Little Gem NYC Reviews and Tickets

79%

(102 Reviews)

Positive

88%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Entertaining, Funny, Slow

About the Show

Equal parts comic and poignant, Irish playwright Elaine Murphy’s debut play about three generations of North Dublin women won the top prize at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008.

From the show:
One year can bring extraordinary change; just ask Amber, Lorraine, and Kay, three generations of North Dublin women who find themselves suddenly facing the unexpected. Young Amber’s case of indigestion – or perhaps it’s a brutal hangover? – grows into something more, while her mother Lorraine discovers salsa dancing after an incident at work leads to therapist-suggested self-care. Grandmother Kay, on the wrong side of sixty, but not dead yet, struggles to take care of a personal itch while adjusting to life as a caretaker for her beloved Gem. As the year moves forward, the women confront their individual challenges with courage and humor, finding strength in one another and discovering the beauty and complexity of family.

Member Reviews (102)

Slow, Entertaining, Great writing, Great acting

See it if you like family themes. All great actresses and roles. Mason is so great!

Don't see it if you don't like plays that are mostly narrated and want interaction between the actors. Read more

Funny, Slow, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if Really Great performances, especially by Mason and an interesting way to tell the story. Has both serious and funny moments.

Don't see it if You dislike monologues. The play's is told through alternating monologues between the three women.

Well acted, Slow, Banal, Not a "gem," but not a lump of coal

See it if you want run-of-the-mill entertainment. Don't want to think much; just laugh a bit. Superficial; easy resolns. Actors don't look related.

Don't see it if you want depth, insight. Teenager's baby sh not solve problems. Meh jokes (old lady/vibrator). Mason's accent uneven. Familial love prevails

Interesting, Needs editing, Relevant, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if You like one person monologue shows. This is basically three one person shows woven together in a clever way. It makes it more interesting.

Don't see it if You don’t like stories told from the woman’s point of view. It’s not at all a man hating show but it’s definitely the female perspective. Read more

Refreshing, Intelligent, Clever

See it if Monologues of each character rather than dialogue between the actors. Accents are thick. Marsha Mason is very good in her role.

Don't see it if Very heavy accents though to pick up at times. Humor not that great. If you like dialogue in a play between actors.

Disappointing, Resonant, Confusing, Intelligent, Slow

See it if you'd enjoy a great performance by Mason and enjoy monologues that weave together among members of this Irish family.

Don't see it if you have difficulty with fast talking accents or are in the rear as O'Leary's voice does not carry, causing me to miss putting this together

Mundane, Corny, Sweet, Thought-provoking, Resonant

See it if 3 intersecting life-story monologues stress the essential solitude of life, even though people find solace in each other’s company.

Don't see it if The life stories are a bit mundane. Also, the challenges get resolved too easily & happily. The corny laughs fell flat for me.

Intense, Intelligent, Great acting, Funny, Clever

See it if you are interested in an exploration of interpersonal relationships in a specific culture. Written from each character's inner view.

Don't see it if you want conventionally structured dialog. Also you will need to pay careful attention because it's easy to lose some of the threads.

Critic Reviews (11)

"Motherhood Masters Dysfunction in ‘Little Gem.’ In Elaine Murphy’s play, three women from one Dublin family tell a slice-of-life story through interwoven, interlocking monologues."
Read more

“Three Generations of Irish Women Live, Laugh, and Love in ‘Little Gem.’ Elaine Murphy's 2008 play returns to New York City in a new Irish Repertory Theatre production.”
Read more

"The gift of gab reigns supreme in this beguiling triptych of contemporary Irish womanhood dealing with the sheer bloody business of living…Under the sensitive, highly alert direction of Marc Atkinson Borrull, three fine actresses keep one under the spell of their unbridled candor."
Read more

★★★★ "'Three Generations in One Family Work It All Out.' Elaine Murphy's engaging play features Marsha Mason, Brenda Meany and Lauren O'Leary."
Read more

★★★★ “'Mothers and Daughters Tell their Stories at Irish Rep.' Marsha Mason anchors an intimate Irish drama that lives up to its title."
Read more

"The play makes a gift of presenting us with well-conceived characters (even those we never actually see), realistic-sounding dialogue and relatable situations. Nothing here, admittedly, is remotely groundbreaking, but the work is consistently engaging, occasionally hilarious and sometimes heart wrenching."
Read more

"Marsha Mason is superb as a salty Irish housewife coping with a neurotic daughter, a rebellious granddaughter and an ill husband in this engaging monologue play. It's an engrossing slice of life with biographical data, pivotal incidents and humane observations that's immaculately presented."
Read more

"Elaine Murphy guides her fictional characters through the play with a prescribed sentimentality but it rings true to life in a very engaging way. The progression of time for them is charged by their irrepressible honesty and through unapologetically personal feelings, many of which are consigned to overlap the needs and longing of the other."
Read more