Meaningful Conversation
About the show
In New Light Theater Project's world premiere drama, two Queens neighbors coexist as intimate strangers until an unexpected occurrence forces them together. More…
During a blackout, new neighbors David and Nat engage in unusual conversation and wind up revealing more about themselves than they intend. Two years later, they are thrust back into each other lives when a domestic dispute erupts in their building, forcing them to reexamine their initial encounter in unexpected ways.
“This is a play that I needed a night to sleep on before I could fully process what I had seen. The two acts, at first, seemed to be disconnected...’Meaningful Conversation’ is raw and real. It depicts a snapshot of life like I've never seen on stage. It shows intimate relationships between pairs of people, and how they react differently to situations. By the end...I felt like I had made new friends in these characters. I'd climb down my fire escape to hang out with them any day.” Full Review
“Panettieri’s dialogue is sharp and witty at times, at other times sweet...A beautifully done character study...It’s also a sweet study into the intimacy that can exist between two people getting to know each other for the first time. And there are darker, looming themes as well: mental health, addiction, domestic abuse, and privilege lurk in the shadows of the conversation...Panettieri’s character are fleshed out and unabashedly human, and the actors bring them to life with tenderness.” Full Review
"Directed with a slightly messy but intriguing dynamic, 'Meaningful Conversation' attempts to dissect the intimate interactions that a blackout erupts upon when two strangers who are also neighbors reveal more about themselves than they ever wanted...'Meaningful Conversation' drives forward with a frantic uneven pace that leaves us scratching our head. It’s overly wordy and not very precise in its motivation...It leaves us feeling confused as to the purpose and the meaning." Full Review
"It takes quite a while before there are a few moments of rare meaningful conversation in this new play, and it ultimately ends with gimmickry. But holding interest throughout are excellent cast members who provide a feeling of watching real people...Our experience with the characters presented us, although they are well acted, and even engaging at times, ends in a play that is very much at sea and fails to pull everything together with some sort of depth or significance." Full Review
"We find ourselves in anticipation throughout Act I waiting for something more that might be the reason why we want to sit through Act II. Sadly, we are disappointed in hoping that the conversations will actually be more meaningful...Director Anais Koivisto elicits some good performances but probably a dramaturg might be in order to consolidate a too-long production that doesn’t give enough of a payoff." Full Review
See it if you like character-driven plays with fun pop culture references from 80s/90s. Design was beautiful.
Don't see it if you need action-driven stories or become impatient with slow-building plays (naturalism).
See it if You like a lighthearted story performed by good actors
Don't see it if You like light musicals
See it if you like new works with an edgy feel that leave you guessing.
Don't see it if you need a clear moral message.
See it if You’re in the mood to basically sit in on a series of conversations that will make you look at a variety of subjects from a new way.
Don't see it if You’re looking for lots of action or a detailed plot line. This is interesting but really pretty cerebral.
See it if you like a show with strong characterizations and exploration of interpersonal relationships of romance and friendship.
Don't see it if you prefer a little less conversation and a little more action, please.
Also While this show was very talky and could use some trimming, it ultimat... Read more Read less
See it if You enjoy great interaction between singles
Don't see it if You prefer musicals
See it if you hace empathy for the downtrodden
Don't see it if If expect light comedy
See it if You want a show that explores human relationships and developments
Don't see it if You're looking for a show with a concrete ending where loose ends are tied up
See it if You want to see a well acted play about people making human connections and dealing with their demons.
Don't see it if You want a lot of action...this is more character driven than plot driven.
See it if The set-up is very good and solid but the performances are uneven while the dialogue feels a touch forced at times, even a bit predictable.
Don't see it if Bethany Geraghty is just wonderful in the role of the nice, yet unstable neighbor. She brings that character alive in this lengthy play.
See it if Blackout. Two neighbours drop defenses because of the darkness; share intimacies. Good set for off-off.
Don't see it if Weak resolve. At 2:15, the set-up takes too long for such a hasty pay-off. First act takes place on floor. General admission seating.
See it if Blackout creates instant intimacy for apartment neighbors who share secrets and private information resulting in subsequent complications.
Don't see it if You aren’t interested in young adult neighbors talking about their lives and problems. You want a structured plot with a traditional arc.
See it if you like plays about the experiences of the dating scene for people in their 20's to 40's.
Don't see it if you want to see a play that offers solutions to dating problems and relationships.
Also I thought the author had a lot of potential. The dialogue flowed. The ... Read more Read less
See it if You enjoy watching an awkward romance stir between to youngins.
Don't see it if You desire something deeply thought provoking. It's light, lovely, but light.
See it if You like convos generally, but not too deep ones.
Don't see it if You're expecting thought-provoking dialogue.
See it if you like dialogue heavy shows about millennials performed by good young actors.
Don't see it if you have little patience for so much talk & some unlikely plot developments.
See it if you want to see a show with a decent performance by actors portraying dysfunctional losers with problems not clearly explained
Don't see it if you're looking for a show with a great plot and very believable situations
Also The 1st act, taking place during a NY blackout years ago, moved along,... Read more Read less
See it if If you are interested in singles coping with life in the big city. Some bright spots however the focus is lost to meaningless banter.
Don't see it if Do not see if you are interested in musicals.
See it if You want yo see a play that is to see a slice of NYC life about 20 somthings.
Don't see it if If yoi arr opposed to seeing sceens containing sexuality
See it if you like plays about single people attempting to cope with relationships and life in present day urban NYC.
Don't see it if you dislike plays that contain tediously long conversations that tend to be boring in order to "flesh out" characterizations.
See it if you like traditional "living room" dramas, and want to see a show that plays with this trope in intriguing ways, you like great sets + light
Don't see it if you're irritated by the manic pixie dream girl trope, you prefer experimental and groundbreaking theatre
See it if You have nothing else to do. In all fairness, we left at intermission so maybe it got better but we just didn't care enough to stay.
Don't see it if You don't want to waste an evening. It wasn't horrible but the female lead's character was totally annoying and the male actor wasn't good.
See it if You want a glimpse into a genuine NY interaction.
Don't see it if You’re not into having meaningful conversations with other people...see what I did there.
See it if You would like to see a play that was well written and performed. You want to delve into folks lives and see what can happen when you share.
Don't see it if You are not interested in a play about neighbors and the exchanges they have and how it affects their relationship.
Also This play was not slow at all. This play had my full attention and it ... Read more Read less
Cast & Creatives (12)
Play a fun game
Get alerts about your favorite artists and theater companies
