Games

See it if Deals with 2 German athletes and the 1936 Olympic games. Adds useful texture to understanding of the period. I wanted to like it -but didn't

Don't see it if Terrible staging, so-so acting, fair script, poor casting will overwhelm the important message. Note that it is short - 75 minutes.

Also There is clear immediate context to these historical events, so worth a trip despite the great flaws. Dialogoue is repetitive. There is no action - so the two actresses move 3 black box stands (the only stage props) incessantly around throughout the play, rarely for any effect. Neither actress s believable.... Read more Read less

See it if history, identity, culture, or fame are themes that interest you

Don't see it if you can't use your imagination/need a ton of scenery and props

Also An interesting play about the 1936 Olympics. Don't be turned off if sports are not your thing, there is enough context to make clear what you need to know.
The show digs deeply into identity and what that means when you have one person being relied upon to represent many - and unwillingly so. Very good portrayals of various characters as well as the portagonists. THe theatre limited the set to a degree and more invention could have been used in set design, but it did make best use of the space available.... Read more Read less

See it if You like historical dramas, and also are into the history of the 1936 Olympic games. You want to see a well acted show.

Don't see it if You don't like a 2 person show, want to see a big stage production, want to stretch your legs, this is an old theatre so seats are tight.

See it if True stories set in Nazi Germany, period pieces, athletic themes.

Don't see it if Smaller cast with 2 characters, mostly monologues.

See it if you would like to learn about another face of the holocaust and good acting.

Don't see it if you expect to see a banal play with songs and dancing.

See it if you like historical dramas.

Don't see it if you dislike monologues.

Also I am always fascinated and intrigued by this period, but did not find myself being drawn into this show. I expected it to be an emotional piece, but I left needing more.... Read more Read less

See it if Historical plays with a message

Don't see it if If you like fully staged "Fluff"

See it if You want yo see thoughtful topics with take away. Good script. I researched the characters even after the show. Good acting

Don't see it if You want entertainment. The staging is very basic.

See it if you'd like to consider the relationship between sports and politics, and between pre-Nazi Germany and today.

Don't see it if you are looking only for light entertainment without food for thought.

See it if You enjoy well written plays about socially relevant topics.

Don't see it if You do not have an appreciation for history, slow building stories, or minimal set design as part of a story.

See it if a great insight into history through two historic and specific points of view. Great at respectfully expanding both.

Don't see it if Bare staging makes concentrating difficult at times. Aisle utilized by actors.

See it if You love intimate, great shows with excellent writing

Don't see it if If you like fluff.

See it if you're interested in sports/Jewish history. You'll go to google!Chilling tale of rise of Nazism. Reminder of how fascism spreads.

Don't see it if you dislike monologues (this has dueling set-pieces w occasional interactn). Diff acting styles, altho both good. Move onstage boxes often.

See it if You think history can’t repeat itself. An entertaining yet very informative look at how two athletes tried to stay out of politics in WW2.

Don't see it if You have no interest in history or politics.

Also An interesting look at how you can’t stay on the sidelines when it comes to politics. Frighteningly familiar to today’s news.... Read more Read less

See it if agonizing story of celebrated fencer H Mayer's attempt 2 transcend Jewish issue as pure "sportswoman;" poetic script, athletic choreography

Don't see it if consists largely of series of monologues; contrived in pairing Mayer w far less important Jewish athlete who faces her Jewishness head-on

Also The playwright presents a nuanced portrait of Mayer in "Games." The play shows how Mayer, driven by her single-minded desire to win, tries to avoid dealing with the larger stakes involved in her participation as a Jew representing Germany in the Nazi Olympics. At the same time, the playwright uses his creative prerogative to impute to her flashes of recognition of her role as a Jewish symbol. That underlines the difficulty in evaluating her place in history: depending on your perspective Mayer is either a flawed figure who fails to acknowledge her Jewishness or a heroic one whose focus on individual achievement & impressive performance stand in opposition to the Nazi claims of Aryan superiority.... Read more Read less

See it if You like history. Here you get about the Olympics and Germany during WWII.

Don't see it if Small cast of two, more talk. Not into history.

See it if You want to see a very interesting slice of life play. Well acted, interesting subject, relevant and poignant.

Don't see it if You need glitz and glamour staging, this is a pretty bare bones production. You want a happy ending.

See it if You appreciate an excellent small production of a beautiful true story that survived Nazi Germany. No tears.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a chorus line.

See it if Yes, award-worthy. Will make you indignant & inspired & emotional despite yourself and what you already know about the Holocaust.

Don't see it if want something more experimental than vibrant soliloquies; u need the controversy of the Nuremberg laws explained to you like a small child*

Also Solid first preview! Long applause at curtain.

*This was the gist of the criticism of Naylor’s earlier acclaimed play, Borders (which ran at New York Theatre Workshop), which some critics felt didn’t illuminate the context of the Syrian uprising enough despite…er…half the play being told from the point of view of a Syrian civilian. Games has a similarly narrow focus on certain individuals striving to use their talents to transcend social turmoil.


***Unrelated to the play, not a factor of my score***
I don’t usually comment on the facilities, but the house was way too dimly lit when it opened and there are whole rows of seats that aren’t numbered. Confusing when the show has assigned seating.... Read more Read less

See it if Interesting two person historical drama . Well acted in the extremely uncomfortable Soho playhouse.

Don't see it if Do not see if you prefer light dramas or musicals.

See it if you don't mind giving up myths about gender. race, ethnicity and collaboration with evil

Don't see it if knowing that you are going to have at least one of your "core" beliefs deconstructed is too much for you to deal with

Also If there is a flaw (and I'm not sure it is one), it is that the production and the message seemed somehow disconnected from each other, even as the message was effectively delivered by the production. I don't think I've ever felt this was about a play before, but I felt that way here.

I'm sure most will concentrate on the shows exposure of a manipulative and evil Nazi Germany. It's easier. BUT you must be willing to acknowledge that the show also attacks false gender "knowledge"that is often supported by the most "liberal", racial and ethnic stereotypes that many still hold, and collaborators (see the NBA and all others who deny that sport is inherently political). Few escape this shows broad indictments of today's society.

The show should be given an extended run by Audible's Minetta Lane, if Audible is really not hypocritical about its "mission". A double bill with Hitler's Tasters would be fantastic.

A MUST SEE.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to know more about the life and motivations of German Jewish woman early 20th century Olympiads, how achievements shaped history.

Don't see it if you prefer multi-act, large cast/costumes/sets comedies or musicals, are disturbed by discussions of Nazi Germany or non Jews playing Jews.

See it if You want to see shows about powerful women who have to compete in a world that's unfair

Don't see it if If like shows with complete sets and more than a 2 actor play.

See it if You want to see a perspective on sports versus identity. Two women are both fighting persecution but their responses are far different.

Don't see it if You do not like low budget fare. You do not like solo (2 woman ) shows

See it if you want a true story about a famous Jewish athlete in 1936 Olympics who wants to keep religion out of politics and be judged on her skill

Don't see it if you aren't interested in pre WWII sports and politics