Operation Crucible

See it if About Four Lads during World War II stories of how they felt about life and the things they went through during the war.

Don't see it if It takes place in World War II, they do try to show you the darkest of life during that .

Also I loved it because I'm a World War II buff and what England went through the months in the years of the bombing is really unbelievable. And that all war is hell.... Read more Read less

See it if Like seeing small group of good actors recreate tensions & camaraderie of a community involved in tragic circumstances. Taut and fine.

Don't see it if Don't want to face the fears/horrors of war, are triggered by loud sounds, darkness. Very heavy British accents may be a problem for some.

Also The show needs to tighten up a little and that's what previews are for. It's already very good. The staging is almost balletic- great use of a small space with virtually no set. It's compelling and moves quickly.

Saw this in Theatre B at 59e59 during previews, mid-May, 2018... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate good creative story telling theatre.

Don't see it if You want a tradional story told in a tradional way.

See it if you enjoy intense drama which tells how ordinary people react to the tragedies of war; you don't mind dark, smokey staging used to intensify

Don't see it if you dislike intense drama, small ensembles, lots of chaos, smoke, darkness, heavy English/Irish accents, and war scenes describing death

See it if Trapped in a WWII bomb shelter, four steel workers recount bits of their work life, friendship, and families.

Don't see it if You prefer a more elaborate production with a more traditionally structured script.

See it if You want to see "men at work", a different time in Brit history. Like 'men in crisis' stories. Relate well to war stories. Want meaning.

Don't see it if You have difficulty with Brit accents. Diff with overlapping dialog. Need to be able to see everything. Need straightforward narrative.

Also The playwright is the grandson of one of these 4 characters. He actually interviewed 3/4 characters portrayed. It is a snapshot of a time when laborers followed in their father's footsteps and took pride in their work. The fact that much of the action takes place over several hours following a hotel bombing in WW2 is in many ways immaterial, it is far more our introduction to 4 very different, quite fully realized working class men in 1940's Northern England. How they see themselves and how they are perceived by their mates. Comaraderie of shared experience and the acceptance of an 'outsider'. All really quite lovely---unable to be spoilt by an 80's+ woman sitting next to me who neither understood nor heard much of anything and spoke for fully 30% of the play. That the play was able to keep me enraptured despite this is a testament to it's ability to bring the story to the room.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see what great ensemble acting is all about. Could not be improved upon.

Don't see it if you think that very heavy Sheffield accents might be hard to understand.

See it if If you are interested in a quartet of fine actors who recount a historical incident in northern England during WW II.

Don't see it if Do not see if you are uncomfortable with fairly heavy English accents and some gruesome details of war.

See it if you want to hear the stories of 4 survivors of a blitz bombing told through back & forth stories of their lives & survival.

Don't see it if you are not interested in the lives of ordinary workers surviving a blitz attack in England during WWll.

See it if you want a hard-hitting, tightly-written and staged play about steelworkers trapped in a hotel basement during the blitz in Britain in WWII.

Don't see it if you're not prepared for emotional intensity (with loud bombing sounds). Powerful, but it's good that it's only 80 gripping & tense minutes.

See it if you'll enjoy a historical drama in which the characters address the audience more than they interact with each other

Don't see it if you prefer plays in which the characters interact with one another and that interaction drives the plot of the play.

See it if Excellent acting, very well choreographed, staging, lighting, sound all top notch but...

Don't see it if Dull dialogue, predictable situations,stock characters.Felt like I was stuck in a bomb shelter w/4 boring guys for 80 mins-minus the drama.

Also Nothing original in this besides the presentation - which was brilliant. Three characters are given a bit of a story but they're all very typical and the writer didn't even bother with the fourth. Just regular bloke talk - football, pranks, how I met my wife, etc. I felt no emotional connection to any of them. More like watching something really dull on the history channel.... Read more Read less

See it if You like British theater in an intimate no frills setting

Don't see it if You want a big production or a happy theme

See it if You like good acting about English steel workers and the bombing in England.

Don't see it if You like comedies and musicals.

See it if you're interested in WWII history and appreciate great ensemble acting.

Don't see it if you have difficulty with strong British accents, or are uncomfortable with explosive noises and complete darkness.

See it if You want to see fine ensemble acting and movement in a serious drama.

Don't see it if You have trouble with accents and very loud explosions. Sometimes confusing and difficult to follow in the dark.

See it if you enjoy the serious, if you like male bonding stories, you are familiar with the British blitz by the Nazis, you like poetic dialogue

Don't see it if you are easily confused by characters all shouting at once, you have a problem bonding with blue collar workers, accents give you a problem

See it if Four talented actors in a play set during the WW II bombing are trapped in a basement hotel. The writing feels predictable and familiar.

Don't see it if Diming the lights on stage can put the audience to sleep if there is nothing exciting in the dark, no matter how engaging the actors are.

See it if for an original fast past interesting production- great acting, creative staging & intense play

Don't see it if for straight forward linear play. Can't understand accented dialogue .Brief periods not totally clear during very short play

See it if You like great acting,in an historical drama that is still relavant today.Makes you feel the pain of war of simple life of 4 factory workers

Don't see it if You do not like Intense drama,pitch dark scenes,actors that are all talking at the same time, powerful noise that makes u jump,small ensembl

See it if U want 2 catch a slice of life in a 30s-50s Sheffield England steelworks factory w/4 men who work together. Their "metal" tested by tragedy~

Don't see it if These 4 wonderfully enact the factory-& tragedy which occurs. V tight ensemble. If u'd find the accent difficult to follow, r seeking big~

See it if Steel yourself for red-hot, riveting theater. Pure writng and a first-rate, exquisitely timed ensemble performance.

Don't see it if if you have trouble with regional British dialect, or have no interest in the dynamics of male groups.

See it if You appreciate shows that are physical and intimate with a deep respect for characters.

Don't see it if You don't want another British WWII blitz story, you have trouble with accents, or you dislike non-linear plots.

Also Kieran Knowles has written a very strong piece. At first, I wasn't sold on the first-person storytelling narrative style, but it grew on me as the piece continued. The entire cast was very strong, and I think that the sound and light design helped the audience really enter the story.... Read more Read less

See it if British historical dramas with little action and boring dialogue by 4 actors who try their best is your thing.

Don't see it if You value your time and would rather not be subjected to long periods of darkness and actors screaming at the tops of their lungs.

Also There is good acting in this piece, however most of the language and vocabulary is unintelligible to an average American. Heavy British accents and phrases make for what I call a snoozefest.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in learning and if you like minimal staging but great effects. These men carry off a powerful message with little staging

Don't see it if don't like sound effects and good acting!