James & Jamesy In The Dark NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (34)
See it if you are looking for a show that is unique and has potential to be good, but is far from it right now. The concept is great, the writing isnt
Don't see it if you are not up for a show that is 1 hour but all you really needed was 20 mins. Show becomes repetitive and boring. Read more
See it if you want to bring a child to a show with clowning, mime, shrill voices-- that devolves as most of these types of shows do...into fart jokes.
Don't see it if you expect Mummenshantz or Cirque du Soleil, or hate performers breaking the 4th wall & shining a light in your face. Read more
See it if you're into experimental theater without a well defined narrative or script
Don't see it if you are looking for something that tells a story, you like your 4th wall firmly in place Read more
See it if if you like unpredictable endings, it's a little slow to start, but things pick up near the end
Don't see it if if you looking for a typical Broadway show, it only runs a little over an hour
See it if You don't mind experimental performances, and look forward to playing with the tall one and the short one.
Don't see it if You're not ready to play with the two simpleton beings that mysteriously land on stage, you are not in the mood for silly or wonder. Read more
See it if In soft blue light, two strangers meet, banter, interact, and create in the now. Anticipation required like waiting for God-ot for an hour.
Don't see it if Mildly interactive. Paperless ticketing. The effect is often ruined by the harsh lobby lighting from latecomers. Like a scene for class. Read more
Critic Reviews (16)
"It is stylishly done and presents a charming picture of two beings finding their place in the world...The dialogue plays off of misunderstandings...with a fresh twist...The show is not one confined to the fourth wall of the proscenium. The actors move into the audience and incorporate that as part of the experience...The very soul of theatre comes from breaking the rules and exploring new ways of storytelling. ‘James and Jamesy: In The Dark’ does this with verve and charm."
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"More importantly, they display little or no real emotion so it is difficult to empathize with them even when their growing discovery of each other should have stirred the audience. The closest they come to human contact is placing their two lampshades together and tickling each other with their fingertips."
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"Just two strangers on stage, each with a chair, as they meet and explore the unknown...Sound like a snooze? Not at all. James and Jamesy aren't your garden-variety strangers...What starts out as a dumb show, quickly transforms into a play with potent language...If profound questions drive the piece, child-like play is what makes it tick...This piece doesn't just cast new light on the concept of theater, but teaches some profound lessons on the mystery of being human."
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"James & Jamesy answer some profound existential questions in the silliest, most delightful way possible...The sort of theatre that offers its audience a transformative experience in the simplest yet the most effective ways. The pair of seasoned physical comedians creates a wildly imaginative world out of nothing...This absolutely delightful silliness also carries the weight of some cerebral profundity, upon close examination. The show is, in a way, a process of creation via discovery."
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“An outer space romp exploring our perceptions of life...It’s silly, clean, very sweet, and as intelligent as any piece of theatre you’re likely to see this year...A clowning play and the entire experience feels like a highly talented series of theatre games...Each idea is skillfully expressed with silliness, charm, and naiveté...Smith has orchestrated a profound and tidy work....A remarkable and seamless performance...A tantalizing aesthetic not to be missed."
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“Clever two-man show...The performance stands on its firmest ground during the non-verbal, more physical clowning scenes and those that take place entirely in the dark...Malkin as James remains more abstract while Knowles as Jamesy displays a more youthful character...They play off each other easily...The give-and-take to the audience is fun, but at times feels a bit clunky...Thought provoking and funny, ‘James & Jamesy’ challenges us not just to contemplate but to respond.”
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"This intriguing and quirky theatrical production...directed with a playful ear for sound and movement by David MacMurray Smith brings whimsy and charm to this small stage, shining with a pure white light dose of sweetness and a funny depth of profundity...The two are masters at this dynamics, keeping us tuned in and playfully conducted for the most part...The ingenuity and precise grasp of theatrical capabilities are both child-like and wonderful."
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“An extraordinary piece of theater that fits no mold but its own...A unique, thought-provoking delight. Two gifted physical performers embody the title characters...Although the evening is directed by Smith, there is much that is left to chance...Such improvisation invites ad-libbing, and sometimes an unexpected result puts the pair into a bit of a hole...Although the ending evokes Beckett, it’s full of optimism, befitting the previous 75 minutes of masterly clowning.”
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