Himself and Nora NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (229)
See it if Like James Joyce and want wonderful actors who have great voices
Don't see it if Have no interest in James Joyce
See it if You appreciate first rate acting and singing, great production values, learning something surprisingly new about a famous lterary figure.
Don't see it if You can't separate superb performances from a just OK script, if you don't like stylized shows. Cast 100, show only 75-80, so average 90.
See it if You want to see a a musical/play about James Joyce, his life , his love, and how he got his works published. The outfits are spectacular.
Don't see it if You aren't interested in seeing a funny/musical piece about one of the greatest writers ever.
See it if You love Irish dancing, talented Broadway stars with great voices, and a live orchestra. Easy to follow plot, well-acted.
Don't see it if You don't like long shows. Although it runs 2 hours 20 minutes, it flies by.
See it if you like shows about real-life literary figures and unconventional love stories
Don't see it if you are put off by small-scale musicals (only 5 actors, small orchestra)
See it if musical theater is for you. Broadway caliber singing and stage presence. A very worthwhile show.
Don't see it if you want an action packed show. Can be a bit slow.
See it if want to be surprised by the unusual, extraordinary life of Joyce. vivid characters and thought provoking.
Don't see it if no interesting in historical, literary figures and don't want to take a chance on something when you don't what to expect
See it if you like great singing and magnificent sets and don't mind a little revisionist history.
Don't see it if simulated sex on stage or multi-character acting
Critic Reviews (22)
"'Himself and Nora' is no masterpiece. I kept waiting for some drama to be had...There are a few moments in Jonathan Brielle’s book that speak of trouble and clash; moments of conflict, but rarely did they seem to make it into his music and lyrics...There are some sweet moments of musical joy, but I must admit the whole thing felt a bit too soft Irish rock elevator music-like, rather than emotionally fiery love and hate. I wanted more passion and fire, but all I got was a watered-down whiskey."
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"'Himself and Nora' is a delight for the senses, particularly the sense of hearing. Matt Bogart has an engaging voice…Additionally, both leads are superb actors who bring a high degree of authenticity to their multi-layered and complicated characters…Although it seems at times 'Himself and Nora' has not decided exactly what it wants to be, the overall effect is pleasing and thoroughly captivating…What 'Himself and Nora' does accomplish, it achieves successfully and with considerable charm."
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"Dutifully dull book scenes, which would benefit from musical underpinning, are blended with songs of varying melodic quality and often clunky lyrics...‘Himself and Nora’ is a musical, not a lecture, but mightn’t it have made sense for something by Joyce to have been read from, discussed, or sung?...Joyce’s most famous disciple gets a passing shout-out...Perhaps, he, too, could be bio-musicalized if you don’t mind waiting for Beckett."
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"Subject matter not immediately impressive as tuner-ready requires the right person to tackle it. So on the strength—that’s to say the weakness—of 'Himself and Nora,' composer-lyricist-book writer Jonathan Brielle may not be best suited for this daunting task...Directed by Michael Bush, the ensemble is proficient...The hard ensemble work doesn’t disguise the problem of a script that remains stubbornly unconvincing."
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"The book here is dull, the music fares better...For a show that has been kicking around awhile it should be more advanced in its storytelling...With great love comes great sparing and Bashor and Bogart are perfect together...Michael Bush’s direction needs to pick up the pace. Jonathan Brielle needs to work with a collaborator. I have seen a few of his shows and his work would excel if he did."
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“Professional but shallow. This portrait of literary giant James Joyce and his strong-willed romantic partner Nora Barnacle is a like a musical Wikipedia entry. All the facts are there, but author-composer Jonathan Brielle doesn’t probe very deeply...The five-member cast is proficient and lively, and director Michael Bush paces the proceedings smartly enough, but Brielle’s choices are conventional. Hardly fitting for the most unconventional of authors.”
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"'Himself and Nora' has enough admirable things going for it that one leaves disappointed author Jonathan Brielle didn’t receive more constructive criticism. The piece is often entertaining and (sketchily) illuminating. A good time can be had...Jonathan Brielle is on shaky ground with some of these ballads, but good with rousing songs...The book is uneven, but when good makes one long for more like it."
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"The blending of two people apparently held together by their dissimilarities, as well as a deep erotic attraction, is a worthy subject for a musical. But the surface account delivered in ‘Himself and Nora’ doesn’t get much beyond the obvious…Whitney Bashor makes a fine Nora...And she has a lovely singing voice. Matt Bogart’s Joyce is more problematic...But it’s a performance, I suspect, that’s hobbled by the writing...Brielle’s ambitious score has its good and bad moments."
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