Illyria

See it if you liked the Apple & Gabriel plays (tho this is Nelson's weakest work by far) & want a cursory (at best) glimpse at the Public's origin.

Don't see it if you want to learn anything valuable about Papp or the the Public Theatre. This boring play, spoken by insufferable low-talkers, is a waste.

Also What a huge missed opportunity! A play about the origins of the Public, in the Public's anniversary season, written by a prominent Public Theater mainstay, should have been a major event. Instead it is a minor work and a major disappointment. Skip this lifeless, tedious bummer of a play and read the much
more engrossing & informative book "Free For All: Joe Papp, The Public and the Greatest Theater Story Ever Told."... Read more Read less

See it if you've liked Nelson's Apple & Gabriel Family plays, are interested in the history of the Public Theatre & familiar with its early artists

Don't see it if you don't like quietly conversational works, don't care about or not familiar with the Public Theatre's early struggles or Robert Moses

See it if become fly on wall (1958) when young Papp beset by financial woes/resistance 2 free Shakespeare; but Papp's relentlessness shines thru

Don't see it if play consists of conversations delivered so softly/off-handedly that it's hard to hear the words & dramatic moments are drained of drama

See it if you like a good ensemble in an intimate setting; you are interested in the early days of Joe Papp and the people in his circle.

Don't see it if The play is slow moving and dull. I was hoping a play about early Papp would be more interesting and meaty. Dialogue is often inaudible.

See it if You are interested in Joe Papp, the beginnings of the Public Theater, and Shakespeare in the Park. About the people that made it happen.

Don't see it if You expect action. Have any difficult hearing conversationally spoken dialogue by actors at a table. Joe Papp who??

Also I felt that this play was written for a very narrow audience. There is no intermission and I found that the last seem to be the most exciting. The end of the first scene, I found myself napping.
It is written by Richard Nelson, who brought us the Gabriels and the Apple family.... Read more Read less

See it if You love everything about the Public and Joe Papp. You want a cursory look at how the Public began.

Don't see it if You are hard of hearing, they don't project AT ALL.You don't mind a play that goes NO WHERE, with characters that are unmotivated and boring

See it if you have a burning interest in the cultural history of midcentury NYC, especially the theatrical world

Don't see it if you like plays with well-developed characters and something remotely resembling a plot

Also The anniversary of the Public Theater deserved better than this. Richard Nelson is in danger of becoming a one-size-fits-all playwright.... Read more Read less

See it if You love theatre history! Even if a few liberties have been taken.

Don't see it if You can’t concentrate on a story that drags on.

See it if arts advocacy/preservationist leanings, Pappism, leisurely storytelling, leaning forward to hear, are your thing

Don't see it if almost inaudible, almost Chekovian, dinner/casting table centered drama, are not your thing

Also At the Q&A following the 11/19 matinee, the staff member and community activists were more clearly audible than the actors had been even with mic support. Deliberate choice of film style presentation & voice usage?... Read more Read less

See it if you like dialogue driven plays based on true stories with naturalistic acting, to a fault.

Don't see it if you have a problem sitting for 2 hours and straining to hear "conversational" dialogue, or have no interest in the Public's backstory.

Also Ok, I get that a choice was made for naturalism, but really, is it necessary to mumble and talk on top of each other, to the point that some of the dialogue is completely unintelligible? At almost 2 hours without an intermission, the last thing this cerebral show needs is additional challenges. That said, the acting is terrific, the story is rich in detail and I quite enjoyed this slice of life about the Public's history. But c'mon, speak up!... Read more Read less

See it if An interesting hostorical piece. Sensitive performances. Insider tidbits about the late ‘50s in NY theater.

Don't see it if All talk no action. Very slow. Get the assisted listening devices. They mumble. Very inside baseball.

See it if you dont mind an utter lack of drama.

Don't see it if you have any trouble hearing. This is basically a small group of talking heads with overlapping banal dialog.

Also The Forum that was presented on this was fascinating, even with the under-rehearsed presenters that night the words of Papp, the words of Moses were riveting. The footage from Papp interviews had the pulse of true drama.

This was dry and indulgent. Whiny and in direct counterpoint to everything I have ever read on the subject.... Read more Read less

See it if like a conversational piece about a theoretical beginning to Shakespeare in the Park, real characters hypothetical conversations

Don't see it if if you are looking for drama.

See it if you are interested in the history of theater, particularly in the Shakespeare in the Park back story and Joseph Pabb.

Don't see it if you are hard of hearing (sound is challenging) or if you bore easily (it is a bit slow).

See it if Mr. Nelson's conversational plays; historical (1958) story based on Public's early founders when it started with NY Shakespeare Festival

Don't see it if want something as moving as Mr. Nelson's other conversational plays - thought the 2nd scene was his most traditional & moving; slow at end

See it if you need a nap. The seat was comfortable and the theater was dark, and I felt myself dozing off. Also see if you enjoy all-white casting. :/

Don't see it if you need to wash your hair, you want to be entertained or inspired, you'll miss the two hours of your life you'll never get back, etc.

Also I get that they love ol' Joe. This tribute should have been a one-night event where people who knew him share their stories themselves, not this... whatever this was.... Read more Read less

See it if Wonderful production for anyone interested in theater history. Well written and produced.Nelson wrote and directed a winner!

Don't see it if Do not see if you only enjoy musicals or light dramas.

See it if Self pat on the back for the Public Theater's founders. How they created it with an undramatic amount of struggle

Don't see it if No real plot, more a reenactment of history.

Also Free ticket from online lottery.

See it if you're a charter member of the Richard Nelson Fan Club.

Don't see it if you want to see/hear a vivid depiction of an important piece of NYC theatrical history.

Also There are some poor directorial choices where the actors are speaking in low tones, often with their backs to most of the audience. One would think the writer/director (Nelson) would have wanted the audience to hear his words.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in Joe Papp and the history of the Public Theater. Watching this play made me want to learn more about him.

Don't see it if You need some dramatic action. It is very slow and drags on at times, especially the last scene.

See it if You want to be in the rooms where it happened . ..with Joe Papp through the growing pains of the Public Theater

Don't see it if You don't feel like listening , they call it conversational

See it if You want to dive into a very different time in the history of NYC and the Public Theater.

Don't see it if You're hard of hearing

Also It's hard to imagine a time when Shakespeare in the Park was under threat and ambitious people saw it as just a stepping stone to bigger things. The show will resonate with today's audiences who continue to question just who the city belongs to.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in history/role of theater in NYC, or NYC and U.S. politics of the 1950s. Evokes NORMAL HEART (albeit far less intense).

Don't see it if you're not up for dialogue-driven play about founding of the Public Theatre, its battles vs. Robert Moses & HUAC, & Papp as force of nature.

Also Dialogue is naturalistic and can be, at times, hard to hear. Come prepared to listen. It's worth it.... Read more Read less

See it if You have deep interest in Joe Papp & co, Shakespeare in the Park, or Richard Nelson's playwriting style.

Don't see it if You're expecting a lifelong biographical play. This takes place in a single summer. Or if you don't like quiet, talky, self-contained plays.

See it if You have at least a passing interest in the history of The Public Theater and Joe Papp. You enjoy the day to day struggles of real life.

Don't see it if You need sturm und drang in your theater. You are embarrassed to ask for the assisted hearing devices some may require.