Director Richard Jones returns to the Armory with this rarely-performed 1937 moral drama in a new adaptation by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award-winning playwright Christopher Shinn. More…
From the show:
Ödön von Horváth’s play is an intriguing hybrid of theatrical genres: part moral fable, part sociopolitical commentary, part noirish thriller. A dutiful train station master, performed by Emmy® Award-winning actor Luke Kirby (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Deuce, and Slings & Arrows) is momentarily distracted and a tragic train crash results. This adaptation is a fresh take on who should bear responsibility for certain actions, a theme that resonates in today’s societal climate.
Having dazzled Armory audiences and critics alike with his mesmerizing revival of The Hairy Ape in 2017, visionary director Richard Jones returns to take on this gripping play in a new adaptation by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award®-winning playwright Christopher Shinn. Judgment Day dramatically plays on the interior of the Wade Thompson Drill Hall—reminiscent of the original Grand Central Depot and the great train stations of Europe—as an immersive environment in which the characters become overcome by the burden of guilt.
See it if Great performances. Great story full of twists. Epic larger than life scale sets. Dark and full of pathos.
Don't see it if It drags at times but mostly briefly.
See it if You enjoy large scale productions. The staging is really great and so are the performances. Good story w/ some dramatic scenes.
Don't see it if You aren't looking for drama and prefer something light.
See it if If you like a entertaining story and a huge production. Fantastic lighting and sound effects. Well acted show.
Don't see it if If you do not like big production plays.
See it if you want to see a taut, intense, powerful morality/cautionary tale about truth, guilt, loyalty & mob mentality, staged on an epic scale.
Don't see it if u want a subtle, intimate, small-scale production; u want to avoid another wake-up call about the effects of absolutism/"fake news"/mob rule
See it if cutting edge scenography or a brilliant script by an important 20th century playwright who is little staged here would interest you.
Don't see it if you’re looking for an intimate drama: This staging goes as high as the sky & across a broad horizon.
Also I admire the script of Ödön von Horváth’s “Judgment Day” enormously. B... Read more Read less
See it if you want a story experience on massive sets in a huge space over 7 scenes in 90 minutes that are wonderfully lit with excellent sound.
Don't see it if you want something light - this is heavy on morality subjects with many thought provoking issues that we have in today's world.
See it if chance to see rare production staged in huge space, interested in von Horvath & issues of guilt & blame, to see the power of the mob,
Don't see it if not a fan of loud noises, huge sets being slowly dragged across theater, people lost among the sets, don't like stories of infidelity, guilt
See it if simply scripted scenes representing grand philosophical concepts like truth, guilt & justice with Biblical references hold your attention.
Don't see it if the ponderous predictably & illogic of grand opera w/o the justification of magnificent vocal music fails to appeal. Stiff performances, too
See it if Morality (Remember?) fable from the then '30s for the relevant now of the truth and consequences of responsibility and quivering vox populi.
Don't see it if A testament to the directing and the acting that the story isn't dwarfed for the back row by large set piece and cavernous performance space
See it if Excellent ensemble work. Interesting staging. Great lightning including train effect.
Don't see it if If you want something light and cheerful. This is highly stylized and totally serious and dark.
Also Interesting to see such a massive stage and how they used it. ... Read more Read less
See it if expansive staging w/what seems like ever changing sets; great sensation of movement as the trains go by & great lighting
Don't see it if space swallows the production, everything seems lost-is this the idea? some tension but mostly stilted & slow; couldn't wait for show 2 end
See it if You appreciate edgy theatre.
Don't see it if You like traditional storytelling.
See it if You enjoy moralistic stories re-envisioned performances solid, no breakouts, amazing sets
Don't see it if Traditional theater is your preference. This show borders on the avanti garde
See it if interested in a 1937 morality tale by a young German playwright in an epically staged production. Deals with guilt, blame, mob mentality.
Don't see it if looking for something light. Serious subject matter with resonance to current political climate.
Also The fascinating set, lighting, & sound are on a grand scale which make... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy anything in the armory that makes great use of that wonderful space
Don't see it if you expect more than just two dimensional characters acting out a simple story
See it if dark, large scale production on group behavior with lack of individual responsibility; haunting lighting, sounds & forest scenery on sides
Don't see it if don't want very large scale scenery - 2 gigantic blocks that are moved/turned to create different scenes; don't want morality play
See it if Interpretation of German play about culpability of community in crime. A warning posing as a play.
Don't see it if Strong cast declaims rather than acts. Enormous sets intentionally dwarf actors. Intentionally lacks subtlety.
See it if You like interesting staging. A 1937 play by German writer warning about mob mentality, group guilt, Excellent acting. Lots to think about.
Don't see it if You are looking for light fun drama. This is serious stuff. I’ve seen several Park Avenue Armory productions; this was the least spectacular
Also An event. An experience. Sound and lighting extraordinary.
See it if you enjoy morally-complex dramas that make you leave the theatre questioning the ways in which you behave and judge others; ambiguous works.
Don't see it if expecting utterly shocking or contemporary-feeling work laden with complex twists. Although a bit dated, Judgment Day feels quite fresh.
Also The Park Avenue Armory’s mobile seating and staging configurations alw... Read more Read less
See it if great staging of an old play that is relevant today. great use of the space.
Don't see it if more flash than substance. characters versus people.
See it if you want *brilliantly-staged* play evocative of Ibsen's ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. Serious, heavy-handed look at truth/responsibility in society.
Don't see it if you want something light; this is grim (but gripping) tale of taking responsibility for mistakes which lead to tragedy. Masterful staging.
See it if truly the tableaux and the brooding moving gigantic scenery was worth the price of the ticket
Don't see it if but the allegorical plot is too simple--and although visually stunning, I kept wondering why all this?
See it if Really fascinating, if ultimately superfluous, massive stage pieces moving dance-like to portray this pre-WWII tragedy.
Don't see it if The play arguably doesn't merit the epic scale of its staging. Solid writing, but quite dated. Acting was fine, but upstaged by...the stage.
See it if you like a drama that addresses human behavior as individuals & collectively, Watch us delude & lose ourselves when part of a mob.
Don't see it if Shows that explore the human psyche don't intrigue you.