Our Lady of 121st Street

See it if Dark comedy that grabs you with its humor, then sinks you with regret, pain and longing. Brilliant writing and language. Brutally honest.

Don't see it if You would not enjoy a play that explores lack of fulfillment in the human condition, where life gets worse and nothing is resolved.

See it if We attended with a group of students . They all were in the 90%-100% range for rating. .The various mini-sagas hit home for many .

Don't see it if Foul language may upset some theatergoers, stories of the various mourners although dissected are not solved. This may also present a prob.

See it if u enjoy Guirgis' crisp, biting dialog & sharply drawn, colorful characters, here in a poignant, funny, aimless story of hope, fear & regret.

Don't see it if you expect a play with the heft, substance and payoff of Guirgis' other recent works. [This is mostly a plotless multi-character study.]

Also Stephen Adly Guirgis is a masterful observer of urban life, and this story of people coming together for the funeral of a beloved Sister in Harlem gives Guirgis the opportunity to present us with his trademark characters in all their glory and all their lowliness. And that alone is worthy of a trip to the theatre. The play, however, strays from its fascinating opening plotline and doesn't string the disparate stories together in a satisfactory way; nor does it have the substance, meaning or backbone of such powerful pieces as Signature's recently revived Jesus Hopped the A Train.... Read more Read less

See it if An early gem....an exquisite ensemble does poetic justice to Guirgis' poignant, funny & scathingly satiric drama of "arias from the street"

Don't see it if Rashad's staging is haphazard; not aided by Spangler's extra-wide set which often hinders necessary intimacy of scenes Actors still triumph

See it if in raucous 1st act audience screams at 7 brilliantly comedic but vulnerable scenes mixing sense of God w wild profanity; fine ensemble

Don't see it if 2nd act/comedy abates as mourners try to atone 4 letting down deceased teacher/symbolically their “Lady”; some scenes/ending uninspired

See it if You enjoy plays about close community problems and situations. This play is structured around unique characters, each very believable.

Don't see it if Only reason not to see this wonderful play is if you absolutely cannot deal with rough street language spoken throughout.

See it if you have never seen a production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' gem of a play.

Don't see it if you have seen the original production. This production mines the humor, while missing the humanity in the characters.

See it if The funeral of a nun who touched many lives brings people together in twos and threes allowing the audience to discover who they are.

Don't see it if You want plot with a resolution rather than a continuum of real life interactions that leaves you wanting more. Rough & irreligious language

See it if you love good writing.1st act has marvelous short scenes that are brilliant character studies.Acting and set are top notch.Ending is not.

Don't see it if you want a play with an ending.In this one, they just turn out the lights leaving way, way, way too many loose ends.Very unsatisfying.

See it if you like good actors inhabiting undernourished characters. Audience laughed thru. Some moments I won’t forget...ever. But mostly superficial

Don't see it if You care what happened to Our Lady. You don’t like swearing and adult themes.

Also I think the problem with interweaving plots is that they are sometimes spread over two many characters. Some you don’t care about and some are merely ambiance. A character should almost always be more than set dressing even good set dressing. I think I’ve met all these characters before and mostly in the same situations but there were wrinkles, maybe not surprises but this playwrights voice interests me. I wish even more I saw his previous play.

But seriously is that any way to leave our Lady’ disposition?... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in seeing a darkly comedic play by one of the greatest contemporary playwrights out there.

Don't see it if you're put off by colorful language or are looking for a play with a satisfying conclusion.

See it if you like getting involved with and interesting and intelligent set of characters.

Don't see it if you expect a cohesive plot. This is more like a series of vignettes.

See it if dark comedy about a variety of characters who return to a Harlem neighborhood for the wake of an admired nun; colorful characters

Don't see it if bothered by profanity even if it goes with the characters, or if you don't want acute social observations mixed with laughter

See it if you like urban settings and painfully honest tales about growing up in Harlem; don't mind imperfect characters; invested in human frailty.

Don't see it if vulgar language (within a church setting) upsets you; you're seeking uplifting, upbeat stories; disinterested in tales of grief and loss.

Also Our Lady of 121st Street is an earnest love-letter to Harlem, a farewell to the “old neighborhood” and those, past selves included, who used to live, love, and lose there. Some still do. I was committed to learning more about each character, from cynical priest to damaged cop to scorned women. Knowing playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis struggled to write Act 2 explains why it doesn’t have quite the same level of momentum as 1. Also, I wish Sister Rose was more of a central, haunting presence: she’s only a way to assemble, rather than keep, these figures there. It’s a story about community, aging, and Harlem itself. Despite flaws, Lady is masterfully performed. Its human portraits of conflict, decision-making, struggles, successes, and longing linger. Are these oft-explored themes? Yes. Have we seen this portrait of a Harlem community effected by Sister Rose, her death, and disappearance before? Not necessarily. Seeds of originality planted among predictability are where the work soars.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see what was edgy almost a quarter century ago on stage, or if you enjoy mindless TV comedies that go no where.

Don't see it if You are looking for intelligent dialogue and/or a decent plot.

See it if You like portraits of a community, rather than a narrative.

Don't see it if You dislike fragmented pieces. This feels more like a series of scenes than a play.

See it if You want to see a well written play that is character driven and explores the behavior of people living in a Harlem neighborhood.

Don't see it if You are more interested in a plot with a conclusion. I enjoyed the humor and reflections of the characters.

See it if you are a fan of the writing of the very talented playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis.

Don't see it if a play on modern themes about fucked up characters in uncomfortable situations and all spouting humorous dialogue isn't your cup of tea.

See it if You like plays with an assortment of characters that (almost) add up to a portrait of a neighborhood.

Don't see it if Speechifying and lack of resolution bother you.

Also Lots of raised voices substitute for conflict and resolution, creating a one-noteness that ultimately is unsatisfying; could be so much more if this were a draft.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy interesting stories with unforgettable characters.The ensemble cast is outstanding.

Don't see it if You disapprove of plays that deal with issues such as religion,sexuality,drug abuse and disabilities. There is also much foul language.

See it if You appreciate fine acting and intriguing characters.

Don't see it if Offended by language or negative depictions of Catholicism.

Also Several terrific individual performances (Rooftop and Inez, for instance). Less than satisfying ending.... Read more Read less

See it if If you love great acting and dark humor. I thought, the acting, writing and staging were superb.

Don't see it if If you like neat endings and few characters. There are a lot of characters to keep track of here.

See it if Funerals find feelings and regrets from the woodwork to stop, reflect, and sometimes seek forgiveness.

Don't see it if Multiple parallel, slightly intertwined story lines without clean, real resolution irritate you. Sight of a coffin & profanity trigger you.

Also Ticket from box office for $30.

See it if More a character sketch than dramatic narrative but oh that glorious language andwonderful characters!

Don't see it if Abrupt ending and lack of straightforward narrative is not for all

See it if superbly written, acted, directed and produced theater is what you crave. Saw the original and was apprehensive. No need to be concerned.

Don't see it if Following multiple character story lines that demand lots of attention is too much work for you. It is funny, sad, moving but complex.

Also Sometimes seeing revised or updated productions is a disappointment but certainly not in this case. I thought I remembered this play but it was if I hadn't seen it before because of the new direction.... Read more Read less