This bitingly honest Irish comedy about the lengths we go to convince people we’ve got it all together, makes its US premiere at City Center in a production starring Hayley Mills ('Pollyanna,' 'The Parent Trap'). More…
You're invited to a party that’s full of surprises. Watch as careful plans are upended when a young woman's mother brings her own food to her daughter's party—and also the “right” person to be her daughter's new best friend. They put on their "party faces" and hope for the best, but when facades crack, secrets spill. Tears sprinkle and laughter roars as their revelry leads to revelations.
See it if You like television sitcoms. This is just believable enough to be a fun bit of fluff to escape in for a bit that ends up with some depth.
Don't see it if You’re looking for a show with great meaning or that will change your life.
See it if you seek an easy, feel-good (& sober, at times) sitcom-on-stage, featuring nice performances, especially from the ever-charming Hayley Mills
Don't see it if you expect a laugh-a-minute comedy or you expect any heft from this rather predictable, broad, run-of-the-mill family dramedy.
See it if Nothing really gels in this "feminist"- styled comedy (?) Well appointed & acted but the serio-comic situations fail; an extended sketch
Don't see it if Always sad to see a talented ensemble (esp Mills & understudy Cimmet) flounder at sea; even sadder when the lack of laughter is palpable
See it if you are a boomer & as a kid Hayley Mills was your fantasy British big sister.
Don't see it if you can take a pass on seeing an agreeable play that goes down as smooth as a sit-com (albeit one with a serious subject).
Also For every grade-school kid of my birth year cohort (1951), Haley Mills... Read more Read less
See it if to cheque in on the radiant Hayley Mills, otherwise, there's not much here for 95 min of comedy fluff about a daughter sprung from the bin.
Don't see it if lighthearted treatment of mother/daughter relationships or recovery or mental health are of your concern.
See it if you enjoy TV sitcoms with typical characters: the overbearing mom, the mousy sister, the strong sister, the crazy friend, the sexy neighbor.
Don't see it if you hate sitcoms, you dislike attempts at humor which fall flat. You may find yourself chuckling in spite of it all, but play has no depth.
See it if You want to see Haley Mills. She still has it. Otherwise a few good laughs in a sitcom like plot.
Don't see it if You want anything more than light weight entertainment.
See it if you enjoy family-centered comedy-dramas, you appreciate female-driven stories, you’re a Hayley Mills fan &/or you enjoyed the film Lady Bird
Don't see it if reliving all the times your mother’s praise came w/a stinging criticism tacked on the end would be too traumatic. Actually, see it anyway.
See it if you like intimate, unglitzy work that is mostly fun and frothy but with fierce human longing beneath the surface; invested in women's lives.
Don't see it if expecting truly rousing, groundbreaking work; seeking only froth; cheating spouses / broken marriages and nervous breakdowns are triggering.
Also In many ways, Party Face isn’t anything too special, although the kern... Read more Read less
See it if If you like Hayley Mills in a comedic role with a tragic note revealed in the second act. An entertaining evening.
Don't see it if Do not see if you do not like comedies or sensitive about the loss of a child.
See it if you want to laugh at funny characters doing silly things. Not much substance but a fun evening.
Don't see it if you want to challenge your intellect.
See it if you are a Haley Mills fan. She's adorable, and a believable archetype. Standby Alison Cimmet played Bernie and was wonderful!
Don't see it if You are looking for a funny, light comedy. This was a dramady, a long winded one. Most of which was predictable.
Also Due to both the direction and the acting styles (or perhaps casting), ... Read more Read less
See it if you like obvious and farcical humor, satire on present middle class society and satisfying endings.
Don't see it if you like subtle humor, non-stereotyped characters, serious treatment of human relationships and coping mechanisms.
See it if want an old fashioned comedy that feels more like a classic sitcom
Don't see it if want any substance
See it if You have a dysfunctional family--or part of your family is dysfunctional--or you know a controlling mother.
Don't see it if You don't like shows about family dynamics.
See it if You would like to see Haley Mills in person today. She looks great and is a good actress. Most of the cast is good.
Don't see it if The story of a critical, orverbearing mother mother is so familiar. And it starts from the first line. You can almost fill in the blanks.
See it if You’d love to see Haley Mills all grown up.
Don't see it if Worn out subject matter will leave you grumpy.
Also Good actors don’t have much to work with here. What makes this Irish?
See it if An all female production displaying all of the stereotypes—gossipy and caddy, all trying to impress one another. Truths are uncovered.
Don't see it if If you want real substance in a play. Interesting, well executed, and entertaining, but no real story.
See it if you like 'chick-flick'-type sit-coms with all stock characters and nothing to challenge your brain; are curious to see Hayley Mills on stage
Don't see it if you have no patience for outdated, female stereotypes, babbling, bantering & battling
Also Klea Blackhurst & Brenda Meaney each had a few snarky one-liners that ... Read more Read less
See it if You are a fan of Halley Mills, can relate to having to put on " a party face" , want a funny show, like dysfunctional themes.
Don't see it if You expect a cutting edge show, are. It patient, don't like dysfunctional themes.
Also I enjoyed this show, but sometimes it seemed to drag a bit, and at oth... Read more Read less
See it if You like snarky superficial chatter that dances around serious subjects superficially
Don't see it if Serious drama and a developed plot is what you want. It seemed Slow despite Some good acting
See it if you want an entertaining show with strong performances, especially by the charming Hayley Mills.
Don't see it if you want a more complex production; this isn't a particularly deep show, but it is well-acted and entertaining.
See it if you want a polished play with good acting. A lot of humor masks the underlying drama.
Don't see it if you don't like shows about family angst. Also, Irish accents can be hard to undrestand.
See it if you enjoy an all female cast with family problems, mainly revolving around a controlling mother, and lots of girl talk
Don't see it if you want a show with more depth, don't enjoy a chick-show with lots of family drama
Also Even though there was some action, and featured a former star, the sho... Read more Read less
See it if you are a fan of Hayley Mills or want to see a great ensemble of female actors.
Don't see it if you don’t like plays with Irish accents or don’t care for female relationship dynamics or dramas.