Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven

See it if You want a portrait of all the players who live in halfway houses, and you love great performances

Don't see it if You can't sit through a long play.

See it if In preview, cut from 4hr last week to 3hr now; doesn’t feel long due to lively language and intriguing acting; 10+ actors portraying tough,

Don't see it if .. broken, underprivileged women; Some scenes are weaker probably due to recent rewrite (1 actor shouts out “line” at one point);

Also If life is a constant struggle, is it still worth living?

See it if you want to see an SAG play in early formation. One scene after the other of thought-provoking and intense dialogue and stories.

Don't see it if long plays with triggering subjects either bore or disturb you. It could be great with pruning. Lots of characters w/ intense problems

See it if you like great ensemble acting in an exquisitely-written play. Playwright, Mr. Guirgis, has sure got some chops!

Don't see it if you don't like real 'street' flawed characters on challenging journeys.

Also Guirgis really has a way with dialogue and character development. Also interweaving story arcs. I've seen many of his plays. This is probably his most complex and ambitious. And he hit it out of the park!... Read more Read less

See it if Excellent ideas, but it was like attending a workshop. Much too long at 3-1/2 hours. Difficult material handled well but needs work. Preview

Don't see it if Saw its second performance in previews. The material is well written but much of it is extraneous and does not serve what small plot exists.

Also The subject matter is difficult, the writing and acting are strong, but many scenes serve mainly to give backstory to the abundance of characters onstage. Lots and lots of f-bombs, which is okay, but after a while, we need some plot, don't we?
In fairness, we saw the second preview performance. It is a work in progress, and maybe someone can cut this monster down to a more coherent version. I think, though, you will still need to fluid restrict for some time before the show; this theater has inadequate restrooms and the shows offers only one short break.... Read more Read less

See it if following the sad plight of people in need touches you.

Don't see it if stereotyped characters would not appeal.

Also All of the actors work so hard but it's sad that these are variations of characters we've seen and heard of before. Many walkouts due to the length - 3 hours and 20 minutes. The author felt compelled to fill his stage with so many different stories, adding to that length. He could have made the same points with just a few less folks to keep track of. Scene toward the end about a missing animal was sad as the people of the story were more important.... Read more Read less

See it if Exactly what you'd expect from a Gurgius play with this title. Cool production (cool set!). fun to get to know all the characters.

Don't see it if A little raunchy, a little hackneyed. Awkward, unsure direction. Wasn't sure if certain performances were off, but I guess its the director.

See it if Enjoy SAG's work, his humor, language, ability to draw you into a story, care about its characters and paint a picture of the marginalized.

Don't see it if The length scares you. I found the story and characters interesting so that I did not feel like I was there for more than three hours.

Also Very good performances by a cast, many of whom are SAG vets. Each character of interest, even Mr. Skittles (the goat).... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Guirgis fan

Don't see it if a long play.

See it if Stephen Aldy Guirgis writes great works and this left you leaving with so much to think about

Don't see it if you don't like a long show, even though the time flew by so go see it!

Also It was 3 1/2 hours when I saw in previews (15 - 20 minutes shorter than the night before, shortened by eliminating pauses). I see it is now locked to 2hr 45 min and I am sure it is still excellent & that I would regret every bit that was cut because it is so compelling. SEE IT WHILE YOU CAN !... Read more Read less

See it if To see a talented cast as denizens of a halfway house deal with substance abuse, anger, LGBTQ issues, despair and hope. Humor & tragedy.

Don't see it if Play is long but moves quickly. Large cast depicting several stories, sexual situations and violent confrontations not for you.

See it if You like urban characters and humor. This play humanizes the dispossessed amongst us.

Don't see it if You are easily offended by cursing and by down and out characters. You are not an empathetic person.

Also Some reviewers criticized this play because of the length (3.25 hours) and the number of characters. I am a very critical person and thought that I may have had to leave at intermission, but I was spellbound and entranced with every character. 3+ hours sped by. I loved this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in thoughtful explorations of how homelessness arises

Don't see it if You were hoping for a more well-rounded, multi-faceted, nuanced exploration of this issue

See it if You want to hear the stories behind our homeless population and the system that is failing them, using the sound and flow of street talk

Don't see it if You cannot handle a play that is a little too long & a rehashing of some familiar stories

See it if you can spend 3+ hours on a play that has some of the best dialogue I've ever heard in a play, But isn't fast moving nor plot driven.

Don't see it if if heavy dramas are not to your liking.

Also The dialogue is brilliant. But the story is not. And what story there is takes on a gimmicky feel to get to the end. I saw this in the 3rd preview and it is still being worked on. I hope the show is trimmed and the goat gimmick is taken out.... Read more Read less

See it if If you appreciate Gurgis, and have tolerance for a work in progress that is much too long

Don't see it if You don't want to see a 3 1/2 hour play with great characters but little plot

Also This would make a great miniseries, but he's trying to accomplish too much in one play. Fewer characters with more back story would work better. Also drop the goat.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to live the lives of those less fortunate with excellent dialogue, characters, actors. Cool staging. Funny and thought provoking.

Don't see it if You don’t want to go on a thorough dive into this world. I was into it as I loved the perspectives and performances. Long but in a good way.

See it if you are a super-fan of stephen adly guirgis no matter what he writes

Don't see it if you hate screaming & cursing & (fake) cigarette smoke

Also unfortunately, this is a HOT MESS. perhaps it can be salvaged during previews, but it should've been workshopped more extensively before mounting a full scale production. there are a dozen potential plays packed into this over-stuffed, melodramatic, soap-operatic, disconnected series of vignettes ... some of them worth developing, many of them not. all the more unfortunate because the cast is so passionate & talented. patrice johnson chevannes is achingly poignant as she speaks of her wish to die; victor almanzar's confusion about his love for a trans-woman is a tragi-comic tour de force; esteban andres cruz & kristina poe will break your heart in their touching scene about body acceptance; liza colón-zayas is ardent, fiery, & honest; viviana valeria's agony at separating from her mother is nearly unbearable to watch; & elizabeth rodriguez's tirade about a goat is momentous because her performance otherwise was a model of restraint. they all deserve a much better play than this.... Read more Read less

See it if You like plays that is deep and talking about realistic issues with women who have dealing with hardship in their lives

Don't see it if You mind nudity, graphic language, triggering scenes; or you want a fluffy show

See it if You enjoy any of Adly Guirgis’ writing and not always happy endings. Great cast of actors as well.

Don't see it if You want to see a shorter show and can’t handle foul language.

Also I LOVED this show, but it needs to be edited and shortened. It went well over 3 hours, so I’m hoping by the end of previews, it will be fine tuned.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a wide-in-scope, empathetic view on difficult lives in difficult places.

Don't see it if You need short, brief explanations. You need pure catharsis at the end.

Also HALFWAY BITCHES... is as Guirgis as it gets - a lot of fantastic insults, a lot of fun characters, and some true heartbreakers in the form of people trying to find their way. Somewhere between gritty poetry and human epic, it's a wallop of a play. Only thing is that it's 3.5 hours and could do with a trim, and the directing felt flat in a few spots, but overall an enthralling, very watchable work.... Read more Read less

See it if You like good dialogue, from interesting characters, about how some people end up on the street and where society places its priorities.

Don't see it if You want a short play. This one is long, with lots of characters and storylines, some of which are wrapped up and some that just peter out.

Also I thought this show was very ambitious with a large cast, but at the same time, that was refreshing. It took chances, with not only the length (3+ hours), but with the language. What's left (while still in previews and feels like it's still constantly being revised), is a show that is both engaging, as it keeps your attention with lots of moving parts, but also relevant with what the topic is about (a halfway house for women), but none-the-less you can feel the rawness/newness of this piece and the fact that it's still being worked through and edited.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like plays about social issues and folks living on the edge.

Don't see it if If foul language and social issuses aren't our thing.

Also Disappointed! Love Stephen Guirgis plays. This is too long, needs editing. Every social issues is displayed by one of the 20 characters, in the play. Fine actors but not enough buildup to draw attention.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Mr. Guirgis' work and have an ounce of humanity for the disenfranchised.

Don't see it if you can't sit thru a 3 hour 15 min (with intermission) play - but you should see it!

Also Stephen Adly Guirgis’ searing new play is a masterpiece: NO ONE writes with more empathy and with such humor and pathos about people on hard times than him. There are 18 actors (and a brief appearance by a young goat!), each portraying a defined and specific character, in this mesmerizing 3 hour plus comedy/drama about a Halfway house in NYC - at times disturbing, laugh out loud funny and always heartfelt. This is an amazing piece of theater playing at the Atlantic in a limited run - but it's been extended a week thru the end of the year. If you care about the theater - and you care about humanity - you owe it to yourself to see this play. I'm going again end of December!... Read more Read less

See it if you like Guirgis and like his humor which can be truly very funny.

Don't see it if if you want to see a polished work.

Also I saw this show on the second day of previews and it was 3.5 hours with an intermission and desperately needed editing and a shorter run-time. At 2.5 hours, the play will be brilliant.... Read more Read less