MOVIN' ON UP (FringeNYC) NYC Reviews and Tickets

81%

(22 Reviews)

Positive

95%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Clever, Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Great acting, Great writing

About the Show

Part of FringeNYC: It's funny-or-die in the graveyard. This absurdist comedy pits a Watchman with a worthless watch against a chatterboxing, handcuffed man and a know-it-all woman in bandaged hands to see who earns the right to move on up.

Categories: Comedy, Drama, National. From Jeremy Kehoe. Written by Jeremy Kehoe.

FROM THE ARTIST:
It’s funny or die in the graveyard.

This absurdist comedy pits a Watchman with a worthless watch against a chatterboxing, handcuffed man and a know-it-all woman with bandaged hands in a battle of triangular wits to see who earns the right to move on up.

Why would the Watchman who wears a watch that won’t work sit silent sentry in a graveyard and wordlessly wait, and wait, and wait?

And what about Lewis, who shatters the serenity after stumbling from a slumber at the soles of the Watchman’s feet? Where does he think he’s heading? Nowhere fast, if the Watchman has his way.

And then there’s Anne with the bandaged hands. What drew her to this dark corner of the universe? And, why does she keep insisting she knows everybody? It’s so annoying.

Why won’t any of them move on? What in the world are they all waiting for?

Member Reviews (22)

Clever, Cliched, Great acting

See it if looking for wonderful acting / direction / textual flow.

Don't see it if looking for real meaning; for me this was less "thought provoking" and more "cliched mumble-jumble".

Clever, Quirky, Thought-provoking, Surreal, Ambitious

See it if You like quick, funny wordplay, challenging scripts and big ideas.

Don't see it if You don't like having to work to understand complex ideas.

Critic Reviews (2)

"'Movin’ On Up' spends a great deal of time questioning why characters are in the graveyard limbo space that they're in...The simple fact that there is meaning makes this a more optimistic worldview than true Absurdism, and the end of the show leaves a more hopeful taste in your mouth than it might otherwise. It’s certainly not the dark, trivial romp that one might expect from a show that self-identifies with that old nihilistic performance tradition."
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"Playwright Jeremy Kehoe’s text is reminiscent of a David Sedaris essay. His dialogue is witty, absurd, and unexpectedly endearing...Preston Smith is hysterical as Lewis. His non-stop gabbing makes him the perfect vehicle for Kehoe’s complex dialogue...When considering the small cast and whip-smart dialogue, the play can get weighed down at times by muddy pacing...Regardless, 'Movin’ On Up' is a short, fun romp of a good time. You’ll come for the laughs, stay for the characters."
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