Fossils NYC Reviews and Tickets

"It’s a good-looking production with fittingly scientific overtones–all Perspex boxes and flashing lights, and the layered soundtrack of voices, Theremin-like and looped noises is a triumph. The use of lame humor and toy dinosaurs, whilst injecting somewhat nerdy charm, falls a little flat and some of the plot lines are insufficiently chased down. A well-crafted and enjoyable scientific jaunt, but not quite engaging enough to be found a pleasure-isuarus."
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"Helen Vinten captures the scientist's theoretical and personal struggles, generously supported by Adam Farrell and David Ridley as everyone else, and the playwright directs with clever touches that keep alive the tension between serious science and science-as-play...The play moves a little too quickly once the action shifts to Scotland...But it ends, quite deliberately, without resolving any of the personal or professional issues it raises."
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"The excellent three-strong cast multi-task superbly between roles...But it's director Nel Crouch and designer Rebecca Wood's inventive, lo-fi staging that really steals the show, using the simplest of means to create a magical, melancholy world of loss and remembrance...'Fossils's' enigmatic closing scenes might feel rather abrupt, but it's a captivating, poignant reflection on love, longing and the importance of mystery in all our lives."
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"This could be a far clumsier experiment if it weren't for the confident realism projected by all three actors, the convincing laboratory setting and scientifically bogus 'equipment' they handle, but most of all for the perfected underscore of sound and original music devised by cast members...Technically faultless, this is an object lesson in how to take a simple character-driven story and by sheer stagecraft elevate it to another level of experience."
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"Simplistic set and straightforward narrative...Its strength lies with the cast, three extremely strong naturalistic actors who multi-role, play violin, and produce all the live electronic sounds...However, on the whole the story unfortunately and surprisingly did not emotionally affect me, nor interest me. I actually left feeling slightly disappointed. ‘Fossils’ is enjoyable, but not memorable."
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"What Bucket Club does so well is not just tell a story but truly immerse you in it...It’s not just these quirky bits that delight; it’s the actors themselves interacting with them...Designer Wood has brought her ingenuity and director Crouch has expertly led this team to what is a show of the highest quality. Perhaps I feel the story isn’t quite as magical as 'Lorraine and Alan' and its tale of Selkies but songs such as 'Spare Me Please' pull this show into a realm of its own."
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"An intriguing play...The music in its own right is exceptionally good, although at times distracting from the main narrative...The style of the production is excellent, moving from stylized movement and abstract representation to moving and sincere interactions between characters...At times the writing felt a little stilted and cliched, and perhaps could benefit from some editing, but all in all, 'Fossils' is a fantastically inventive piece of theatre with a charming story."
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"Tonally confusing, but stylistically, the production’s own idiosyncrasies assemble something that is consistently arresting, and at times quite beautiful...'Fossils' is at its strongest during its more musical segments, carefully positioned and expertly composed as they are. The performers are capable enough, but the characters are awfully thinly drawn and the play ends prematurely. Worth a watch for the music alone however, 'Fossils' only just misses out on a four-star rating."
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