re(Birth): E.E. Cummings in Song

See it if you enjoy a quirky revue w/good singing and imaginative staging. There are no characters or plot. ee's words fascinate...when discernible.

Don't see it if you want to hear ee's poetry; much gets lost. You get just an impression, but that's often enough. Use of the draped cloth is impressive.

Also This show is similar to Spoon River, but is less satisfying. SRA has characters and a plot structure. RB rambles, which is fine in a revue. I was disappointed that the lyrics (the poems' words) were often lost. But the good singing and music were (mostly) enough. NYC will miss Soulpepper. Their residency was a gift to theatergoers.... Read more Read less

See it if You like a show that's basically all music. This one however is done with whimsy & charm to spare & who doesn't need some whimsy these days.

Don't see it if You must have a plot. There is none here. Innovative, quirky showmanship but no story.

See it if you enjoy wonderful staging and a talented cast that showcases E E Cumming's poetry. I did not know his work but enjoyed the presentation.

Don't see it if you do not enjoy inventive ways of presenting poetry. The Soulpepper company has talented singers and arrangers of sets.

See it if you enjoy unusual musical productions. The cast is uniformly excellent, and each plays a variety of instruments. Clever staging. Original!

Don't see it if you don't like unconventional or whimsical musicals.

See it if you want to see original theater with an avant-garde sensibility. Excellent ensemble work, gifted cast who sing and play instruments. Lovely

Don't see it if Want to hear all the words of cummings poetry-music sometimes gets in the way. Don't like quirky and clever revue shows. Want serious stuff.

Also This is so original and once again showcases the many, many talents of the entire Soulpepper company. Inspired use of a canvas drop that becomes a shadow box, a tent, a sail, a wall. Staging is clever throughout. This is a hour that flies by with a breezy style that flows effortlessly from one musicalized poem to another. This is captivating, magical theater performed with love, skill, style and charm.

Saw its only performance at the Soulpepper on 42nd Festival, closing day of the 29 day run. The entire festival was a gift to New York and I hope this becomes a summer mainstay at the Signature Center. Everything I saw was wonderful.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy quirky music and performances utilizing odd instrumentation and staging.

Don't see it if you are expecting a Broadway style musical. This is delightful but totally off the wall.

See it if You love life and can appreciate beauty

Don't see it if I cannot think of a reason except that it is closing

See it if You like ee, poetry, and a creative approach to a theatrical piece. This was a very worthwhile hour or so spent on a Sunday afternoon.

Don't see it if You don't know ee enough to be able to get his style without hearing every word. Also, it's not a traditional story line, but very effective

See it if You enjoy a whimsical production of ee cummings poetry put to music. So creative!

Don't see it if You want a musical with a plot.

Also Just blown away by Soulpepper. Please return to NY soon!

See it if You can catch it after its single NY performance. A wry inventive surprising effervescent concoction and visual treat. Cummings never better

Don't see it if You've become a curmudgeon with age, or lost your senses of humor, joy, play and/or whimsy.

Also Ten extremely talented performers, all playing multiple instruments and singing perhaps a dozen of e.e. cummings' poems set to music in varying styles.

Beyond that fact, any description fails. It's an evening of pure theatre, visually striking, relentlessly surprising and inventive in its use of simple props, scenery and lights — and instruments, both makeshift and proper.

A sort of children's theatre for adults, fitting for Cummings’ work and tremendous fun, a trip to Canada may be the only way to catch this show; it’ll be worth the trip.... Read more Read less

See it if You like e.e. cummings and enjoy innovative staging, and poetry with music from a mix of traditional and non-traditional instruments.

Don't see it if You don't enjoy playful theatre.

See it if Great staging delightful performance. Only negative was sometimes unable to make out the words.

Don't see it if Looking for story line-- there is none.

See it if Enjoy original theater.. multi faceted performances , music, singing and dancing, having fun

Don't see it if You don't like having a good time

See it if You like Soulpepper and imaginative theater. The troupe is talented and their performances are uplifting and delightful.

Don't see it if You want serious shows.

See it if Obviously if you into Cummings its worth seeing, also if you enjoy watching the producers/directors trying something new

Don't see it if Intelligent and quirky both fit but like Alligator Pie it appears to aim for a younger group which was unexpected and disappointing

See it if A magical show performed by a brilliant cast. Beautiful ensemble work.

Don't see it if Well, it's closed. you missed it.

See it if it's fun to see an avant-garde musical showcasing big casts' talent in harmonizing voices w/ even unusual instruments & crazy choreography.

Don't see it if you want a plot to go w/ your show as this a concert of mixed lively & soothing music. But you can also consider each number as a mini plot.

Also This visiting group - SoulPepper is such a multi talented cast and worth seeing again in this show and their other productions. Hopefully they come back for another round of shows with better advertising for more people to know & enjoy this.
As for this particular "concert" some of the musical numbers are so soothing that I see some people lulled to sleep against their will (lol) so I suggest a cup of coffee before the show to ensure you don't miss out on any of fantastic numbers.... Read more Read less

See it if You like his poetry.

Don't see it if You need a linear plot driven show.

See it if you are a fan of e.e. cummings and might like a "unique" musical presentation of some of his work by a multi-talented cast.

Don't see it if you ae looking for anything resembling a straight musical play or you can't kick back and enjoy unconventional theater.

See it if You would like to see an hour of strange songs

Don't see it if You are expecting a story or plot of any kind. Or traditional music. The music is very... experimental

See it if your are a fan of the work of E.E. Cummings; you enjoy experimental and devised theatre

Don't see it if you get confused easily or want a plot

See it if you enjoy quirky, creative artistic expression

Don't see it if you didn't like Alligator Pie

See it if you enjoy creativity! Of course the poetry was wonderful but the actors ... were creative, talented singers and musicians.

Don't see it if you cannot view the world with childlike wonder.

See it if Beautifully realized poetry into performance, also very funny at times

Don't see it if Poetry made into theater

See it if You like unusual artistic performances. And are a fan of poetry set to music.

Don't see it if Not a fan of a unorthodox performances without a story.