Ordinary Days NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (149)
See it if you want to hear the work of a younger theater writer who has really learned his craft - and be charmed by 4 excellent performers.
Don't see it if a skillful, charming but lightweight sung-through show is not enough to grab your attention.
See it if you want a fun time at a great off-Bway musical about life in NYC - terrific actors & singing, funny but touching story.
Don't see it if you want dialog. There aren't many musicals off-Bway, but this one is really worth it!
See it if you enjoy intimate musicals in a small venue featuring 4 talented performers and a sweet story
Don't see it if you want large Broadway musicals or non-musical comedies or dramas
See it if you enjoy stories told through song and appreciate some beautifully written music and striking lyrics
Don't see it if you're looking for a big production musical with huge sets, scene changes, and props - or a spoken book. Read more
See it if You'd like to see a show about the lives of a few of NYers and how they intersect. Similar to If/Then, but not quite the same.
Don't see it if You're not interested in seeing a new musical that is funny but also emotional.
See it if you like beautiful, smart, little musicals that just make you smile from the very first second, led by a charismatic and personable cast.
Don't see it if you expect a big production, are sick of "different people in NYC whose paths cross" narrative, dislike sung-through musicals with no dialog
See it if Like a well-sung and acted set of related songs in an intimate setting. Even though I knew this show I still cried (and so did others).
Don't see it if Need a full story.
See it if you want an evening of great voices singing great music. More a song cycle than a play its 90 minutes go by in a flash
Don't see it if you are looking for a full scale musical
Critic Reviews (16)
“Delivered through an 18-part song cycle...Gwon’s work forgoes book scenes and, instead, connects the dots through sung narrative...As the title suggests, there is nothing extraordinary about each character’s journey, and Gwon achieves varying degrees of success in turning the mundane into the magical...The production isn’t helped by Kemp’s budget-friendly set...The visual impact and Bhatia’s shadow-heavy lighting distracted from Gwon’s otherwise naturalistic sensibility.”
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“Enjoyably well done but nothing notably out of the ordinary…The thinness of Gwon's plotting is not substantially enhanced by these unsurprising characters, nor are the experiences they encounter notably illuminating…There's a been-there, heard-and-seen-that feeling that simply fails to ignite…Too many…numbers…are in the generic, faux-Sondheim mode of narrating rhyming exposition to a steady beat…The performers all have charm, fine voices, and the acting skills to bring their songs to life.”
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“A show that sneaks up on you and captures you in it’s spell...With an extraordinary cast of four brilliantly talented performers, Gwon’s show wraps you in its simplicity, honesty and heart...Silverstein’s direction is smart...Bell’s musical direction keeps this music pure and crystal clear...Gwon’s powerful masterpiece, has cleverly written lyrics, an emotional twist, and music that burrows its way into your soul...You are sure to be affected by this hauntingly exquisite gem of a show.”
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“Keen Company’s revival of Adam Gwon’s delightful chamber musical ‘Ordinary Days’ cleanses the soul, lifts the spirit, and reminds you what you love about New York. All four performers in this almost entirely sung show are outstanding as they tell a simple, beautiful, and original story about how small acts and interactions can change lives. This sweet and quietly extraordinary musical is a must-see.”
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“’Ordinary Days’ does a tremendous amount of telling. It's a sung-through musical, and the four characters spend a lot of time explaining themselves...And it all works really well. The songs are lovely and smart and sensitive, and Gwon even makes the sung-through-ness succeed, as his work genuinely sounds like people communicating...Gwon provides enough...to tie together the four characters and give us a satisfying whole. The four-person cast is wonderful.”
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"That the characters appear so utterly quotidian, on one hand and so familiar on the other, speaks to the play’s immeasurable charm...In a sung through musical, the voices tell the story, and the four actors in this production make that an especially affecting experience simply because they sound truthful and honest...It’s an understated, beautifully sung, and moving story about connecting with another person."
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“A slice of life musical. It is not big and bombastic. It is about quiet everyday moments...The structure of the show is interesting. The two couples’ lives intersect at various times throughout the show, but they rarely interact with each other. It's as if you are watching two different shows simultaneously. The songs are nice, the acting is good and the story is interesting. It is all very engaging and seems to go by a lot quicker than the alleged 90 minute or so running time.”
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"A sweet and thoughtful musical...Gwon’s score does serve the story well...These songs flesh out the characters into three-dimensional people...The show’s reliance on songs that explore character through metaphor rather than plot can cumulatively become a bit heavy-handed...The four actors bring these New Yorkers to life with both personality and heart...This production demonstrates that sometimes the most 'ordinary' things can offer the greatest joys.”
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