

See it if Delightful and surprising this dual tale has you switching back and forth between older Korean fisherwomen and a contemporary NY playwright.

Don't see it if angsty examination of white-centric male playwrights and cultural disassociation and ancestral heritage

Also So many surprising, fun and bright moments in this clunky and too long play with a lot of messages--still makes it worth seeing: a hidden pool! Subterranean swimmers! Fairy tales/mythology examined! Lots of wonderful Asian actors on stage! Older women with amazing physicality!, Reflections on culture and value! Great Riffs on white men/playwrights! What these performers achieve on stage is kind of astonishing and overwhelming.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see three Korean women with a way of life that is quickly becoming extinct - diving in the ocean for subsistence.

Don't see it if you don't like direct address to the audience; the "playwright" agonizing with you; mixing reality with absurdity.

Also The first hour is the elderly Korean women's story (interrrupted by a long monologue from the "playwright") and it is enchanting. The three actors are wonderful. But then the play devolves into absurdism, commentary on P.C. writing... The women magically appear on a NYC subway, performing for the passengers, and so forth. I love magical realism, but my takeaway is that in this case too many cooks have spoiled what was a really lovely broth.... Read more Read less

See it if Was expecting (hoping!) to love this, but didn't find it as pointed as it could have been- mostly a little too broad, a little too gimmicky.

Don't see it if Some nice moments (the staging, the diving scenes, the "white play"), but never felt it hit as hard or as smart as it could have.

Also The play relied too heavily on its schticks: A lot of the humor - older folks being crass & swearing - was funny at first, but lost it's punch pretty quickly.... Read more Read less

See it if interested in lives of people vastly different from yours and a world away, you enjoy masterfully written plays, especially about women.

Don't see it if you only like musicals, light fare or you lack imagination.

Also This is such a beautifully written, amazingly staged play. The acting was superb. The story is not exactly linear, but most people of normal intelligence can manage to put the separate parts together.

Frankly, I am dismayed and even angry at the low ratings other people have given it here. I doubt they saw the same play I did. We New Yorkers are lucky to have such great young talent and that there are theaters like NYTW who are intelligent enough to recognize this talent. Indeed, NYTW has brought amazing plays to NY audiences, this is one of them. And dammit, it is NOT cliched.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a thoughtful, engaging, funny, interesting commentary on the role of race and location in America; it's brilliantly clever!

Don't see it if you need a strongly cohesive narrative; don't like meta theatre