Evening at the Talk House

See it if Shawn's latest is a muddled mash-up of a venal dystopian society & theatrical gossip fest Good acting from ensemble fails to illuminate

Don't see it if Talky & banal without Shawn's usual piercing wit or intelligence. Should strike at target points much harder to have desired effect

See it if you wish to see M. Broderick play M Broderick for the first 10 minutes. The set is wonderful.M.B is superb in that time period (see more)

Don't see it if Talent is wasted. The premise is not realistic.. The 75 minutes is more like 100 minutes (should be an intermssion but alas it would (see m

Also Broderick uses the 2 sided seating to perfection. Some others do as well but not all.......

Beyond 90-95 minutes, there should be a break, but this may cause some to leave.... Read more Read less

See it if You really enjoy Wallace Shawn's crazy/weird style, or like talky plays that don't actually have a plot.

Don't see it if You haven't liked Shawn's past work or dislike plays that don't really have anything to say -- or nothing that you can easily decipher.

See it if You love Wallace Shawn plays. He is an actor and playwright of this opus. You enjoy plays that go nowhere.

Don't see it if You dislike plays with almost no action. You can't enjoy a play unless it resonates with you and makes sense ! Indulgent playwriting this is

See it if you need a place to take a quick nap. Although at 100 minutes, it felt like a long winter's sleep. Dull beyond words. Interesting set.

Don't see it if you have a way to avoid it.Most of the actors are good. Way overwritten. Too wordy. Dull as dull can be. Avoid like the plague.

See it if Interesting show about a dystopian future that sounds all too plausible. Some nice performances.

Don't see it if Too much Matthew Broderick. The show opens with a 15-minute monologue by him. I nearly fell asleep. No sure what the point was.

See it if to mingle with a star-studded cast on the set before the show; catty dialogue about the entertainment industry in dystopian world

Don't see it if the play more important than mingling; Broderick & Shawn good, others underutilized, one really miscast; the wordiness is tiring

Also difficult to have appropriate feelings about the dystopian world when numbed by the monologues and day-to-day dialogue. Perhaps that was the point - that we are numbed. Wish that it had been a little more interestingly presented.... Read more Read less

See it if Dystopian, yes, but distasteful as well. Lots of "inside" references, none of which make much sense. The plot wherein a person's life is ...

Don't see it if ..valued by his standing in television success is revealed in the first 25 minutes and then you wait for the inevitable. A puff piece.

See it if You are open to a bizarre post-theatre, dystopian world; enjoy an ensemble piece on an intimate setting

Don't see it if You want a clear story or to fully understand the themes; a well crafted production or an escape from the horrors in the world

Also Ok, I originally gave this a 42 but increased it to a 60 - This play provided a platform for some really interesting discussions with friends that also went. There are still some serious storytelling flaws in this play but it did create a pathway for debate. Maybe that was the point? Probably not.... Read more Read less

See it if you like absurdist (& challenging) theater on dystopian themes such as Ionesco's RHINOCEROS, Genet's THE BALCONY, Pinter's THE DUMBWAITER.

Don't see it if you want a clear story, action, or theater that won't leave you confused. It's good acting, but a slow and often not-engaging piece.

See it if You are a Wallace Shawn or Matthew Broderick fan. You enjoy interactive theatre (get there early to hang on the set with the cast).

Don't see it if You would rather avoid challenging ideas--including some that are prescient.

Also Not sure I would go a second time, but I thoroughly enjoyed this production.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy watching paint dry.

Don't see it if you are expecting something other than sitting and watching paint dry. You will be SADLY DISAPPOINTED, SADLY!!!!

Also What ever happened to Matthew Broderick's stage acting? He was so damn good in Brighton Beach Memories. I cannot remember the last time I saw Mathew Broderick appear in a play that I actually enjoyed. Can you?... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Messrs. Shawn or Broderick—or nostalgic about LA Law's fab couple (Tucker, Eikenberry); very odd concept that never gels.

Don't see it if you want a cohesive story or to connect with the material, or are averse to dystopia genre or wary of feeling clueless for 100 minutes.

Also I wanted to like or at least grasp what this play was about; I've seen other plays by Mr. Shawn and am pretty sure they were more accessible. The director is commendable for his attention to facilitating ambience and audience's connection to the set, and for engaging in post-performance discussions.... Read more Read less

See it if You like to hear people talk. I honestly thought Matthew Broderick was a pod person after Sylvia, but he returned to planet earth in this.

Don't see it if You're looking for a big revelation. It's a lot of talk, and can be entertaining, but doesn't add up to much.

See it if If you area fan of any of the highly talented cast & must see them perform on stage regardless of material.

Don't see it if Are easily bored or are expecting an exciting play.

See it if You like a great cast and don't care what the play is about. You enjoy mingling with the actors before the play begins.

Don't see it if You don't like dystopian plays.

See it if You already purchased a subscription to The New Group for Sweet Charity and this was included. Honestly, just let the ticket go to waste.

Don't see it if You're expecting Matthew Broderick to become engaging again or there to be an interesting take on post-apocalyptic life in the theatre.

Also Wallace Shawn attempts to build this post-apocalyptic world but you have no understanding of how things work in it so everything ends up jumbled and a boring mess.... Read more Read less

See it if you have patience for indulgence

Don't see it if you want plays that make sense and have something to say.

See it if you are a huge fan of any of the cast who are very good.

Don't see it if you are looking for a play with a coherent plot. It was only 100 minutes but it seemed like an eternity.

See it if like Wallace Shawn's writing; want a semi-comedic, dark look at the near future with a very good cast; staged so you feel like part of show

Don't see it if don't like Matthew Broderick (I don't, but he's ok here), want a real plot; the script is verbose; there's alot of talking

See it if you have absolutely nothing better to do. There is nothing here to recommend. The play is drivel, the acting tedious and no meaning apparent

Don't see it if you care about theater and expect craft or meaning for your time spent. What a waste of acting talent

See it if you can attend a talk back afterwards that illuminates the intention behind the show (which was otherwise lost); you like a serious subject

Don't see it if you are bored by monologues or are seeking a show with variation in emotional expression with highs and lows - this is more one note

See it if You want to mingle with great cast who serve beverages and food prior to show.

Don't see it if you are looking for a plot or to be entertained

Also The cast was great but the show was boring and tedious. Difficult to follow and depressing.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to feel a part of a show & you enjoy seeing pros in a small theater.

Don't see it if You want a straightforward plot or likable characters

See it if I found this play fascinating and was totally absorbed by it. It worked on many levels : I especially loved the sinister doings just below

Don't see it if the surface interactions. The New Group gave it a fine production w/ Matthew Broderick plowing charmingly through gobs of text. 8 actors A++