Mangled Beams NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (38)
See it if You care about Native Americans
Don't see it if There is no reason not to.
See it if are interested in Native American plays.
Don't see it if the subject of 911 is uncomfortable
See it if you want a play that explores an unknown aspect of 9/11.
Don't see it if you are not interested in a behind the scenes story of 9/11
See it if You want to see a smart play that’s entertaining while tackling some very real very serious topics without ever feeling bogged down by them.
Don't see it if You can’t watch with some imagination and an open mind. For a small stage the recreation of 9/11 destruction and beams was impressive.
See it if you desire a play that shocks you with language and plot.
Don't see it if you live in a PC culture.
See it if You want to see some great acting about the treatment of Native Americans pre-911 in the construction trades.
Don't see it if You have no interest in the above or are averse to some rough language, which was important in this piece. Read more
See it if you would like to experience a story about the lives of some New York Native Americans, told & presented by Native Americans.
Don't see it if you are looking for that big budget thriller about the fall of the Twin Towers--this is not it. Read more
See it if Native American steel workers in NYC are discriminated against by union boss. They are beam walkers. Then 9/11 happens. Excellent story
Don't see it if Do see it! Closes tomorrow, April 29
Critic Reviews (4)
"There's a quietly stunning sequence...No words are spoken for several minutes...Then the characters open their mouths, and the sublime mundanity devolves into melodrama...The difficulty is that her characters are less like people than parts in a theatrical machine...Big plaudits, then, to the performers who find personality amid the plot devices...There's a story worth telling at the core of this play about identity and conflicted patriotism. Too bad it's been mangled."
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"Informative, noble, and affective drama...Its didactic streak and overloaded exposition...prevent it from totally succeeding...Repetitiveness, tangents, and packing in too much information hinder the play's flow...Callahan's focused staging injects as much momentum as possible to the stilted script and guides the cast to expressive performances...Though earnest, passionate, and involving...doesn't quite cohere into a fully realized theatrical work."
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"Jamieson's script seems to dwell on Brad, giving us lots of information about his back story. But I was particularly interested in the characters of Becky and Dave, and their interactions and history. Yet all the actors have presence and give engaging performances...'Mangled Beams' is well structured and the characters are clearly defined, though I couldn’t help but wish it moved faster at the beginning."
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"Scrupulously fair to all its characters, Jamieson’s script skillfully weaves its multiple narratives and themes of cultural and personal dilemmas into a cohesive statement. There is even a healthy dose of humor to counterbalance the seriousness of the subject matter. As with any large cast play, though, keeping a consistent pace and tone proves challenging...The heart of 'Mangled Beams' shines through regardless, but the show feels like it’s under construction."
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