Mr. Toole NYC Reviews and Tickets

68%

(10 Reviews)

Positive

70%

Mixed

20%

Negative

10%

Members say

Great acting, Disappointing, Ambitious, Absorbing, Slow

About the Show

Vivian Neuwirth's new drama creates a deeply personal reflection on the life of John Kennedy Toole, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces. "

From the show:

Before he was an author, John Kennedy Toole was a teacher. That’s how Lisette, one of his students at an all-girl’s college in New Orleans, knew him and loved him.

Through her eyes, amid the music, magic, and mystery of The Big Easy we, too, learn to love “Mr. Toole.” The teacher a student will never forget becomes a legend the world will always remember.

Member Reviews (10)

Relevant, Slow, Disappointing, Ambitious, Intelligent

See it if you are interested in Mr Toole and his history, (though too drawn out).

Don't see it if you can't tolerate poorly done southern accents, excessive loud nagging and shrieking by the mother, vague hints of other issues. Read more

Literary, Clever staging on what must be no budget, Sag in the middle, Southern emotion, Great acting

See it if you are a fan of Confederacy of Dunces, interested in overbearing mothers, or have sympathy for the pain of rejection on the creative spirit

Don't see it if you have little patience for low-budget productions or a script that could probably benefit from an edit or two. Read more

Critic Reviews (7)

March 5th, 2020

Laura Collins-Hughes

"Trying to Remember Teacher: Vivian Neuwirth’s play is a fictionalized recollection of the life of the novelist John Kennedy Toole, who died before his Pulitzer-Prize winning classic 'A Confederacy of Dunces' was published."
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March 6th, 2020

Marina Kennedy

"'MR. TOOLE' at 59E59 Theaters Depicts a Captivating Backstory of John Kennedy Toole"
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March 5th, 2020

David Barbour

"An irritating and unfocused work dominated by two highly unpleasant characters whose professions of adoration are really smoke screens for their narcissism."
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March 4th, 2020

Elysa Gardner

4/5 Stars. "A new play about 'Confederacy of Dunces' author John Kennedy Toole reflects on the toll and rewards of inspiration, with intensity and subtle wit."
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March 10th, 2020

Victor Gluck

"Vivian Neuwirth's biographical tribute, Mr. Toole, is a fascinating but cluttered account of this story. However, without program notes or previous knowledge, the play will leave many theatergoers at sea as the novel is not mentioned until at least halfway through the play."
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March 5th, 2020

Sandi Durell

"A riveting memory play about John Kennedy Toole...A story of an overbearing mother dedicated only to her son and his success. Stars Ryan Spahn as low-key Ken with an outstanding performance."
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