Lewis and Tolkien: Of Wardrobes and Rings

See it if Very good acting. If you want to learn about these two great actors. Informative as well about other writers of that era.

Don't see it if If you do not want an intimate theater or if you have no interest in these writers

See it if I can't think of why. This felt like backbiting gossip.

Don't see it if You want to see two polished actors having a coherent conversation in role of two brilliant erudite Brits

See it if you are a fan C.S, Lewis & Tolkien books & movies & are eager to know more about them as people & of their friendship.

Don't see it if A play focused primarily on a conversation between these 2 aging men is not your thing

See it if you really like CS Lewis and/or JRR Tolkien and want to know more about them as men and their relationship to each other.

Don't see it if you want more action, more characters on stages and/or bore easily listening to 2 men talk to each other or don't care about either of them.

See it if If you like an absorbing dialogue between two literary giant friends

Don't see it if If you want a play with razzle dazzle or a linear plot. This is a conversation and can go off on tangents

See it if you are interested in watching two literary icons discuss friendship, politics, religion, and literature in a dialogue-heavy play.

Don't see it if you want physical action or a plot. You are essentially a fly on the wall, watching two people engage in intelligent conversation.

See it if You are a fan of Tolkien or Lewis themselves, not just of their work.

Don't see it if You expect great insight into their friendship and competition.

Also The American waitress was annoying and only slowed an already torpid pace. She did a good Elvis, though.... Read more Read less

See it if you really love the Inklings and are content to *patiently* listen to two men talk about reminiscing

Don't see it if you'd dislike a show whose only female character is an airhead; you want a tight, engaging script

Also The actors who played Lewis and the girl were good actors (although the girl was given very little to work with). But the show itself was so slow, and so excruciating, that I literally napped during the first act, and left at intermission, with no regrets.... Read more Read less

See it if you are really into Lewis and Tolkien.

Don't see it if you are not into Lewis and Tolkien and are looking for upbeat fun entertainment.

See it if you love the books of Lewis and Tolkien.

Don't see it if you don't like these authors. It's very niche.

See it if You are very interested in the lives of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien

Don't see it if You don't like watching 2 men talking about themselves for 2 hours.

See it if you like stories about friendship and are interested in Lewis and Tolkien, as people.

Don't see it if You expect this to be about fantasy

See it if you want to understand a bit about the two authors, their relationship and how they viewed each other's work.

Don't see it if you want a "show." This is two men having a conversation with some interruption by a waitress at a private club.

See it if You're a fan of Lewis and/or Tolkien & want to see them portrayed on stage.

Don't see it if You want to learn something new or substantial about the 2 men. You want natural acting: only David Payne does, other 2-too much mugging.

See it if you learn alittle about each man, one thing that was clear they did care for each other.

Don't see it if you think you learn alot about each man. You do not

See it if You want to learn a little about Lewis or Tolkien.

Don't see it if You want a plot, action or anything entertaining. Just 2 old white guys talking.

See it if Two English literary giants nearing the ends of their lives catching up, hashing old grievances, and random chatting.

Don't see it if Don't enjoy watching old white men's literary/Oxford babbling. Dislike plays without real plot.

Also Free ticket from Show Score.

See it if you're interested in the friendship between Tolkien & Lewis; like plays in which people are not afraid to express Christian beliefs,

Don't see it if you don't like "talky" shows which have no plot as such, dislike bad wigs.

Also I guess the role of the American barmaid was intended to insert a bit of humor, but it was just plain silly. While the Beatles are briefly mentioned, the idea that the musician of the moment in 1963 Oxford was Elvis Presley is ridiculous and the little dance the barmaid did was painful to watch.... Read more Read less

See it if You have even a passing interest in either author. Putting everything aside, there's lots to love if you're a fan of either author.

Don't see it if You are not interested in either author nor the fantasy genre. There is little here for laypersons.

Also I'm giving this show a fifty percent rating as a sort of gesture, though it's quite an appropriate rating on its own.

The gesture is due to the dichotomy between the two featured actors.

David Payne, as the more even-tempered CS Lewis, gives a subtle and moving performance. He inhabits the role with apparent ease and naturalism.

Gordon Tett, as the show-boating J.R.R Tolkien, offers a less plausible performance. On the more superficial level, his hair and makeup conspire against him. More specifically, his wig is conspicuous and his makeup is simply far too much. He looks more ready for a panto than a serious two-hander drama.

On less surface-level note, his performance doesn't match David Payne's naturalistic ease. Constantly reminding us that we are in fact, watching a play.

The play itself is great for fans, but there is perhaps not enough drama to sustain an evening, and the act break is quite sudden and jarring. The ending monologue is also quite unnecessary.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy dry British humor and want to learn more about two lierary giants

Don't see it if You would be bored by a show of just conversation, no matter how witty

See it if you enjoy listening to conversations between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as they bond despite their different points of view.

Don't see it if You are not in the mood to listen carefully to a conversation between two people as they re-kindle a friendship; or you want action, music..

Also I did enjoy the conversations that took place. For me, it was all about friendship and understanding different points of view. It showed that people can disagree without screaming and walking away from each other; that there are common threads between us.

I do not know why the bizarre bar maid was injected into the show. I was ready to walk out when she opened her mouth. Fortunately, she was not on stage much.

I saw this at the Sheen Center in NY in May 2018.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a small peek at the personal relationship between the two great writers back in 1963 right before C. S. Lewis passed away.

Don't see it if you’re expecting some great revelation on either of the writers or if you wanted know more about them regarding their work or their youth.

See it if Possibly, if you've read a LOT about their friendship, it may interest to see a meeting between them. Simply-u feel you're indulging author.

Don't see it if Should have been an article/thesis, as its a hyper focused treatise on certain arguments between the two. You don't care: a bit pointless~

See it if You want to watch these two characters have a chat, but not really learn that much about them.

Don't see it if You're looking for a lot of action, or a plot.

See it if you enjoy a conversation between two friends on friendship, their careers, faith, and where life has brought them. Enjoyable.

Don't see it if you are looking for an exciting evening of theater.