Mangled Beams NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (38)
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 if you like bad writing coupled with bad acting/ 2 good actors in it, good lighting.
Don't see it if if you enjoy a really badly written play that is not grounded with any continuity.
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 You are open-minded and willing to be educated about another kind of discrimination but in return shows kindness and patriotism.
Don't see it if You aren’t the least bit interested in Native American issues and don’t want to hear their story.
See it if You want to support new work about issues facing Native Americans.
Don't see it if You want to see something above community theatre. Very clunky writing.
See it if You're interested in the role played by Native Americans in the 9/11 cleanup. Slow first act &clunky writing is somewhat redeemed by 2nd act
Don't see it if You don't support community theatre or aren't interested in the story. Good effort overall.
See it if you're interested in Native Americans' role in the World trade Center construction & 9/11 Cleanup, and the problems they had to deal with
Don't see it if you're already familiar with the Native Americans' struggle outside their reservation & their part in World Trade Cntr work
See it if A strange mix of various plot lines tries to be relevant at the end Pretty much an I told you so on things you already know
Don't see it if You’re expecting great writing or acting this was pretty much so so and the material I think everyone knows already
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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