Relevance

See it if You like trainwrecks. Well-written and intense. Funny.

Don't see it if You can see the misogyny behind the veil. You don't appreciate men depreciating women's attitudes.

Also To enjoy this pay one must see it as an episode of reality TV. Nothing insightful nor profound. Though the writing makes it sound like the characters are discussing higher themes, in reality, such discussion is only a light backdrop to the women's attitudes towards each other. This is about jealousy, anger, and revenge. The opposite of feminism.
I was uncomfortable that it was a man writing such a petty, and self-destructive woman. Felt misogynistic.
That being said, if one is to see this as just a light fare episode of some real housewives show, it was really funny....... Read more Read less

See it if you love Jayne Houdyshell (who doesn't?); you want to see a polemic on feminism vs post-feminism with a bit of drama shoe-horned in.

Don't see it if sitting thru a 90-minute lecture on sexism, racism & the effects of social media on individuals' lives isn't your idea of compelling theatre

See it if you’re interested in shows with strong female leads or enjoy engaging in challenging dialogues.

Don't see it if you’re intimidated by strong, opinionated women or are in the mood for something light.

See it if not afraid of confrontational drama tackling racism/feminism. Ms. Houdyshell finally lands role to exhibit her range. Who owns the trenches?

Don't see it if you require a play with more action than talk or if you cower at strong women who have something to say about gender politics. Discourse.

See it if you like a story about strong women and issues such as women's rights and racism. There is intense dialogue from the two main characters.

Don't see it if you want any answers to issues such as women's rights and racism.

Also I found this play depressing since it showed two women who could make a difference to women engaging in a destructive battle against each other. I thought the ending was very disappointing. The use of the N word was used to destroy a career and I thought the playwright used the easy way out to destroy this woman. Up until then, it was an even battle.... Read more Read less

See it if If you enjoy hearing characters talk ad-nauseum about womens' studies (feels like a PhD thesis, not a play). Penultimate scene is fun.

Don't see it if You want realism, as the show feels forced & fake. Very unnatural dialogue.

See it if you enjoy plays that feel current, relevant, and politically-minded. You like plays about feminism and other social issues.

Don't see it if you want to be left guessing at every plot point—the events in this plot are very predictable. Not as insightful as one would hope.

See it if You want to see the very very early stages of a play. I could make the argument that this was a rehearsal that I witnessed tonight

Don't see it if If you are bothered by an actress Who is reading from a script most of the show

Also I don’t understand if this was a lazy veteran actress that didn’t care to memorize her lines or a writer who is continuously making rewrites. I don’t care that I saw a preview performance. People are paying good money and investing their time to come and see a show. I don’t think the audience deserves to see an actress reading from her script. How long do they need to get this right? It seems like MCC has more preview shows then actual shows. I had a ticket for what was supposed to be the first performance and got a call from the theater that they had to cancel that. I can’t imagine anyone seeing the show before tonight but this has been running now for a few weeks. I will say that I thought all of the actors looked exactly like they should have... Read more Read less

See it if the show has verbal pyrotechnics, condensed ideology going for it even if it’s negligent in areas. Stimulating even if not wholly satisfying

Don't see it if you dislike plays so open to interpretation they might deadlock the conversation, or so full of triggers they preclude clear thinking

Also Typical of how Lee provokes: The end refers to Hillary’s election loss but implication's unclear. Like white, privileged Theresa, is Hillary to blame for her own lost relevance? Or is she like young, black, rape survivor Msemaji—unjustly maligned outsider? And if neither is likely, what's Lee's point? The play censures requiring answers (pursuing truth by the oppressor’s standard like Theresa); yet not needing answers isn’t constructive (the weakness of Msemaji’s your-own-truth-suffices msg).

I keep thinking the play would be silly w/ marginalized men—say, a young, black, gay activist discrediting Harvey Fierstein as appropriating oppression @ expense of POCs. Though feminism has long included intersectional writers (bell hooks, K Crenshaw), feminist infighting is still more plausible bcz there’s a ready myth that 2nd wave feminists were all white & overreacting (as if coed schools, reprod. rights, harassment laws weren’t hard-won). I’m ambivalent on the show exploiting this myth.... Read more Read less

See it if Jayne Houdyshell. Some feminism, racism, social media issues.

Don't see it if You want to like or respect any of the characters.

Also Still not sure what this was trying to say. The biases of social media? Women don't always agree? View point differences because of age?
There were some very, very funny, entertaining moments. And always worth seeing Jayne Houdyshell.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see something about feminism that does not give you a headache. Great acting, tersely written, and surprisingly rewarding.

Don't see it if you've had enough of this subject.

Also I keep thinking I saw a different show beneath what was being presented. My friend and I had completely different takes on it, all valid. I personally am sick of all the female-driven drivel that is an endless source of material for stage. But this was much more than that, and I encourage everyone to see it. It's worth the price of admission just for Jayne Houdyshell, as always.... Read more Read less

See it if you like excellent acting and set design and plays about women's and moral issues with vicious antagonistic character clashes,

Don't see it if you dislike plays that contain a lot of unenlightening, pretentious tedious debate and argument.

See it if You are interested in the dynamics of academia intersecting feminism and race

Don't see it if You want action . This is mostly talk . If you want answers so do the characters , but life is not that clear.

See it if Like a play with strong intelligent woman. Discussions/debates, ladder climbing, ego bruising, petty behaviors lead to ... go find out.

Don't see it if You do not like talky, thought-provoking. plays, much of which is debate like.

See it if a modern day take on the struggle of old school vs. new school’s vision of the best path for women is the right one.

Don't see it if a the battle between old school and new school notions of a woman’s place in the world isn’t something you find interesting.

Also JC Lee’s new play Relevance is an interesting leer inside the world of two pro-feminist writers, one from the old school guard and one from the new school guard, each making very valid points as to why their point of view is right and why the other’s isn’t. Actress Jayne Houdyshell leads the cast as the brash character Theresa whose take no prisoners attitude ultimately is her downfall. Pascale Armand is AMAZING in the role of Msemaji who finds herself the target of the Theresa in this clashing of the theory of the future of feminism. In this ever played out battle of old guard vs. new guard, these two characters fight to the death for the principal they both strongly support, that principle being feminism, no matter what price it costs them in the end of their pursuit.... Read more Read less

See it if you like an intense drama. Good acting, interesting premise with many ideas to ponder.

Don't see it if want a play with a less confusing climax. Without spoiling things, I did not fully understand why a noted person acted the way she did.

See it if I found this show to be obnoxious and talky. Jayne Houyshell's character was hard-assed and closed minded. A lot of people gave this a

Don't see it if good review. Did they see the same show. Richard Masur was great. He exuded warmth and was like a teddy bear. Skip it.

Also I understood the basic story. a woman of an older generation who has fought her way to the top of her profession is threatened by a newcomer who she feels is trying to push her aside. Not only does she fight back and disgrace herself, she doubles down.... Read more Read less

See it if You like strong women characters debating cross generational feminism with no easy answers

Don't see it if You don’t like talky shows with an intellectual focus

See it if You enjoy intellectual discussions with wonderful acting by the cast.

Don't see it if You want to see a play that is relevant and meaningful to the present time.

Also I couldn’ Wait for the play to end. It was too long and not relevant to me.... Read more Read less

See it if you would enjoy attending the kind of literary/cultural conference depicted here, replete with academic jargon and dealmaking over drinks

Don't see it if the above makes you want to run from the conference room; you want a cogently presented conflict; you dislike trumped up betrayals

Also Lee's script is both underwritten--we don't know enough about Houdyshell's work to understand her accomplishment--and overlong--the back and forth-ing with Armand's character is repetitive, not illuminating. What is also not clear is whether we are meant to think that Houdyshell's ideas have become passé because she fails to package them for the social media age and misunderstands the nature and power of web culture. Similarly, is Armand merely a skilled manipulator of the new virtual landscape--she appears to have successfully erased a privileged past to become a voice for the marginalized--or does she truly represent the voice of a new generation breaking down barriers as Houdyshell once did? In any event, the blind spots and callow behavior of both leave a sour taste for both their endeavors. The uncomfortable questions of inclusivity and who gets to claim their hitherto denied place at the table are ripe for drama, but what is onstage here is confusing and frustrating at best.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to watch a battle between the old and new guard with no easy answers. The debates over identity, privilege, and power interest you

Don't see it if You’re looking for easy resolutions or comforting answers. It’s a profoundly uncomfortable show because no one gets off easy.

Also I had to stop myself from clicking Relevant as one of the options because it felt too obvious, but the title here really does ring true. It is an intellectually rigorous play that asks questions that seem almost impossible, and yet they need to be answered. It tackles progressive movements and what happens when they stop progressing. And how the new guard challenges those who were once the forefront of new thought. But it doesn’t write off the old guard or diminish their fight. It’s deeply fulfilling because it refuses to make anyone a villain. Or a hero. It’s a challenging new work that deserves to be seen.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in academia, the women's movement, social change, or if you want to see good performances.

Don't see it if You want one laugh after another.

See it if tested by criticism on social media, a feminist must defend her lifelong legacy against a talented young woman from becoming today's voice.

Don't see it if Feminism, race, ageism, class... with so many "relevant" and important topics to examine, it still falls flat.

See it if you've ever fantasized about revenge or feared losing status/power/money in your community. Fascinating.

Don't see it if you find it hard to believe that an "intelligent" person, blinded by revenge, would make rookie mistake of abusing power.

Also I don't see this as a play about feminism per se. The underlying message is that all of these characters (& by extension, us) want to come out on top & are waiting for the opportunity. The question is how far any of us would go to get/stay at the top, and what are the consequences/what is lost in the process?... Read more Read less

See it if you love Jayne H. and aren't looking to have to think too much.

Don't see it if you are looking for a play that lands a punch and makes its point. It's not horrible, but should be better.