Ernest Shackleton Loves Me NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (248)
See it if You like great music and singing. Crazy talented cast. Good story and wonderful musical accompaniment by all. Pure fun!
Don't see it if If you can't suspend your disbelief, crazy story.
See it if You like unique variations on the style of musical theatre (i.e. A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder) w/talented Multi-Character performers
Don't see it if You need large cast musicals with dance numbers
See it if are willing to go in with no expectations and allow your self to just enjoy the ride.
Don't see it if Are looking for a fluff romance like The NY Times critic. Aren't willing to realize there's much more going on here than meets the eye. Read more
See it if You are a "creative", perhaps in a slump. The whole show is perfectly crafted to be very inspiring. All set to a driving beat.
Don't see it if you don't like any parts of your theater experience to be fantastical.
See it if You are willing to take a risk and let this 2person extremely ambitious rock/techno musical take you to wherever it takes you.Amazing talent
Don't see it if You are only interested in conventional musicals. Think sort of Hedwig meets Rent meets a techno Rock concert
See it if Multimedia, green screens, exciting recording tracks, two amazing Actors (especially Val Vigoda) who plays, mixes, sings at the same time.
Don't see it if You expect it to be like Cats. You are so jaded that seeing two phenomenal Actors working hard, and telling a charming story... don't go.
See it if You enjoy great music and acting. Hi Tech backdrop and fantastic violin play and music. Standing ovation tells it all for off Broadway,
Don't see it if You don't like two person shows. However This show is fantastic!
See it if You want fresh, unique mix of incredible true history melded to great acting and musicianship. The historical footage alone- unforgettable.
Don't see it if you don't like electric violin. you dont want a "fantastical journey". I didn't love the smart alecky set up but it had a purpose. Read more
Critic Reviews (25)
"Vigoda and Milburn's works mix the snarky and the sentimental. Under Lisa Peterson’s focused direction, 'Ernest Shackleton' is no exception...With the exception of a cheerily disjointed opening number, the score and the narrative that encases it are too tidy to allow for much real feeling. Kat is supposedly an experimental composer, but most of the music is merry pastiche...If Mr. DiPietro’s premise is nicely weird, his psychology and story rarely buck convention."
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"A bighearted but very silly musical...Brendan Milburn’s music is lovely, and the two actors sound great performing it...The painfully broad humor in Joe DiPietro’s script only heightens the feeling that we’re watching an after-school special for grown-ups. But 'Ernest Shackleton Loves Me' is so clearly a labor of love that it’s hard to be too bothered by the cartoonishness, even as the show sails into shallow waters."
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"Under the direction of Peterson, this NY premiere proudly waves its freak flag, and, perhaps taking a clue from the adventures of the title character, boldly dares to risk its life in the admirable search for innovation...While Vigoda and McCollum don't have much romantic chemistry, they're both delightfully quirky performers who really know how to sell the material...Peterson's direction guides them both into larger-than-life performances that, remarkably, are down-to-earth at the same time."
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“A wildly fun and unpredictable new two-person musical comedy…As played by the energetic and charismatic Valerie Vigoda, Kat is really quite a catch. Vigoda also wrote the clever, storytelling lyrics…Add a solidly quirky book by Joe DiPietro and a spirited production by director Lisa Peterson, and ‘Ernest Shackleton Loves Me’ is just as lovable as musicals come…The plot may be thin, but the enjoyable score is a terrific mix of pop, folk and techno...This one will melt your heart.”
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"Under Peterson's canny direction, this bizarre premise is so smoothly put over that there are many things to enjoy...The exchanges between a frazzled twenty-first century woman and her Edwardian explorer are often amusing...The idea of using this historical event as a way of working out Kat's personal problems is so weirdly random that often one's mind wanders...A confident production with many crowd-pleasing aspects, but it is built on a questionable concept."
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"There is little by way of set design beyond the large video installation and a few props, but imagination and the energetic performances take care of the rest. Musically, the show is filled with thumping songs ranging from pop tunes to sea chanteys to soaring power ballads...Corny, perhaps, but the performances are so splendid, that you will find it hard to resist all of the positive energy that pours off the fine co-stars."
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“Chelsea Cook's costumes are completely realistic, but Nichols' physical set with its scaffolding and onstage equipment never lets us forget that we are in a theater, not on an adventure since his lighting never blocks anything out. Lisa Peterson's direction is smooth but she is unable to turn the show into something that it isn't. ‘Ernest Shackleton Loves Me’ requires a great deal of suspension of disbelief but may charm those who easily succumb to whimsy.”
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"What sells it is the unrelenting charisma of McCollum combined with Vigoda's impressive musicianship. McCollum switches easily between several characters...Has its share of exhilarating moments, but starts to run out of steam in the latter part of the show...It's a show that may at times be a bit too zany for its own good, but it charms thanks to its incredibly appealing performers and its thoughtful design...Sure to resonate with audiences in need of a good pick-me-up."
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