Hero's Welcome

See it if you want to see Alan Ayckbourn still proving his talent for clever wordplay, sly plot twists & class system commentary 55yrs into his career

Don't see it if you have no patience for a slow Act 1; you expect a laugh-out-loud Ayckbourn comedy. (This is "comedy" in the Chekhovian or Shavian sense.)

See it if You want to see the latest Alan Ayckbourn play. Interesting to see in repertory with Confusions. Amazingly versitile and talented actors.

Don't see it if You prefer shorter plays. The first act is almost an hour and a half long.

See it if You love plays by Ayckbourn. This is one of his best. You appreciate fine writing. You like contemporary plays with relatable characters !

Don't see it if You are looking for a lighthearted saucy British comedy. Ayckbourn has written many fine ones but this is far from a comedy !

See it if you want to see an Ayckbourn play that is more dramatic than comedic. Full of twists and turns! Act One is filled with too much exposition.

Don't see it if you need more action in a play. Also, if you do not understand the British class system. If you do not appreciate subtle performances.

See it if you are interested in anything Ayckbourn writes and you like seeing first-rate British actors.

Don't see it if because it's by Ayckbourn, you are expecting it to be a comedy!

See it if You want to see a play about what it's like to return home after a war. There was a mystery about why the person left in the first place.

Don't see it if you don't find character studies of interest.

See it if 3 stories, 3 households cramped staging, but mostly engrossing play very well acted. Ayckbourn's world is always a treat, this one included.

Don't see it if It's not top drawer Ayckbourn, but if you love his writing as I do, you won't want to miss it. Next is the 5-play evening called CONFUSIONS.

See it if you're an Ayckbourn completist. There are some strong performances in roles that have shading. Others are stuck playing villains or victims.

Don't see it if you want to believe Ayckbourn's an unerring hero. This wears out its welcome early on.

See it if For a new drama by this important contemporary playwright. His plays reveal the interlocking cogs in the machinery of human relationships.

Don't see it if Somewhat labored and contrived dramatic structure, overly long. For the seasoned Ayckbourn audience not first timers.

See it if Wonder what an Ayckbourn play would be like without the humor, but still with set pieces and cardboard characters.

Don't see it if You don't know what's going to happen when you see a rifle in an early scene. You want more than soap opera plots, revelations, characters.

See it if Love Ayckbourn and enjoy his clever writing and plot twists. Want to see great acting.

Don't see it if You want a typical Acybourn comedy. This is my least favorite and made me very uncomfortable, plus I have to admit I just didn't care.

See it if writing alway good. characters come to life and remind us of the turns in of our lives

Don't see it if if you need a lot of action

See it if you like to see all the British plays at 59E59. Otherwise, skip this one. Acting is mostly strong, but material's a mess. Buba is a standout

Don't see it if you want a reality-based play to make sense. Act II is truly idiotic. And play is interminable. Interesting premise squandered. A shame!

See it if you are an Ayckbourn fan and enjoy fine ensemble acting.

Don't see it if you don't like complicated plots and like your plays short and snappy.

See it if you enjoy a show which is intelligent and absorbing, has interesting characters and a plot which is unusual, with a logical conclusion.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a somewhat sad story with quirky and well-developed characters, or you hate British drama.

See it if you are an Ayckbourn fan, you like slow developing plots, great acting, British drama

Don't see it if you don't like British drama, slow plot and character development, complicated plotline yet still feels generic, heavy accents

See it if if you like Alan Ayckbourn (also the director), complicated plots, great acting, and good staging.

Don't see it if if you like comedies, or plays with uncomplicated plots.

See it if You love Ackybourn's quirky characters and humor. Not his best and the plot is confusing. But still worth seeing for the riveting second act

Don't see it if You don't like slow direction, overplotted stories, one dimensional villians and a somewhat simple staging.