Lucky Penny NYC Reviews and Tickets

85%

(3 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Delightful, Must see, Moving, Heartbreaking

About the Show

Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater Company presents David Deblinger's autobiographical solo show, an everyman’s seriocomic journey through life.

From the death of a parent to the birth of a child, writer/performer David Deblinger zigzags through a range of mad, sad, beautiful, and crazy characters and stories taken from his own life. Punctuated by the live music and vocals of Fred Johnson, 'Lucky Penny' takes audiences through a deeply moving and often hilarious life journey.

Member Reviews (3)

Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Hilarious, Heartbreaking

See it if you have a beating heart and want to go on an unforgettable journey with a performer who gives 100000% of his soul.

Don't see it if you're not up for a rollercoaster of emotions, or if you absolutely can't stand autobiographical one-man shows. Read more

Absorbing, Delightful, Must see, Moving

See it if you like to see intimate, masterful work done by a true force of energy. David is specific and intense, & feels like a part of your family.

Don't see it if you prefer linear, by-the-numbers theatre, and are afraid of being spoken "to" rather than acted "at".

Delightful, Funny

See it if You enjoy one man shows, particularly very personal ones about people with extraordinary lives.

Don't see it if You usually find one man shows hard, I don't think this one will be your exception. Better than most, but still struggles to stay engaging.

Critic Reviews (3)

"While Mr. Deblinger unfolds the story of his life, he disappears so often into the other colorful characters in the tale that he himself almost seems to be a supporting player…‘Lucky Penny’ isn’t the most cogently thematic show; it’s a grab bag of incidents from Mr. Deblinger’s life…But Mr. Deblinger’s high-voltage energy, his gift for vocal and physical impersonation and his snappy delivery of the narration enliven even the less compelling moments."
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"You may squirm at some of the dysfunctional family stories in David Deblinger's wild and crazy, yet ultimately loving and touching solo-ish show...Deblinger has a great talent for making his stories come alive...Even though the entire evening, smartly directed by Ben Snyder, is composed of a series of self-contained stories, it all comes across as a fully developed coming-of-age tale that finds a surprisingly upbeat pathway through the thorns and thickets of life."
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"The real success here is that the production never feels bogged down by the potentially sorrowful content. Deblinger's performance is outstanding, and the contrast provided by his accomplice Johnson is the making of a formidable duo. Deeply personal yet amazingly light-hearted, 'Lucky Penny' is an unabashedly original memoir which is full of life lessons but also delightfully entertaining."
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