Feeding the Dragon
Closed 1h 30m
Feeding the Dragon
83

Feeding the Dragon NYC Reviews and Tickets

83%
(118 Ratings)
Positive
93%
Mixed
5%
Negative
2%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Entertaining, Intelligent, Delightful

About the Show

Primary Stages presents Sharon Washington's autobiographical solo piece, in which she revisits her time growing up in an apartment on the top floor inside the St. Agnes Branch of the New York Public Library.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (118)

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257 Reviews | 26 Followers
100
Funny, Great acting, Great writing, Must see, Delightful

See it if you want to see a funny, engaging, marvelous account of a woman growing up in NYC performed by the woman herself

Don't see it if you never, ever like one-woman performances no matter how good they might be

175 Reviews | 30 Followers
97
Delightful, Entertaining, Great acting, Great writing

See it if you enjoy very personal, one-woman shows. Sharon weaves a wonderful story, with a wide range of touching autobiographical details.

Don't see it if you are expecting a traditional plot. It's a beautiful story by an accomplished actress.

80 Reviews | 30 Followers
92
Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Funny, Intelligent

See it if Great 1 woman show, beautifully written, acted by Washington.She’s phenomenal.Her childhood: living in ny libraries & her colorful family.GO

Don't see it if dislike 1 person shows.dislike period piece about NYC.If issues around race or addiction are a trigger.it is wonderful,tho, GO while you can

88 Reviews | 26 Followers
92
Absorbing, Masterful, Resonant, Thought-provoking

See it if Sharon Washington's outstanding performance & her wondrous, warm & heartbreaking writing in this autobiographical piece interests you ...

Don't see it if one-person shows are not on your theatrical menu.

435 Reviews | 60 Followers
91
Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Intelligent, Thought-provoking

See it if Great story told beautifully.

Don't see it if You aren’t a fan of one person plays

60 Reviews | 9 Followers
90
Delightful, Entertaining, Great acting, Absorbing, Refreshing

See it if You enjoy storytelling by a talented performer.

Don't see it if Don’t enjoy memoirs or monologues

485 Reviews | 92 Followers
89
Absorbing, Ambitious, Clever, Delightful, Entertaining

See it if you are hungering for some good old fashion story telling by a very talented story teller/actress, being Sharon Washington.

Don't see it if a riveting one person show about a colorful life growing up here in New York City is not your theater forte. Read more

304 Reviews | 38 Followers
88
Absorbing, Great acting, Intelligent, Masterful, Resonant

See it if A beautifully acted telling of a poignant family story.

Don't see it if You are looking for action rather than thougbt

Critic Reviews (25)

The New York Times
April 4th, 2018

"At its most affecting, it's a memoir of Washington's parents' perseverance and muted pain in a culture warped by racism...The show attempts — but, for an adult audience, doesn’t achieve — a tricky tonal balance between childish memories and poignant later realization...Washington slips nimbly in and out of characters, each voice and accent clearly defined...The surface of Washington's story is far less compelling than what's underneath, and this play doesn't delve deep enough."
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Theatermania
April 3rd, 2018

"Washington has a storyteller's gift for animating her tale with lively and distinct impersonations of people from her past, and her easygoing delivery has a way of making us feel like we're taking part in a story-time hour. That endearing aspect of the show makes Washington a pleasure to watch, but over the course of 80 minutes, her story does not deliver the meaty dramatic morsel that would have transformed this 'Dragon' from a well-performed memoir into a compelling work of theater."
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Lighting & Sound America
April 4th, 2018

"Consists of delightful reminiscences that bring to life NY in all its gritty midcentury glory...So entertaining are these stories, and so adept is Washington at telling them, with her warm personality and faultless timing, that it may take you some time to notice that 'Feeding the Dragon' isn't headed anywhere..The absence of drama is apparent in the last quarter when the lack of urgency is rather keenly felt. Still, under the direction of Mileaf, Washington is, for the most part, excellent company."
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Talkin' Broadway
April 6th, 2018

"A natural born storyteller, Washington's sensitive, graceful recollections make for a lovely experience but one that would make more sense as an audiobook or a one-on-one conversation...Has inventive directorial touches...As the narrative tries to find its dramatic arc the play becomes lost in itself...Such a great actress that she often pulls off the moments that feel trite...With a more focused approach, the tonal shifts in the show would compliment, rather than compete with each other."
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New York Stage Review
April 3rd, 2018

"Washington is compelled to talk as candidly as she knows how about the complicated life she led with her parents...She recalls good times and bad...Washington sees and lives the magic but also stresses the harsh grounding all but the luckiest children inevitably encounter...Moving confidently about the stage and sometimes even dancing under Maria Mileaf's capable direction, she's a welcome guide to the recognizable duality."
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New York Stage Review
April 3rd, 2018

"Engaging, if meandering...Washington's library stories are the theatrical equivalent of a page-turner...But when Washington leaves the confines of the library, 'Feeding the Dragon' starts to stray...As it is, 'Dragon' leaves so many questions unanswered...Washington is an honest, appealing performer who cultivates an easy, genuine rapport with the audience. As a writer, she simply seems less comfortable in the fairy-tale oeuvre."
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TheaterScene.net
April 8th, 2018

"Under the assured direction of Maria Mileaf in a production which started at the Hartford Stage earlier, Sharon Washington is a captivating and entertaining presence both as she narrates her story and also gives commentary and hints of her life since then. Told with the innocence of childhood, 'Feeding the Dragon' also will enchant readers and nostalgia buffs alike, for the world that she describes does not exist anymore now that libraries are high tech places ruled by computers."
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CurtainUp
April 15th, 2018

"Washington grabs our attention immediately...While much of it is charming and a good deal is touching, the piece overall is diffuse, at 90 minutes, slightly overlong...The affectionate dignity of Washington's performance safeguards the text from turning cute or precious. And she's adept at channeling characters...What makes this presentation noteworthy is the verisimilitude of the playwright's measured but theatrical interpretation of her own writing."
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