Good Grief

See it if If you want a heartfelt memorable show. One that tugs on emotion.

Don't see it if if you don't want to focus to hard. If you do not want to listen, words are spoken in between lines if you will.

See it if you'd like to see a solid play from an eloquent young writer about people who don't often appear on our stages: African immigrants to the US

Don't see it if you are looking for a straight, chronological, realistic play without any fantasy elements.

Also I love Ngozi Anyanwu’s voice, her ability to write dialogue that can go poetic or naturalistic with equal ease. I love how playful she is with dramatic form. I love her smart, funny, conflicted, affecting characters, especially the African immigrant voices we don’t often hear in our theaters, consistently breaking the mold of our expectations. If I have a quibble with “Good Grief” it is that the central character, a (brilliantly played) young adult woman & 1st-generation immigrant, is robbed of some of her agency when the central plot incident happens offstage, & happens TO her. All the diverse performers in this production are quite wonderful. I am not sure the abstract multi-level set served the script well, & the only thing the sometime fog machine accomplished is generating audience coughing. But everyone interested in vibrant young voices in our theater should put any work from this playwright on their list of essential plays to see.... Read more Read less

See it if Pal's 85% My 80% Happy with acting after reading reviews,. Interesting lighting effects. Always love the writer as an actor. Great audience

Don't see it if Reminder:1st few rows need raking. Some voices need a bit more projection Reminder:Subway does have an escalator at the 14th Street entrance

See it if 4 good portrait Niger-Am family full of warmth/humor; winning cheeky performance by Ngozi Anyanwa growing up in PA; rich musical backdrop

Don't see it if pointless: tho see Ngozi's devastatn @ loss of friend, see no implications 4 her personal development, family dynamics, etc.

Also At the end of Good Grief, Ngozi's friend's death is portrayed in grand, mythological terms as being similar to the death of the great hunter Orion captured in the Orion constellation of stars. Tho this actualizes the friend's fanciful dream to be a king who is remembered forever, it's an empty theatrical gesture since we never really learn why Grief at her friend's death is Good for Ngozi or anyone else. Too bad since this ostensibly autobiographical story has the raw material for a meaningful play that could have been developed out of the differing world views of Ngozi as first gen American and her immigrant parents.... Read more Read less

See it if Failing to heal from the loss of her first love, a Nigerian recalls familial support. Hunter Parrish has a small role.

Don't see it if Good grief! This is neither bad nor good grief. Flimsy sliding panel bi-level set. Dry ice alert! So it has to be a memory play.

See it if you’re looking to have a good cry, or you enjoy stories told by fresh, young voices.

Don't see it if you’re looking to be cheered up. This is a sad, but also hopeful, story about a lost love.

See it if you enjoy an interesting story about the effect of death on a young girl's life.Nice staging.

Don't see it if you want a story about immigrants. I also was annoyed by the young girl's lack of thought about having sex for first time.

Also The staging is good but do not sit too close. Action takes place on 2 levels and if you sit too close, you will have a crick in the neck.... Read more Read less

See it if Hunter Parrish is the only good actor in this mess of a show. Loved how he sang "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men towards end of show.

Don't see it if Rest of cast is terribly amateurish. Many in audience were asleep thru the 95 minutes. Ugly 2 level set, harsh lighting.

See it if Relive the protagonist's memories of young love/loss in a non linear telling. Did it really happen? Good acting, funny and sorrowful.

Don't see it if you don't appreciate coming of age stories. Best to sit farther back in the theater or crane your neck watching the 2 story set.

See it if You like new writers trying to find a voice.

Don't see it if A well told story you can follow.

See it if you like a play that goes on way too long making a point about grief.It seemed to drag us through an endless grief with no new perspective

Don't see it if you want to be entertained, drawn in, riveted or otherwise engaged.

See it if Memory play about love, loss, grief & getting on with your life told in fragmented scenes. Some very good performances (esp. Ian Quinlan).

Don't see it if don't care for non-linear plays. Not always certain if the remembrances are entirely accurate. Mythological elements unnecessary.

See it if Title says it all: a memory piece that is fluid & supple & honest. How we each deal with pain. Strong cast; Quinlan outstanding.

Don't see it if Timeline may be confusing. Otherwise real & emotional appreciation/exploration on personal, accessible scale. If there’s a talkback, stay!

See it if you like plays that explore the joys & sorrows of growing up, don't mind constant time changes or unrealistic non-traditional presentation.

Don't see it if you dislike arbitrary back and forward time changes, non-traditional set & story structure & pretentious dialog that stifles identification.

See it if Want to get inside the mind of a teen on how they deal with grief. Well acted and moves enough back and forth in time to be interesting

Don't see it if Need a more fully realized story. Not a lot action happens.

See it if Intersectional re-hashing the past and adolescent love life of a Black daughter of immigrants living in suburbia after her almost bf dies.

Don't see it if Death/mourning of a loved one is triggering. Emotionally sad subject but play doesn't go as deep/emotional as it could.

Also Ticket from online rush on TodayTix for $32.50.

See it if watching a young woman experience first love, sex, and death will be meaningful and relevant.

Don't see it if you want insights into an immigrant family's experiences.

Also The dialogue alternates between banal college-dorm-like conversation and incoherent poetic devices. Lighting is blinding if you sit up close.... Read more Read less

See it if you like stories about the many facets of grief

Don't see it if you like linear stories or don't like hearing how people cope with the death of a friend.

See it if you can handle a play that involves the death of a close friend; you want to see the playwright as the main performer

Don't see it if you want a comedy or musical; you don't enjoy dramas

See it if You want to see good acting, beautiful writing about the sad reality of senseless heartbreak and life’s tragedy

Don't see it if You want a peppy linear night at the theater

See it if You don't mind a play that skips around in time and plays with a person's perception of events that happen during their life.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in seeing a play about the death of a loved one and the effect it has on you throughout your life.

See it if you're interested in the problems of youth and how they deal with them.

Don't see it if you want to see a coherent play with good staging that you can follow.

See it if You want a well acted play about being young and going through the grieving process...Terrible set, but stellar cast.

Don't see it if You want a linear story line. Play jumps around...sometimes it works and sometimes not.

See it if you are interested in a moving examination of grief, especially for someone at a young age. Clever dramatization of raw emotion.

Don't see it if you want to see something escapist and fun. For anyone who has experienced the loss of someone close to them, this may stir up some things.

See it if you want to watch a personal exploration play out on stage. It's intimate but also has universal emotions that we all can relate to. Lovely.

Don't see it if you prefer epic stories with big staging. This is a very internal show. The emotions are not always on the surface. More charming than deep.