Pete Rex NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (10)
See it if you enjoy absurdist plays with a point of view; acting was fine, dino costume hilarious, ending wraps it up nicely.
Don't see it if you can't abide absurd plots with strange characters, a bit of edgy violence, make-believe. You are not a dinosaur fan.
See it if you want to see a small entertaining show that is experimental but also very accessible and easy to follow in narrative.
Don't see it if you can't suspend your disbelief with all the absurd twists & turns. The second act gets particularly weird, but don't take it too seriously
See it if you like a quirky play about young people today
Don't see it if you are looking for polished drama
See it if You want to watch gifted actors attempt to breath life into a poorly constructed, tone-confused script.
Don't see it if You don't want to see a promising idea delivered poorly through uneven pacing and confusing, inconsistent intent.
See it if Like childish silliness attempting to be philosophical. The Rex character was very good.
Don't see it if Like well put together plays that move along quickly.
See it if Usually I wait for the second act if the show shows some promise of getting better. Sorry I didn’t leave at intermission this time.
Don't see it if Your looking to be entertained.
See it if you enjoy quick witted humor, genre-blending surrealism, and committed performances from a small cast of masterful performers!
Don't see it if you don't enjoy horror/comedy/absurdist pieces or can't identify with the feeling of being stuck in a bad situation or left behind by life.
See it if you are a dinosaur enthusiast! This Jurassic-Park-themed rollercoaster leaves you guessing at every new genre turn.
Don't see it if you don't like elements of absurd, video games and Millennias.
Critic Reviews (13)
"Ingeniously melds modern and prehistoric themes. This is an affecting, yet entertaining show that features creative staging and an excellent cast...Captivating and sometimes bizarre...an insightful story about survival and the fragility of humankind...The three actors master their roles as they depict very authentic relationships along with the tale's humor and lively action-packed scenes...One-of-a-kind theatrical event...Compliments all around on this inventive production."
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"Intentionally ridiculous, a mass of B science-fiction movie tropes...That the premise of 'Pete Rex' is purposely absurd doesn't prevent it from becoming tiresome...There's a fatal disconnect with the real world; even in a glorified comedy sketch like this...Thompson tries to drag in a bevy of serious issues...but such tactics are simply too little, too late...Careens from one tone to another, leaving it to the cast to handle the plot's neck-snapping emotional turns."
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.“Unpolished yet intriguing…Be warned: before you get to the intriguing part, you will need to suspend your disbelief for a long time…After intermission, things start to make a kind of absurdist sense...The most creative element is Winheld's gloriously outlandish and absolutely committed performance as the upper crust British-speaking T-Rex…‘Pete Rex’ does need tightening...But the playwright is on to something here with his examination of a psychological crisis.”
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“Stultifying on every narrative level…The twist ending can be seen for miles and definitely does nothing to redeem what has come before…Mr. Thompson peppers his tiresome and unsatisfying scenario with attempted Neil Simon-style stylings that flit by with little effect…The strident performances suit the material…Its stale romantic drama elements combined with its flippant science fiction premise make ‘Pete Rex’ a labored and pointless exercise.”
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"It's difficult to sympathize with Pete, whose videogame addiction seems more like a syndrome of a lazy mind than depression...But thankfully, Alexander V. Thompson chooses to dress up Pete’s inner conflict in something truly spectacular, namely a very polite and extravagant looking Tyrannosaurus...The seamless transition between different genres is 'Pete Rex’s' greatest asset and a rewarding source of surprises."
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“'Pete Rex'…is best when capturing the essence of innocuous bro talk; it's not enough, however, to make the play funny or likable enough. The actors show talent but there's little they can do to help us appreciate the play's differing levels of satire and reality. The situation is so exaggerated, the characters so unpleasant…, the setting so unsavory, and the humor so sophomoric, one spends more time wondering what Thompson is getting at than enjoying what he's wrought.”
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"The play’s symbolism becomes so obvious that anyone who’s skimmed a Wikipedia article on Sigmund Freud might feel qualified to diagnose Pete’s ills...The allegorical components of the play prove to be moderately interesting. What is most wonderful about 'Pete Rex' is Thompson’s creation of the nasty creature that breaks out of its shell in Act 2...'Pete Rex' may be a slight play, but it’s well constructed, thoughtful, and amusing."
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"The whole show is a metaphor for man's inner feelings and how he has not progressed much...The actors are all well cast with Winheld extremely amusing as the T-Rex. Sadly Act Two is not as clever as Act One's straightforwardness. It becomes too psychological and it almost seems as if we are watching two different plays. Also the characters are not made likable so it is hard to care...Thompson is a playwright to watch, but he needs some more nurturing."
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