Illyria NYC Reviews and Tickets

70%
(130 Ratings)
Positive
60%
Mixed
32%
Negative
8%
Members say
Slow, Great acting, Disappointing, Intelligent, Absorbing

About the Show

Tony Award-winning playwright and director Richard Nelson returns to the Public to reveal a forgotten chapter of the Public Theater’s own history.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (130)

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416 Reviews | 190 Followers
71
Great staging, Great acting, Disappointing, Slow, Historical facts

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?? Read more

174 Reviews | 25 Followers
70
Slow, Great acting

See it if You're interested in the history behind the New York Shakespeare Festival and Joe Papp

Don't see it if you have trouble focusing sitting for a long play with no intermission.

196 Reviews | 137 Followers
70
Intelligent, Confusing

See it if you're interested in the early days of the New York Shakespeare Festival, and you don't insist on complete historical accuracy.

Don't see it if you're unfamiliar with the people who were involved in creating the NYSF, or you would be bothered by not being able to hear every line.

163 Reviews | 113 Followers
70
Entertaining, Great acting, Intelligent, Slow, Great writing

See it if you like "slice of life" plays or have an interest in Joe Papp.

Don't see it if you like plot heavy plays or detailed historical dramas.

138 Reviews | 87 Followers
70
Great acting, Intelligent, Disappointing

See it if You want an insight into one of the giants of the American stage. If you want to see a tight ensemble in action.

Don't see it if You don’t care for super naturalism. I was in the second row and it was hard to hear. The strategy means there is no rising action or climax

624 Reviews | 152 Followers
70
Slow, Disappointing, Needs editing, Banal, Expected more

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.

407 Reviews | 66 Followers
70
Ambitious, Great writing, Indulgent, Quirky, Overrated

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.

117 Reviews | 13 Followers
70
Entertaining, Relevant, Ambitious, Disappointing, Quirky

See it if You are very interested in Joe Papp and the history of Shakespeare in the Park

Don't see it if You want light entertainment

Critic Reviews (36)