Ideation NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (119)
See it if You like very clever and fast-paced plays.
Don't see it if I can't think of any negatives....
See it if you enjoy another powerful thought provoking show
Don't see it if you are squeamish. My partner was very upset re: the possibilities implied.
See it if you like well acted shows that make you think. The time flew by. Fascinating premise, well executed.
Don't see it if you don't like good plays!
See it if You like shows that entertain you while making you think.
Don't see it if You don't like provocative subjects or shows that ask you to concentrate on fast-paced dialogue.
See it if have ever felt paranoid but knew they were still out to get you! Logical moves suspicion to insanity in 90 intense minutes and laughs too.
Don't see it if you like your theater bland.
See it if you like a thought provoking, clever play
Don't see it if you can't fit it in
See it if Good cast and interesting subject matter. I was very engaged.
Don't see it if You don't like philosophical inquiries.
See it if you don't mind not really knowing what's happening onstage and being left with an uneasy feeling.
Don't see it if you like definite conclusions, because there isn't one here.
Critic Reviews (30)
"The sinister tangos with the madcap in 'Ideation,' a comedy that satirizes office politics and skewers groupthink, even as its annihilation scenario comes to seem unsettlingly plausible. Written by Aaron Loeb and directed by Josh Costello, it gradually ramps up the uncertainty and moral horror of its little band of collaborators, played by a first-rate ensemble...In 'Ideation,' Mr. Loeb has devised a psychological game, one that’s both amusing and intriguing to play."
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"'Ideation,' a dynamic piece of modern theater, is now onstage. This thought-provoking play features an excellent cast and terrific staging. Metropolitan area audiences will want to see this show. It is a timely, wonderfully crafted play that is both insightful and humorous...Each member of the cast strikes just the right tenor between the serious nature of their characters and their hilarious, unpredictable foibles...It is a show you will be thinking about long after the curtain call."
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"A frequently hilarious excursion into ever-mounting paranoia…The increasingly paranoiac fun and games are accompanied by crackling dialogue that often shreds the clichés of the business world…Under Josh Costello's spring-loaded direction, a nimble and committed cast makes a possibly contrived situation feel all too real…A tense and funny comedy thriller that accurately mirrors the conspiracy-minded thinking that informs too much of modern life."
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"The cleverness of the play lies in its examination of how the characters' well-honed problem-solving skills fail them, leaving them to wrestle with highly unfamiliar moral and ethical issues that lead them down the path to paranoia...What makes it all work so well is the highly polished performances of the cast members and the directing by Josh Costello...A terrific ensemble piece that is a whirlwind of witty dialog, physical comedy, and scary imagery."
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"Shocking revelations are disclosed with a deadpan tone reminiscent of Harold Pinter’s later allegorical political plays. The dialogue is an often very funny Orwellian distillation of business world jargon. A flaw is that at an hour and forty minutes without an intermission, 'Ideation' gets repetitive and slackens at times. Director Josh Costello’s staging enhances the performances from his cast... Mr. Costello has realized the material with inventive precision."
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"The actors are competent but hardly memorable. So is Josh Costello's direction...While Loeb's intentions to create an edgy satire that would put some thought provoking ideas on the table is admirable, it falls short of its ambition. The thinly disguised, jumbled ideas don't really do much to fully engage us. In a world of devastating viruses, natural disasters and terrorism, it's hard to find any of this fresh or funny."
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"Both horrifying and amusing...They’re provocative questions, albeit a bit heavy-handed...Not surprisingly, the well-acted, well-written, and well-staged production offers no answers, but asks the audience to think about the role of the individual...'Ideation' is to be credited for not shying away from big issues or big problems. Deeply engaging and unsettling—it is also bitingly funny—Loeb’s third play zeroes in on issues that this year’s Presidential contenders would be wise to address."
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"There are some more than amusing moments in this let-your-imagination-run-wild, humor-filled yet eerie play that clearly shows what happens when suspicion and distrust become the order of the day. The talented, paranoid ensemble is cleverly directed by Josh Costello. Aaron Loeb certainly has ideated a weirdly wonderful script that will leave you scratching your head."
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