If I Forget NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (407)
See it if you want to see the Jonathan Franzen of plays. This was masterfully done: nuanced , gripping, smart - the perfect balance of humor and drama
Don't see it if you can't relate to family dynamics or a character-driven comedic drama that beautifully treats political/philosophical issues. Read more
See it if You want to see an excellent cast in a new play that hits it out of the park. Might look for a beay transfer
Don't see it if You don't like intense family issues or don't have a sense of humor
See it if you like great dramatic writing in the style of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. This play is exquisitely written and beautifully acted.
Don't see it if you prefer lighter fare or don't like longer, talky plays. However, every minute of this play is riveting so you might be surprised.
See it if Kitchen table drama is your thing, and you are interested in questions of Jewish identity, dealing with aging parents and secrets revealed.
Don't see it if You shy away from explorations of conflict - between siblings, parents and children, nation states, prefer fluff. Read more
See it if you are interested in family dynamics and considers difficult questions while bringing heartfelt and quality support from both sides.
Don't see it if you want a show with clear ending and "gives you the answers"
See it if you want to see a wonderful family play dealing with important issues that rings of the truth.
Don't see it if you want light entertainment without thought Read more
See it if you want a good family drama. See struggling with what to do with your career. What legacy to leave your children
Don't see it if you are fighting with siblings on how to care for ill parent and how to divide estat.
See it if You like absorbing contemporary drama.
Don't see it if You're only looking for light, entertaining fare. Read more
Critic Reviews (37)
"Never has the American theatre taken such a direct shot at the Israel lobby within the US itself...Such obvious polemical intent creates both political and dramatic imbalances. The second half never quite regains the ferocious intensity of the clash before the interval...But under Daniel Sullivan’s precise, formally conventional direction, 'If I Forget’s' taboo-shattering boldness nonetheless makes this a memorable night in the history of political theatre."
Read more
"Fluidly directed by Daniel Sullivan, Jeremy Shamos is a standout...Secondary characters add color as well as gravitas...One might say that Levenson's familial dynamic is somewhat overstuffed with subplots, yet this remains a powerful drama with crisply defined characters and sharply counterbalanced with humor...A provocative production where boldly honest performances explore beliefs and compromises, 'If I Forget' is not an easy play to forget. Nor should it be."
Read more
“An exemplary Off-Broadway production…Hardly a moment seems false or forced…Levenson unwinds it all in deft fashion, alternating and punctuating gut-grabbing serious moments with expertly set-up laugh lines and reactions that further define character as well as entertain. It’s all sharply defined by Daniel Sullivan’s extraordinarily sensitive direction and the talents of a cast that’s probably perfection…A supremely sure-handed piece of playwriting.”
Read more
“Beautifully rendered by Mr. Levenson’s keen ear and probing pen. It is a great pleasure to spend 2 1/2 hours with this very real and dimensional family…He resolves that story very movingly. He is helped enormously by the consistent truth in the performances of the seven actors who bring these characters to blazing life…Daniel Sullivan has extracted from his excellent cast the very real rhythms of naturalistic speech, which is full of surprises…Director Sullivan has done a terrific job.”
Read more
“In the hands of director Daniel Sullivan and his more than excellent cast, this play succeeds even where it shouldn’t…Levenson has provided witty, swiftly moving dialogue that keeps the audience both thinking and laughing…Levenson does an admirable job juggling the many issues he brings up. But even with this tremendous cast and accomplished direction, there are more than a few issues that could have easily been left out."
Read more
"An astounding new play...One of the most definitive texts of our time. Levenson’s mastery of dialogue carries the weight of generations of trauma...This is one of the most extraordinary plays I have ever witnessed and completely relevant for the tumultuous times we are living in today...I often found myself holding my breath at the sheer brilliance of the script...It’s what theatre should be...The heavyweight cast brings magnificent performances to this groundbreaking text."
Read more
“Levenson masterfully braids together a family living room drama, the political atmosphere of the era, and a discussion on what it means to be a Jew in the United States today…’If I Forget,’ slightly dragging in the beginning, is a great family drama that unfolds against the backdrop of broader political issues.”
Read more
"Levenson forces audiences to confront what are, for many, long- and strongly-held beliefs, stances that have cemented as a matter of fact without critical thinking or questioning. Chiefly, he asks what it means to be a modern American Jew...Ultimately, the question driving 'If I Forget' is one Joey, the teenager, poignantly asks: 'What's my inheritance?' He's asking a literal question, but, of course, we can infer the broader question, what is my history, and where do I fit in?"
Read more