Ring Twice for Miranda NYC Reviews and Tickets

"Alan Hruska's labored, dystopian 'tragicomedy'...has the musty air of one of those European, allegorical, politically tinged, absurdist satires of the 1950s and 1960s-think Ionesco, Sartre, Dürrenmatt, Arrabal, or Frisch-but without their wit, cogency, depth, or flair...Apart from scattered moments, there's precious little to keep you invested for nearly two hours."
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"The show takes on how half of America feels right now in this political climate and should resonate, but there are many problems with this production. First: Pearce, Connell and Thiesfield all seem in a different play. I blame part of this on the director Rick Lombardo. It’s almost as if this play does not know what it wants to be. Is this a farce bordering on theatre of the absurd and deep like Ionesco, or complex and layered like Sartre? Right now it lives between those two worlds."
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"The attempt is more interesting than the result, as the play lacks the tightness and synchronized drive needed to rise above good intentions...Despite the colorful performances, the work lacks the sophistication to make us either care about the characters or their plight. It all seems like an exercise in existentialism without the sufficient wit and know-how to succeed on the level needed to fulfill the play’s commendable ambition."
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“Director Rick Lombardo adeptly ratchets up the tension as the scenes progress...Hruska’s dialogue bears a striking resemblance to Beckett…Hruska is a skillful plotter…Still, the dystopian setting is beginning to feel stale, and if Hruska is making an important philosophical point, it isn’t as clear as those of his European models. The actors are all very good, and there are dramatic pleasures in ‘Ring Twice for Miranda,’ but they don’t amount to more than a thoroughly capable sci-fi yarn.”
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"Described as a 'tragicomedy,' there’s too little of both tragedy and comedy to make it succeed. Both the characters and the jokes are thin, especially the poorly-acted Miranda (Katie Kleiger), a maid in the home of the wealthy Sir...The acting is both over-the-top and all over the place...It’s like they all wandered in from different plays and decided to just hang out for a while...A labored and false story that is nearly as much of a wasteland as the world it inhabits."
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"The plot feels awkward and contrived, yet retains an element of intrigue especially regarding what exactly Miranda does for Sir. Lombardo’s direction is serviceable considering the plot contrivances and the underdeveloped characters. The acting unfortunately is stylishly uneven...I think 'Miranda' wants to be an amusing commentary on our current state of political affairs, especially with regard to greed and privilege, but the hastily cobbled together satire fails to fully satisfy that goal."
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"Playwright Alan Hruska's script has a Pinteresque quality, with dialogue that is sometimes cryptic, offbeat characters with uncertain motives, and an overarching aura of menace. How you feel about the play may depend on how much you like that kind of writing...The way that 'Miranda' plays with mood is one of its best assets...Unfortunately, the play itself isn't as compelling as these production elements. It does have its moments...But it's not quite worth the wait to get there."
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“If good intentions were reason enough to skew a review to the positive, ‘Ring Twice for Miranda’ would merit a rave. With one line toward the end, playwright Alan Hruska makes his intention clear, affording a retroactive degree of admiration for the somewhat muddled content that had preceded it…Directed as an exercise in existentialism, the acting is pretty much surface all ‘round, a choice dictated by the characters’ unnatural behavior rather than by acting-class lessons.”
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