One Night Only (running as long as we can)

See it if too late...saw the final perf, the effort was there

Don't see it if The show appeals to a special audience . Not quite a theater piece.

See it if you like athletic-styled modern dance (particularly boxing) as a metaphor for the dancer's life, fan of Monica Bill Barnes, women power

Don't see it if you don't like modern dance used to tell a story, have an aversion to boxing, confused by mixed metaphors & performance art

See it if sports metaphors are meaningful to you. The dancers are in continual competition while a sports announcer describes their triumphs & defeats

Don't see it if you are expecting traditional dance performance or a play. There are only moments of dance & barely a suggestion of character or plot.

See it if you are a fan of Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass. This evening is disappointing. Less shtick, more dance would enhance this show.

Don't see it if you are not a dance or sports fan.

See it if A pair of dancers who interpret the determination, pain & ability every successful athlete must muster. Sit close & be entranced. Panders...

Don't see it if a bit, but same can be said about professional sports. Clever, but also poignant. Don't expect a strictly dancing event, this is theater.

See it if You are a fan of their work. You want an abstract investigation of aging as an artist (playing with the form of aging as an athlete)

Don't see it if You want substantial, narrative theatre. You dislike "art."

See it if You're a fan or have never seen Barnes & Co. and are up for a strange & wonderful meditation on life, pain, sacrifice & mortality, and joy.

Don't see it if You're not open to just giving in to having a theatrical experience, one that defies narrative or even genre, or don't like or "get"metaphor

Also In a fair world, this country would acknowledge art, its artists and the role both fill in a thriving society; and in a just world, Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass would be National Treasures.

Their latest piece visually brings to mind the artists Gilbert & George crossed with Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon dancing Steam Heat, but with an intensity and urgency hinted at in its subtitle, "running as long as we can.”

Barnes and Bass display a physical tour de force, one that slowly reveals a personal & emotional depth that lays bare the athleticism normally masked by dancers, as well as the pain, suffering, sacrifice & competition—with self, with body, with the limits that time and gravity impose.

Beyond spinning coats & rapid finger-snapping marathons, there’s much joy, humor, fun and an intelligent quirkiness at play here as these women relate, challenge and interact with and to each other and their audience.

This New York run was way too short; catch them when and while you can.... Read more Read less

See it if YOU WANT TO BE KNOCKED OVER BY THESE TWO INCREDIBLE WOMEN.

Don't see it if NO. EVERYONE SHOULD SEE IT!

See it if you want an experience completely different from other theater. Pre-show is also entertaining, as was the announcer during the show.

Don't see it if you don't appreciate dance and movement, a small amount of audience participation and need a regular story line.

See it if I could not believe the energy and the muscles of these two ladies . The show lasts 64 minutes which is a potpourri of entertainment

Don't see it if The bathrooms are gender neutral.. The men's room on 3 has a curtain in front of the urinal and 1 stall. On 4 it is for everybody - 2 stalls

See it if You'd enjoy spending one hour seeing two incredibly athletic female dancers leaving their all on the stage as they depict pro-boxers.

Don't see it if Modern dance isn't your thing. You need theater with dialogue and a plot. You need a show that makes sense, delivered to you with a nice bow

See it if you enjoy a creative, fun way of using clowning and dance as a way to make theatre.

Don't see it if you are looking for a concrete storyline with a lot of dialogue.

See it if You enjoy nontraditional dance/theater pieces and the two performers involved.

Don't see it if You need a clear narrative to follow in order to be satisfied. This isn't it. And if sports aren't your thing, you'll be lost as well.

See it if you are adventurous and/or need to see every dance/movement production

Don't see it if you're easily distracted and/or need more resonance in live performance.

See it if Barnes & Bass' dance/theatre piece using championship wresting as a metaphor for modern dance works only sporadically despite valiant effort

Don't see it if Both women work hard & often engage but the piece feels like a sketch too long (65 minutes!) Sports announcer/choreographer often annoying

See it if Want to see a creative and loopy performance by 2 accomplished artists. MBB is always fun, and this show delights for most of its 65 mins,

Don't see it if Only like traditional dance, or expect a play. Have no cultural knowledge of sporting events & can't appreciate a play-by-play of events.

Also It might be helpful to read a little about Monica Bill Barnes and her company and look at her YouTube videos to get a sense of what this will be like. She's a very smart and creative choreographer with a distinct vision, and believes that dance should be fun. The show is mostly a hoot, although there are a few sections that go on too long or are a bit draggy.

Overall, I loved this as did the entire audience, many of whom were long-time, avid fans of Monica Bill Barnes.

Saw this at WP Theatre, Sept. 2017... Read more Read less

See it if Want a funny dance/theatre piece. Love the sense of humor.

Don't see it if Wish for traditional dance or theatre.

See it if If you enjoy wry humor, clowning, athletic spoofs, and Monica Bill Barnes.

Don't see it if You're not in the mood to lighten up or participate, or you take your sports very seriously.

Also Not a dance piece, not theater per se; more like sketch comedy meets performance art.... Read more Read less

See it if want to see two very energized and synchronized performers entertain you in a brand new way with a fun mix of commentary throughout.

Don't see it if want to see traditional dance

Also This was a fun night - a completely new experience. Both dancers were in amazing shape and were very entertaining and talented. The audience was very engaged.

I saw this show at the WP Theater in Sept 2017.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy pantomime and quirky humor.

Don't see it if you did not enjoy OLD HATS with Bill Irwin.