Harry Townsend's Last Stand

See it if you love jokes abt farts, sex, drinking... No new insights. Why was this produced? 2 clueless white men (my GF's got me doing yoga hahaha)

Don't see it if you expect theater to entertain and/or enlighten. HTLS does neither. Way too long. Misogynistic; women = sex objects. Outdated! Off-putting!

See it if You want to see a sweet story that is rather predictable and sentimental but still captures the heart and doesn’t shy away from the issues.

Don't see it if The prospects of dealing with an aging parent might be too difficult a topic to sit through and find entertaining.

Also Tough subject matter. Lots of funny lines. Worth seeing.

See it if you're a fan of either actor; u want to see a poignant & often funny 2-hander about aging & the complexity of the father-son relationship.

Don't see it if you expect to see anything new or original that hasn't already been dramatized and/or joked about re: aging & caring for an elderly parent.

Also The two wonderful performances, especially by the legendary Len Cariou, save this rather unexceptional play (that could easily pass for a sitcom episode, at times) and elevate it to a rather touching, entertaining & thoughtful 2 hour exploration of a strained father-son relationship.... Read more Read less

See it if you’d like to see an onstage sit-com about an octogenarian in physical & mental decline.

Don't see it if you don’t think that a string of thematically related jokes equals a play.

Also The several bars of theme music that open scene 1 of “Harry Townsend's Last Stand” tip you off from the start that for this evening you are in sit-com land. (Subsequent scenes have similar jingle-like intros.) The set – kitchen & living room of a typical US house with the 4th wall cut away – has already prepared the audience for this possibility. What follows seals the deal: The whole 1st act of the play is an almost unrelieved string of old-folks-in-decline jokes – told by an old folk in decline himself & his concerned, if often absent, son. Of retirement age myself, & former caretaker of aging parents, I found many of these jokes funny (& know fully well that the topic they touch on is of great importance). But I didn’t find their accumulation to be much of a play.... Read more Read less

See it if Both actors superb. A tale that has to be faced by all. Wish that were it so that the problem can be resolved by all.

Don't see it if I can see how a younger audience might not want to face the problem. At our viewing, the audience responded positvely.

See it if you would like to spend a weekend with a father and son dealing with independent living/health/safety in a delightful production in 4 scenes

Don't see it if you have difficulty watching parent-child differences brought to light, past and present, that now call for intervention.

See it if you enjoy a well acted, amusing approach to the serious subject of life choices for the elderly, A delicately balanced father son pingpong .

Don't see it if aging & family dissolution are likely to distress you. There are a lot of aspects to these issues many of which are addressed in the script

See it if Aged-care/end-of-life hard questions for father and son and some well-placed barbs sprinkled about for extra safe keeping.Magnificent Cariou

Don't see it if Secured, odd coupled odd coupling of characterisations and acting styles. Few surprises, save the dialogue. One actor labours to keep up.

Also "I smell your mother alive in this house/You stumble once; out comes the walker/It's time for the facts of life talk/Not the puberty version/Not he prom version/But the eight decades of experience one/I like my food to taste like its colour"... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see these two actors and the topic of children dealing with aging parents is of interest to you.

Don't see it if feels like a bad sitcom. Relevant issue but not done that well. Writing is very obvious.

Also Harry's constant talking to his son about his sex life with his wife (the son's mother!) was really distasteful. The jokes in general were terrible.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a very moving and touching drama about a parent whose life is changing and both the parent and son's reactions. Great acting

Don't see it if you don't like discussions of illness or want a comedy.

Also A must see for Len Cariou who gives a masterful performance. The chemistry between both characters was excellent. A very relevant play for anyone with elderly parents.... Read more Read less

See it if you like the cast; good acting, chemistry and interplay between father and son; some funny, tender and sad moments.

Don't see it if don't like shtick; aging is a touchy subject for you; can be a little slow; more sitcom than play

Also For a person of any age, let alone in his 80s, Cariou's ability to remember two hours worth of lines is impressive, as is his sense of humor.

Anyone with an aging loved one can relate to the issues presented.... Read more Read less

See it if You love seeing a brilliantly performed 2 hander ! You enjoy realistic plays about family relationships.

Don't see it if You can’t handle a very serious intense play about a parent/child relationship where the child tries to become the parent.

See it if Wonderful story about a father and son facing their differences about how the father should spend his last years. Len Cariou & Craig Bierko

Don't see it if You are feeling guilty about a decision made for an elderly parent who cannot live alone anymore. Slow moving and very conversational.

See it if You like Len Cariou and Craig Berko.

Don't see it if You want a profound play about senior issues.

See it if you need a night of cheerful comedy, at times too predictable, but totally enjoyable; funny and amusing, yet a serious subject.

Don't see it if you want a serious drama or a musical.

See it if U want a wonderful theatre experience. Intimate theatre brings u up close and the acting is superb! Tough subject treated w/heart.

Don't see it if You need a chorus line and glitter.

See it if Charming, if pat, story of a father trying to convince his skeptical son that he can live alone. Convincingly old-fashioned set.

Don't see it if The great Len Cariou is engaging. Craig Bierko is a solid foil. Two real pros making the best of a predictable script.

See it if you want to see a theater legend, Len Cariou in action. Great acting and relevant topic.

Don't see it if you expect great depth. While the show has a sitcom feel, the banter is realistic. Aging parents aren't into heavy dialogue with their kids

See it if You want up see two wonderful actors. Cariou fabulous. Story of old age and when to go to retirement home has humor, pathos, anger, heart.

Don't see it if You are tired of jokes about aging. Typical and predictable. But the acting is so good, definitely worthwhile.

Also Great set.

See it if you like a touching, humorous play about an aging man and his son, the complexities of their relationship and the inevitable future.

Don't see it if you are too young to understand the delicate balance of dealing with aging parents.

See it if you like perceptive handling of issues of aging, a father-son relationship, wonderful acting, clever, funny, touching & insightful script.

Don't see it if you dislike realistic explorations of relationship conflicts & issues but favor light hearted entertainment & pure comedy.

See it if you'd enjoy a father and son comedy that will touch your heart. Very sweet.

Don't see it if you want a realistic story. This is a sweet, sappy, rose-colored-glasses story. Dips into cliched lines, especially in Scene 3.

See it if you enjoy a heartwarming realistic comedio-drama about relationships between an aging parent and his adult children with a fresh perspective

Don't see it if you tire of plays about stereotypical experience of aging and residential transition to accommodate lifestyle choices of adult children

Also Although the climax and ending are predictable and one portion of one scene in the second act was tedious and wooden, I laughed and cried through the entire performance and recommend it to every theatre lover, especially elders and their children considering downsizing the elder’s residence. The audience tonight included many empty nesters younger than I who have already downsized, as I did, to be closer to their children and assist in maintaining their children’s lifestyles.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see excellent & moving theatre about aging father & concerned son.

Don't see it if Aging and life action decisions are to close & make you feel uncomfortable.

See it if you want to see Len Cariou give a realistic performance, playing a very interesting character. Some lovely moments.

Don't see it if you don't like discussions about aging, failing health, and difficult father-son moments.