Lewis and Tolkien: Of Wardrobes and Rings NYC Reviews and Tickets

65%

(32 Reviews)

Positive

47%

Mixed

50%

Negative

Members say

Slow, Disappointing, Intelligent, Great acting, Thought-provoking

About the Show

The Sheen Center presents the New York premiere of a new drama exploring the friendship between two lions of 20th century British fantasy, J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

Tolkien and Lewis were giants of a literary genre that reached millions of readers, young and old alike, with mystifying adventures to entertain and deep truths to move people’s hearts. C.S. Lewis ('The Chronicles of Narnia') and J.R.R. Tolkien ('The Lord of the Rings') were also distinguished faculty members at Oxford University and participants in a literary group known as The Inklings. Their robust philosophical discourse served an uncommon friendship that was not without its differences. Life’s circumstances and sometimes unresolved disagreements forced an uncomfortable season of estrangement. 'Wardrobes and Rings' asks us to join “Jack” and “Tollers,” as they knew each other, at Oxford’s historic Eagle and Child pub for one last visit, tempered by thawing humor, confession, and reconciliation.

Member Reviews (32)

Great acting, Funny, Entertaining, Thought-provoking

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

Disappointing, Banal, Boring, Slow, Great idea poorly executed.

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

Critic Reviews (1)

"Marc Whitmore stagnantly directs what is framed as the very last meeting between Lewis and Tolkien...We leave with an informative synopsis of key facts and a list of suggested further reading, but a spoken Wikipedia article does not a play make. Even without a traditional plot to unfold, we need an emotional arc to follow — especially when the stated premise is a portrayal of one of the most profound friendships in literary history."
Read more