Ripcord NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (73)
See it if You like to laugh, and you enjoy great acting.
Don't see it if You lack a sense of humor.
See it if you want to see a comedy that's truly funny, expertly executed.
Don't see it if you don't like to laugh.
See it if you like sweet, funny, surprising stories about feisty old people; or the cast; or the playwright.
Don't see it if you're not in the mood for something light-hearted and fun.
See it if You like great acting, humor. A play about older women -- you'll view these characters very differently when you leave than at the start.
Don't see it if You don't like quirky characters.
See it if you enjoy creative one-upmanship
Don't see it if you have no interest in the lives of seniors
See it if you want to watch 2 master craftswomen - Holland Taylor & Mary Louise Burke - spar in brilliantly mad cap ways.
Don't see it if the setting of an assisted living facility disturbs or unnerves, or if you don't enjoy entirely outrageous(ly enjoyable) plot twists
See it if If you love great actresses in great comedic roles.
Don't see it if You are with a theater group from your retirement home.
See it if You want to see two theater pros riffing off each other, a very funny plot and strong supporting performances.
Don't see it if You're age-ist or you're looking for profound messages.
Critic Reviews (29)
"Even as the script explores some strong reflections on reclaiming experiences that the women have put behind them, the razor-sharp barbs never stop flying at a clip worthy of 'The Golden Girls' – and Holland Taylor and Marylouise Burke play gloriously to type. Yes, 'Ripcord' feels too much like a sitcom, but it’s a sitcom where the live studio audience is genuinely laughing."
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"A combination of witty writing, memorable performances, and smart direction ensures that there's something for everyone in this laugh-out-loud comedy overflowing with massive amounts of heart...You would have to try really hard not to enjoy 'Ripcord.'"
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"If 'Ripcord' never really decides what kind of play it wants to be, there is the pleasure of seeing two accomplished pros at work. It's too bad that Lindsay-Abaire can't quite extricate himself from the confines of the standard odd-couple formula. Surprisingly, it is most entertaining in its wildest, least-credible moments. Otherwise, the element of surprise is missing; as soon as the author puts his conflict in place, it's all too clear how it will end up."
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"He's taken a comedic premise that would seem primed for stage-shaking laughter, and delivered something that gets at best a strong handful of hearty chuckles and a few fuzzy feels. Rest assured, there's no danger that any tickers will stop ticking at this one...Although there's plenty to like in 'Ripcord,' it's more notable for what it lacks."
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"It's easy to see why Lindsay-Abaire wrote 'Ripcord' for Mary Louise Bourke. The part is made to order for her idiosyncratic charm. With his odd-couple style roommate arrangement, the playwright has not only paved the way for some of Ms. Burke's over the top comic business, but has made 'Ripcord' a two-star vehicle...There's really no big surprise as to how things will turn out. Still, it's all lots of fun."
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"I roared with laughter along with the rest of the audience. The humor that Lindsay-Abaire writes is thoughtful and intelligent. Somehow he manages to take dark and serious themes and turn them into peculiarly amusing situations...It is inappropriate and wonderful."
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"It’s bing, bam, boom wit and clever direction by David Hyde Pierce as this fast-paced comedy moves through two acts. And as much as you tend to love the perky Marilyn, you would enjoy some moments of quiet. Of course, there are some more serious issues that come to the fore; aging, loneliness, heartbreak but they’re left lurking under the surface. You can’t go wrong spending a night with Abby and Marilyn in 'Ripcord.'
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"David Lindsay-Abaire’s inventive and often hilarious new work...He has created a clever set-up and an even better follow-through…The actors need to compete with the stagecraft, a clever set by Alexander Dodge that seamlessly goes back and forth between the ladies’ well-appointed living quarters and a variety of other locations. Good as it is, the actors win: especially the deliciously haughty Taylor and the delightfully daffy Burke. I could easily watch them for a half-hour every week!"
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