Gloria: A Life NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (212)
See it if you enjoy an informative and enlightening play about a truly fascinating person!
Don't see it if you've no knowledge, empathy or interest in the history of the Women's Movement.
See it if If you’d like to learn about the life of icon Gloria Steinem more in depth, who fights to this day for women’s right since 60’s.
Don't see it if You are not interested in women’s right, Gloria Steinem bio-play, offended by referral to abortion, marriage, women’s role in household etc. Read more
See it if you want a good review of feminism that includes current references, focused on Steinem's contributions, well-portrayed by entire cast.
Don't see it if you are not interested in the history of the struggle over the last 50 years that continues today. You have no hope for equality for all. Read more
See it if Great job portraying Gloria Steinem’s impact on culture/history and vice versa.
Don't see it if you are anti-feminism. Or maybe you should!
See it if You Like bio-plays, want to know where your rights came from and why it is relevant today - why women still need to keep fighting
Don't see it if You're a male chauvinist pig (well maybe you should see it and intelligent-ize yourself)
See it if You are an activist or not. If you are interested in history, social justice and want to know more about Gloria!
Don't see it if are looking for a musical or fluffy story. Read more
See it if A great historical piece discribing the life, and importance of Gloria Steinem and the Womens movement. Christine Lahti really is believable
Don't see it if You dont like historical work regarding women's progress over the last 50 years
See it if You are interested in women’s topics and in the power of Gloria Steinem.
Don't see it if ...you’re not. Read more
Critic Reviews (24)
“Something powerful is happening at the Daryl Roth Theater — but it isn’t so much the play as the audience...A paint-by-numbers portrait of Gloria Steinem...For those who already know the story... from Steinem’s memoir...the play itself — as opposed to the experience of it — does not have much new to add...We get something of a historical pageant...These powerful stories get short shrift in Paulus’ staging...This gives ‘Gloria: A Life’ the wedged-in, medley feel of a jukebox musical.”
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“During the bioplay ‘Gloria: A Life’, Steinem quotes the oft-cited maxim that ‘the personal is political'...When ‘Gloria’ works, it’s when the political feels personal...Judged as a piece of drama, Mann’s retelling of Steinem’s story is unexciting and by-the-numbers; as a piece of performance, Lahti’s portrait seems both sleepy and stiff. But 'Gloria' is not really supposed to be either drama or traditional performance. Mann and Paulus envision it as an old-fashioned consciousness-raising ritual.”
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“’Gloria: A Life’ isn’t a straightforward bio-play. It’s a unique, deeply moving performance created in the hopeful, conversational spirit of its extraordinary subject, an act of looking back in order to look forward...For some, ‘Gloria: A Life’ might be a visit to an old friend, a love letter, an affirmation, a manifesto, an encouragement, or an experience of catalyzation or catharsis. It’s all these things, and it’s also a lesson.”
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“Directed in the round by Paulus and put together by an almost entirely female creative team, the production is not as theatrically audacious as its subject was politically daring. What it does is give many audience members a release valve in our tumultuous times...Lahti gives an affecting, calmly determined portrayal; it's hard to think of a better guide than this particular actor through the life of someone who has embodied the fight for women's rights for half a century.”
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"Arguably the most potent, informative, emotionally riveting and ultimately uplifting theatre piece currently playing in New York...In one sense, the play comes off as a personal appearance. With the audience seated arena style in an oval surrounding the playing area the history-making activist talks about America's current political landscape...As directed with the typically strong hand of Diane Paulus...there is also a sense of story theatre to the proceedings."
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“A bio show/love-in/town hall meeting/therapy session conducted by the magnetic Lahti in the guise of...Gloria Steinem...It's a straightforward evening of show-and-tell, but, for all its seeming artlessness, it vividly conveys why the feminist movement was necessary, and why Steinem was so central to it...’Gloria: A Life’ captures the sheer exhilaration of the discovery, made by millions of women, that they could be powerful, too. Paulus' breezy direction keeps things lively.”
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“If you’re in need of a little inspiration. some reassurance that the world is not the total dumpster fire that Fox News would have us believe...’Gloria: A Life’ is just the ticket...Less a bioplay and more a crash course in feminism...Mann never makes it feel like we’re getting a history lesson....After the story comes...a 20-minute discussion...Whether the show needs this particular portion probably depends on your personal taste.”
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“Diane Paulus has staged Emily Mann's wonderful play about the long and influential life of Gloria Steinem to create an experience that's more like having a conversation than watching a play...Christine Lahti not only convincingly inhabits the titular role but is a reasonably convincing Steinem look-alike...Mann's script is stuffed with countless other both humorous and moving defining moments in Steinem's personal and professional life."
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