Rotterdam
Closed 2h 30m
Rotterdam
87

Rotterdam NYC Reviews and Tickets

87%
(62 Ratings)
Positive
98%
Mixed
2%
Negative
0%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Great writing

About the Show

Hartshorn - Hook Foundation Ltd presents this bittersweet, Olivier Award-winning comedy about gender, sexuality, and being a long way from home. Part of 59E59's annual Brits Off Broadway festival.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (62)

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972 Reviews | 1052 Followers
90
Entertaining, Great acting, Great writing, Riveting, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a realistic emotional story performed by INCREDIBLE actors. The journey of these characters is riveting start to finish.

Don't see it if You dislike shows with LGBT themes. Read more

995 Reviews | 948 Followers
90
Great acting, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Intense, Riveting

See it if Deep, profound and moving. Fleshed out characters and motives. Relatable in so many human ways. Superb acting! Clear why it won the Olivier.

Don't see it if You don't care about LGBT themes. Read more

136 Reviews | 40 Followers
90
Riveting, Resonant, Relevant, Profound, Masterful

See it if You want to explore the dimensions of sexual identity.

Don't see it if You are looking for a light play just to get entertain.

442 Reviews | 127 Followers
90
Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Relevant, Must see

See it if you enjoy excellent acting, an extremely current plot, moving and thought-provoking subject matter.

Don't see it if transgender and gay subject matter is a turn-off for you. Otherwise, don't miss it. Read more

VSG
243 Reviews | 67 Followers
88
Absorbing, Great acting, Great staging, Funny, Thought-provoking

See it if Examinations of sexual orientation and gender identity fascinate U, U like the intimacy of a tiny theater where action is in your face.

Don't see it if You prefer more intellectual and theoretical discussions of the above, would find fault with slight tendency to overacting and soap-opera. Read more

141 Reviews | 57 Followers
88
Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Intense, Masterful

See it if You want to watch a great drama and see the plight of lgbtq group. One of the best acting that I have ever seen.

Don't see it if You hate lgbtq themes. Or else don't miss it! A little bit slow in Act 1, but Act 2 is beyond amazing!

538 Reviews | 82 Followers
86
Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing, Intelligent, Relevant

See it if You want an exceptional play dealing with the delicate topic of transgender and gay relationships affecting those involved and beyond.

Don't see it if The subject mentioned above turns you off.

477 Reviews | 120 Followers
85
Absorbing, Great acting, Relevant, Intense, Long

See it if you want to see an intense depiction of the impact of transgender transitioning on the person involved as well as on friends and family.

Don't see it if you are not interested in the topic of gender identity. Read more

Critic Reviews (25)

Front Mezz Junkies
May 24th, 2017

“A deeply affecting play…What a tremendous gift we have all been given. The play is rich and edgy, steeped in an authentic sound and fury…Beautifully crafted by the creative team of designers, the piece moves effortlessly forward with a well thought out ear for honesty and authenticity…It’s a delicate subject to grapple with, but this production nails it…Each moment is filled with perfectly exacting moments of dialogue that resonate and portray the dilemmas before them."
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Exeunt Magazine
May 31st, 2017

“One of Brittain’s greatest strengths as a playwright is his control of information delivery…‘Rotterdam’ also explores the ways in which relationships — romantic, platonic, and familial — connect us. This is done as much through Donnacadh O’Briain’s direction and Ellan Parry’s set design as it is through text…‘Rotterdam’ isn’t trying to show a universal experience, because there isn’t one. And that’s a key lesson as well: that by rejecting universality, 'Rotterdam' gets that much closer to it.”
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Theatre's Leiter Side
May 26th, 2017

“'Rotterdam' packs a strong emotional punch but it also includes a number of savvy laugh lines…Donnacadh O'Briain does a marvelous job of keeping the action lively and engrossing…The acting is gripping. Freeman and McCarthy partner perfectly, each offering performances of vulnerability and strength…'Rotterdam''s power is a bit dissipated by its overlong two and a half hours…But it's a better spent two and a half hours than you'll find at most other recent Off-Broadway offerings.”
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B
June 2nd, 2017

"Freeman is extremely moving in a second-act scene when Adrian is overwhelmed by events. My main problem with the play is that Alice is such an uptight sourpuss that it is hard to understand why anyone would want her. Also, there are plot developments near the end that seemed forced...The clever, attractive set by Ellan Parry makes maximum use of a small stage; the costumes, especially for Lelani, are vivid."
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Blog Critics
May 24th, 2017

"A remarkable fusion of classic scene-crafting and up-to-the-minute social concerns—gutsy, wrenching, and beautifully acted...Brittain’s script plays this game sharply throughout, holding onto its revelations then springing them like New Year’s Eve fireworks...Exquisitely toned performances make Alice and Fiona extraordinarily real...The play is full of powerful scenes...Meaty insight, sinewy dialogue and performances, and top-notch skill from beginning to end."
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W
May 25th, 2017

"A thing of surprising beauty...It’s generous with its open heart and wrenching in its honesty...'Rotterdam' is blessed with a perfectly on-point script by Jon Brittain and a quartet of actors who deliver universally outstanding performances. Brittain achieves a perfect balance of humor and heartbreak, proffering the opportunity to feel sharply contrasting emotions that somehow actually make the entire experience both realistic and bearable."
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ThisbroadSway
May 24th, 2017

"Writer Jon Brittain takes you on a deeply emotional journey that is not drawn in a straight line, but with many complex twists and turns that will have you completely immersed...The subject matter is perfect fuel for emotional outbursts that are convincingly portrayed by this stunning cast and neatly directed by Donnacadh O’Briain...Do not miss."
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Z
May 25th, 2017

"While the script approaches its subject matter with sensitivity, humor, and a certain amount of complexity, heavy-handed performances from several cast members dilute the play’s power...Brittain’s play has moments of didacticism, but is ultimately more of a relationship drama...McCarthy delivers a nuanced performance...Unfortunately, the other three actors frequently seem to be trying too hard...Some of the staging choices also seem ill-considered."
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