Fern Hill

See it if You want to see a story about renavigating your life as an empty-nester.

Don't see it if You're expecting Arthur Miller.

See it if u want a poor-man's Big Chill for the senior set w/a familiar cast of sitcom & off-Bway stars musing mostly about fidelity & sex after 60.

Don't see it if ur not interested in inconsequential banter and excessive absorption of mid/late-life crises by recognizable, if underdeveloped, characters.

Also I nearly did what I have never done before & walk out at intermission. The first act is lame, dull, prosaic, uninteresting & unfunny (despite the efforts of the seasoned company to inject some life into the lifeless script). But, I would recommend powering through and staying for an Act II that offers a little more character insight (although the female characters are woefully underdeveloped), a few more jokes that land & a smidge of dramatic tension (although it still delivers an utterly unsatisfying ending).

Highlight of the show is Billy's (Mark Linn-Baker's character) linguini & clam sauce recipe!!... Read more Read less

See it if A caregiving proposal is upended when a secret betrayal surfaces. Steadfast & vigilant in its ageism theme, but never loses its light touch.

Don't see it if Star-studded veteran cast keeps the locomotive chugging and avoids the pitfalls of heavy-handedness that could have weighed down the script

See it if you enjoy a good comedy with six terrific actors focusing on the problem of aging in our society. Written by TV vet, Michael Tucker.

Don't see it if you do not like plays dealing with aging. This one, however, has a light touch and full of laughs.

See it if you would enjoy Interesting portrayal of three couples in different stages of "later life", their ideas on love, marriage, loyalties

Don't see it if you are easily bored with shows about aging and elder sex; you don't want to see your life on stage; you prefer musicals and light banter.

Also One of the more enjoyable plays I have seen t his year; nearly all of the cast were excellent; some wonderful turns of phrase and descriptions. Playwright has a great ear for dialogue, characters.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a drama with some nice comedic moments about getting old and how it affects different people in different ways

Don't see it if You don’t have the patience to let this story build and grow before you

Also I sound like a broken record but I love everything at this theater! I was a little bit worried about the first 15 minutes of this but as long as you are patient and let it play out there is definitely a huge pay off. It was so enjoyable to watch all six of these magnificent actors work their magic on stage. I am much younger than all of these characters but it really made me think about what my life would be like in 30 or 40 years and I felt like I could end up being like several of the characters. The play ends with a song being played and some amazing lighting. This was one of the most incredible pictures I’ve ever seen on stage. The entire show was summed up in the last three seconds of the play. It was breathtaking... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in aging couples and their relevant issues.

Don't see it if You want a well written story about couples growing older.

See it if you like seeing great actors at the top of their game in a show that has something serious to say but keeps you laughing.Gorgeous set.

Don't see it if you don't want to think about what life will be like when you are older.This gives a great alternative to nursing homes/dependence on kids.

Also I saw this 2 days ago, and I'm still thinking about it.Who would I want in my old age "commune?"Where would I want it to be?What would it look like?How would it change my life?If I knew I had good friends to live with, would I need to put up with a cheating husband?What would I want to do with my days---read, write, cook, paint? This play really got me thinking. And Mark Linn Baker is funnier than ever. John Glover is a gift from the theatre gods! I'll see it again after it opens just to pick up anything I missed.... Read more Read less

See it if Great cast. The performance are worth the journey.

Don't see it if You didn't like Humans. Very similar feel. although considerably lighter.

See it if you enjoy superb acting, some witty and funny dialog & are interested in middle agers rumination on sex & relationships.

Don't see it if you dislike characters' endlessly espousing their efforts to cope with spouses & friends relationships, without much true insight.

See it if if you are a fan of the wonderful actors in the production.

Don't see it if you expect the play to have a message.

Also The play was very funny. Mark Linn-Baker was especially humorous. However, the play takes itself too serious.... Read more Read less

See it if you like seeing great acting, but have mediocre expectation for comedy, completeness and writing

Don't see it if this play is well played, but the writing is just ok, story threads don't all add up, and certain interesting details are ignored, uneven

See it if A great cast with a standout performance by Mark Linn-Baker. You ever thought about living with good friends in old age? Laughs! Good set.

Don't see it if Excellent play for 59E59 without being one to remember. Low stakes. Seems written for television. Needing closeups. Six friends engage in

Also a comfortable commune living situation to support one another as they age (even though two couples have grown children). One man is having an affair. The message women’s sexual needs must be paid attention to is undercut by
by trashing the other woman in the affair. This does not make the cheating husband a hero and is a weak spot in the script. The acting is energetic and delightful except for, ironically, the playwright’s real-life wife. You care about these characters and what will happen to them even though they seem to have it all.... Read more Read less

See it if Good acting and interaction between the characters. If you are interested in seeing an alternative for aging with others

Don't see it if You don't like wordy plays which deal with problematic relationships

See it if you'd enjoy quick wit & six acting pros deliver a fun one-off sit-com on the trials & joys of 3 couples aging w healthy friends.

Don't see it if you dislike light stage plays or can't suspend disbelief on the subjects friends might discuss among themselves.

Also Better than the last 3 plays I've seen at 59 E 59, enough to convince me to continue to give the theater a shot.... Read more Read less

See it if Enjoy a good domestic comedy with great acting and some serious life lessons.

Don't see it if You like more serious drama and don’t care for older people discussing aging and infidelity.

Also I thought beneath the laughs lay many truisms about life, friendship, and the fear of our mortality. Interesting premise in that living among good friends provides insurance that one will not be alone when the inevitable arrives.... Read more Read less

See it if the premise intrigues you, and it will for those of us at the same “certain age” of the characters. The execution: that’s another story.

Don't see it if you are searching for real wit. There are a couple of trenchant and funny scenes. Would that the entire show were thus.

Also It’s heart is mostly in the right place, and the actors are all game. But it’s woefully underwritten, the female characters even more so.... Read more Read less

See it if You like the idea of "The Big Chill" coming full circle to aging boomers! Aimed at folks 60+, has some sharp lines; best is a pasta recipe

Don't see it if You have no interest in the over-analysis of the Baby Boomer generation. You prefer witty comedies with fully developed female characters.

Also It was amusing to notice that practically the entire audience at 59E theater mirrored the cast!
And given an upcoming show aimed at Boomers, not at all surprised.... Read more Read less