Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water NYC Reviews and Tickets

61%

(21 Reviews)

Positive

38%

Mixed

48%

Negative

14%

Members say

Disappointing, Ambitious, Slow, Entertaining, Confusing

About the Show

The Negro Ensemble Company presents this world premiere drama: a story about the of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America.

It is 2005: two men cling for life on a rooftop, surrounded by murky water, festered with disease and the unknown. Two women are hundreds of miles away, striving to see their dreams of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness come to fruition. All of this is set against the threat of one of America's greatest disasters.

Member Reviews (21)

Heartfelt, Human, Slow, Not yet ready, Confusing

See it if for you several sharply observed moments of oh-so-human drama make a play worth seeing.

Don't see it if you do not have the patience to sit through a production that is not ready for presentation. Read more

Excruciating scene changes

See it if You want to see a new play at it’s very very very early stages

Don't see it if You want to see something that is polished and ready for an audience Read more

Disappointing, Fluffy, Insipid

See it if You love "feel good" endings

Don't see it if Characters are very underdeveloped and the horror of being stranded in a natural disaster is barely explored.

Absorbing, Entertaining, Ambitious, Slow

See it if You want to see a play about relationships and what it takes to keep it afloat.

Don't see it if You need a more polished performance. Read more

Great writing, Resonant, Thought-provoking, Riveting, Enlightening

See it if you appreciate tense, emotional drama examining young male/female/familial relationships, struggle of middle class urban blacks to achieve

Don't see it if you prefer light themes, comedy, big set, musical, dance, impeccable acting, can’t sit 90 min. w/out interval, dislike all black cast/issues

Thought-provoking, Relevant, Entertaining

See it if You want a look at what life can look like for poor on America

Don't see it if You're not interested in stories of poverty in this country

Uninspired, Disappointing, Confusing

See it if Don't go. Poor writing. Poor acting. Poor directing. Not up to this company's standard.

Don't see it if You can see something else.

Ambitious, Cliched, Confusing

See it if An all African-American cast works hard in a play which is still in development

Don't see it if The (often) very short scenes are not in chronological order and are therefore confusing

Critic Reviews (1)

"With his earthy, expressive and humorous dialogue, Mr. Jones renders each character with depth and feeling...As the play’s centerpiece Tupelo, SJ Hannah is a commanding whirlwind of comedic flourishes and soulfulness...Charles Weldon’s fine direction aids these sensitive performances...Michael A. Jones’ passionate eloquence and the strong performances compensate for the production’s limited presentational values."
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