Sea Wall/A Life

See it if You like stories that as they unfold draw you deeper and deeper into their web of just how normal and much like your life you’re hearing.

Don't see it if If you can’t handle some of the roughest memories being brought out to look at in the light next to some of the brightest. Cathartic!

Also I saw this show the day after I got out of the hospital after some pretty serious back surgery so...full disclosure...I was on a lot of strong pain meds, but I had a really emotional response to this play. The fact that it’s an unflinching look at some of how we as a society deal with birth and lif and death I found myself sobbing more than once during the show. Especially during Jake Gyllenhaal’s half. Not to say that his performance was any better I just think his monologue hit closer to home for me. So bottom line I guess what I’m saying is...I had a real emotional connection to this that you might not. Try taking some Oxy before you go...maybe it will help. Lol
Maybe my reviews will be a little less snarky in the future now that I’m not going to be in constant pain. I guess only time will tell. Peace my friends.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see two first-rate actors each deliver first-rate monologues about life... and, well, death (and its accompanying grief).

Don't see it if u expect anything more than two solo one-act monologues. [There's no real theatricality or stagecraft]; ur in need of an uplifting evening.

See it if you're a fan of Gyllenhall & Sturridge, enjoy short serious monologues, can deal with themes of death & grief, willing to listen

Don't see it if Don't like one person acts, have trouble dealing with subjects of death and grief, don't enjoy plays where you have to listen carefully

See it if Gyllenhaal in "A Life" seamlessly moves btwn serious/bewildered/hilariously exasperated showing thin line between grief@death, joy@birth

Don't see it if Tom Sturridge in "Sea Wall" not in same league as Jake; both plays deal w searing situations but scripts far from memorable

See it if Well written stories about love, life, joy and death; terrific acting by both actors in each of their 45 minute monologues.

Don't see it if you are not interested in monologues or plays depicting deep feelings of isolation and sorrow.

Also I appreciate the choice of a large, sweeping stage for such an intimate setting. This seems to emphasize how small we are in this world & makes these personal tragedies all the more poignant.... Read more Read less

See it if To watch two dark monologues about life and death, intertwined into fragile threads of every day happenings. Joy v sadness.

Don't see it if You do not like to sit still for 45 minutes for each actor. Must pay rapt attention to each line of dialogue to follow storyline.

Also The two actors are Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge. Mr. Sturridge is on first. He delivers the lines in Sea Wall with casualness at times, then amazing intensity. You feel as if you are in the moment as his emotions show in his face and body language. He is only 33 years old and already a force of nature.
Mr. Gyllenhaal’s piece is quite different, allowing his humorous side to shine through as well.... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate good performances in monologue.

Don't see it if You don’t like monologues and depressing stories.

See it if You want to see two very talented actors reciting heartbreaking monologues on a minimalist stage.

Don't see it if You don't like monologues, can't listen to one person talk for 40-50 minutes. Or want something completely up beat.

See it if you like to see terrific actors doing very good work.Wasn't as powerful or moving as it should have been.Set should have been more intimate

Don't see it if you object to gratuitous cursing.Open stage destroyed the intimacy that the subject matter demands.It was almost great,but staging hurt it.

See it if you're a fan of the actors and enjoy solo shows/monologues. The plays deal with loss and are quite thoughtful, albeit slow.

Don't see it if These two short plays are more suited for tiny, intimate black box theaters. It would be a tough sell if not for the A-list actors.

See it if Two tour de force one-man shows dealing with the universal themes of birth and death. Doesn’t go where you’d think.

Don't see it if ...emotionally harrowing stories upset you. The play starts off as an easy-going tale and ends up in a very different place.

See it if you enjoy two good actors excelling at their work with two one acters that are well written and ring true

Don't see it if really depressing stories about life and death upset you

See it if you enjoy good writing and acting and can handle sad endings.

Don't see it if you don't like monologues.

See it if 2 monologues about life & death, loss; although similar topics differences in specifics & tone

Don't see it if you want happy endings, don't like monologues or minimalist sets

Also Both actors were excellent but I found the writing in "Sea Wall" more effective - the horror/sadness registered more. T. Sturridge's character showed more anger and there was more of a consistent buildup. In "A Life" there were more time period switches & also more changes from humor to sadness.... Read more Read less

See it if you would appreciate performances by not one but two of today’s finest stage actors. Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge are exceptional.

Don't see it if you don’t enjoy monologues, even when they feel as real, resonant, and heartrending as these.

Also Nick Payne’s writing is sublime.

See it if Two fine actors perform monologues in two sad stories of loss. Love & heartbreak well acted.

Don't see it if Too large a performance space for these intimate plays. Also, topics & protagonists are too similar so little more is revealed in 2nd piece.

See it if you can put aside the fact that these monologues are a bit predictable and simply allow yourself to enjoy two fine, earnest performers.

Don't see it if two emotion-fest, 45-minute monologues about family life and death are unappealing; you need something more surprising than men's musings.

Also With minimalist staging for maximum focus upon stories, the combination of Tom Sturridge in Sea Wall and Jake Gyllenhaal in A Life reinforces how life does nothing slowly, all things suddenly, and how we begin and leave life are the same (vulnerably, without choice, violently). Perhaps the writing isn’t shocking, but it is honest, sometimes bitter, oftentimes poetic or funny, and always moving in the actors’ respective hands. Sea Wall is the more visceral due to some brutal descriptions; A Life has a more frenzied, humorous pace. Both narrations juxtapose various memories so the stories unfold hastily, sometimes with slight moments of ambiguity, and always leaving lingering questions or doubts. Although two phone-ringing moments broke Sturridge’s concentration at key moments, he kept calm and regathered himself earnestly. Gyllenhaal was crowd-pleasing (more applause and laughs). Yet, I found both actors compelling and well-matched in this inner-reaching evening of two ruminative works.... Read more Read less

See it if How unprepared we are to mourn death while celebrating life. Great acting to hold the audience for 45 minute monologues.

Don't see it if Death of a parent or child are triggering. Stories solely from men's point of views annoy you. No real set for the background is too sparse.

Also Ticket from online rush via TodayTix app for $27.50. Seats on the fourth row.... Read more Read less

See it if Well-written and acted one-person plays that people can relate to.

Don't see it if Want "dialogue" and multiple characters or just want to sit back and be entertained. You have to bring your brain to engage with this.

See it if you want to see 2 actors do very good job telling rather ordinary stories about tragedy/grief/loss/birth. Noteworthy without Jake? Not sure.

Don't see it if you want something sweeping or with spectacle. These are LOW KEY, unadorned monologues by two talented actors telling somber stories.

See it if you're a big Jake Gyllenhaal or Tom Sturridge fan.

Don't see it if you require more than one actor on stage at a time.

See it if you like one-man monologues.

Don't see it if you are triggered by stories of loss and grief.

See it if Jake Gyllenhaal. Tom Sturridge. A bare stage that is anything but bare.

Don't see it if 2 monologues requires focus, not fir everyone

See it if You want to see outstanding actors deliver astutely written, emotionally resonant monologues that are linked in theme and tone.

Don't see it if You don’t like shows that explore darker themes in order to provide insight about life and the human condition.

See it if Two related monologues beautifully written and acted exploring life, death, loss, unspeakable tragedy and search for meaning and god

Don't see it if Very intense and difficult subject matter (especially Sea Wall) and May be hard to take for some.