Fern Hill NYC Reviews and Tickets

75%

(54 Reviews)

Positive

76%

Mixed

18%

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Entertaining, Funny, Disappointing, Relevant

About the Show

Three couples' long-standing companionship is put to the test when a marital betrayal is discovered in this new comedy by Mike Tucker.

From the show:

Three couples in their golden years, thick as thieves, are gathered at Sunny and Jer's farmhouse to celebrate milestone birthdays that span three decades. The foundation of their long friendship is honesty and support – as well as a commitment to the enjoyment of food, wine and laughter. They're so close that Sunny suggests that they all move in together—to live and work and assist one another as they grow older.

Their companionship is put to the test, however, when a marital betrayal is discovered. The bonds of loyalty and truth are explored in this mature comedy.

Member Reviews (54)

Too long, should have been shortened and no intermission, Nice set,, Disappointing

See it if There are many accomplished actors in this cast. However, I didn't feel that they were able to do their best work here...

Don't see it if ...The play tried to be profound, wasn't because characters didn't seem that realistic. the situation seemed very contrived. Read more

Relevant, Trite, Funny, Entertaining

See it if you enjoy great acting especially by Baker and Glover; interesting theme about how to deal with aging; what would we do without friends?

Don't see it if you don't care for stories about getting old; good topic but not fully developed; better as a sitcom; can be draggy in parts.

Critic Reviews (16)

"In ‘Fern Hill,’ Scene-Stealing for the Common Good: John Glover lifts Michael Tucker’s otherwise convoluted and crowded dramedy of baby boomers contemplating life on a commune."
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"An ensemble of acting veterans, including Jill Eikenberry and Mark Linn-Baker, appears in the new dramedy written by 'L.A. Law' actor Michael Tucker, about six friends who mull over the idea of living together in their old age."
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"Aging Baby Boomers Experiment With Communal Living in Fern Hill: Three couples navigate their golden years under one roof."
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"'FERN HILL' at 59E59 Theaters-A Mature Comedy that is Heartfelt and Spirited."
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"The pleasures of 'Fern Hill' are largely incidental…an amiable, intermittently amusing conversation piece about marriage, friendship, aging, and adultery; despite its tendency to touch lightly on serious matters, it's the kind of entertainment that wouldn't say "boo" to a goose, so determined is it to leave the audience feeling warm and fuzzy."
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"Three aging couples, all longtime friends, consider the possibility of communal living, in Michael Tucker's wobbly comic drama. An excellent cast does its best to liven things up, but to little avail."
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3/5 Stars "Old Friends, Getting Older': Michael Tucker's play considers marriage and friendship in our golden years"
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2/5 Stars "'Trouble Down on the Farm': Come for actors John Glover and Mark Linn-Baker; leave with playwright Michael Tucker's recipe for spaghetti with clam sauce"
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"The sextet's camaraderie and comfort with each other are so palpable that it makes perfect sense that they're all considering living communally at 'Fern Hill' - all except the rather obstinate Jer, who seems more than reluctant to give up his privacy."
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"...all mainstays of the New York stage-being playful together. Together, they make interesting stuff out of the material they've been given, and they are all highly watchable. But would the play seem more fulfilling and important if there were more fully developed personal and interpersonal conflicts?"
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"Michael Tucker's dramedy adds up to a pleasant two hours, thanks to excellent actors and helpful staging by director Nadia Tass."
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"The playwright seems to want to cover an extensive range of topics without focusing on one primary theme...The playwright effortlessly introduces themes; however, he does not allow many of these themes to develop to the point of exposing the important underbelly of rich and enduring questions."
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"Superficially titillating but nonetheless enjoyable concoction…Its two hours go down easily, its production quality never falters, and, if you're of a certain age, you may even give some thought to where you stand (if you still can) on the issues it addresses."
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“These two couples are exceptional in their portraits, but unfortunately, they are not the core ingredients. They are simply the side dishes at this friendly communal dinner party. The main course is where the disconnection and flavor separation is occurring...”
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For a previous production

"The Farmhouse – – a gathering womb where three couples congregate to celebrate their good friendships, warm feelings and special occasions in Michael Tucker’s new dramedy, 'Fern Hill,' debuting at New Jersey Repertory Theatre in Long Branch, N.J."
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For a previous production

"Six seasoned actors are playing six seasoned characters in Michael Tucker's grievously under-seasoned play 'Fern Hill.' ...Would that we would experience more than the one slightly unsettling revelation and more than a few predictable resolutions."
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