Someone Who'll Watch Over Me

See it if you like strong acting in a strong-premise context. But STWOM is too much of a good thing at 3 hrs. Cuts are needed. Not nearly as...

Don't see it if philosophical as I'd expected. Discussions sh've been deeper. Sometimes quite funny/moving. If had been half as long, w've been twice as gd.

See it if You like wordy character driven plays... not a lot of action or arc of a plot but rather intense, interesting character development.

Don't see it if You expect a lot of action or can’t overlook the too long script that comes in at two-hours and forty-five minutes.

See it if Want to see a play about three people from different walks of life shackled in a prison.

Don't see it if A bit too long. If you want strong- character driven plots.

See it if 3 men in a cell, needing each other to survive. Metaphor for life? Captors = God? "If he put us here to watch us suffer, to what end?"

Don't see it if Intentionally long and difficult to bear. You as the theatergoer feel trapped as well. Lighter moments help you to endure.

See it if to witness 3 brave, stirring, authentic, unrestrained performances as hostages shackled in a Beirut prison, doing all they can to survive.

Don't see it if you think "An Englishman, an Irishman & an American walk into a Beirut prison..." is the start of a joke.

Also This is a long play, at just shy of three hours, but the writing is sharp and truthful, and the performances are riveting. You won't regret the time spent in captivity with these spirited, undaunted men.... Read more Read less

See it if in order to experience something powerful, you’re willing to be trapped for hours in an intimate space with 3 sometimes desperate hostages.

Don't see it if you're in the mood for something light: here, even the laugh lines are dark.

Also Animus Theatre’s production of “Someone Who'll Watch over Me” is uncommonly powerful theater. In Cherry Lane’s tiny 2nd theater, audience members share a cell for nearly 3 hours with 3 often desperate, always very human adult male hostages, an American, an Irishman & an Englishman. All 3 performances are fully realized & wrenching. The script is strong & often eloquent, but has its flaws. Some of background stories for the hostages feel slightly contrived for effect—the Englishman’s dad, for example, was ruined while a Nazi prisoner. The hostages play games & sing a lot, & about 20 fewer minutes of this would have packed a bigger punch. A full generation after the script was written, we might ask if keeping the Arab captors faceless & voiceless makes full dramatic or diplomatic sense. But that last question is unfair to ask of a 1992 drama that is, on its own terms, a deep probe of the human psyche when it’s asked to endure inhuman conditions.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy thoroughly well done performances on a very tough subject. There is no flaw here in the acting, staging, writing, lighting, sound.

Don't see it if you have trouble sitting for a long period, especially the first act. While riveting, the seating is uncomfortable & some external noise.

See it if About the human will to live, when you are taken.

Don't see it if This is not a light show, very intense. Its long too.

Also Watching this about three men kidnapped and doing all they can to survive. The acting is great. Very powerful, and makes you think. How would you feel to be taken. Throw in the room away from all you love and care for. These men in this play do everything and anything to hold on. They help each other. They get mad at each other too. Just want to go home.... Read more Read less

See it if Want stunning exploration of the emotional rollercoaster people trapped in horrible circumstances might go through. Bonds are formed/tested.

Don't see it if Want a light drama, changes in scenery, or not interested in what people will do in order to survive. This is well-scripted and performed.

Also Difficult to see unless sitting in first row. Almost all of the action takes place on the floor and the rake in bleacher seating is not enough (at least in the Studio Theater at the Cherry Lane.)... Read more Read less

See it if You can stand a 2.5 hour play that is amazingly well done! You need to be a serious drama fan.

Don't see it if You have a short attention span and/or you have breathing problems.

See it if An extraordinary play focusing on the relationship of three prisoners .The depth of writing and acting is profound. A riveting experience.

Don't see it if Do not see if you prefer light dramas or musicals.

See it if you want an in depth characters study of men held hostage in Beirut 1990. Despite their differences, they bond over their humanity.

Don't see it if you want something light and fluffy where thinking is unnecessary.

See it if you like intense plays, small casts, character shows. Great acting from all 3 men through various emotions.

Don't see it if you want a large production or a lot of plot development. Play is a little long.

Also Excellent revival of Frank McGuinness's Tony-nominated play. I was enthralled with the way these captives found ways to cope and unite in captivity.

Tonight was the second show and at just under 3hrs, the play needs some trimming in Act I, but very worth the visit.... Read more Read less

See it if Like in purgatory, three captured men wrench their lives’ joys and every regret. Battling their demons trying to stay sane.

Don't see it if Conflicted self introspection and non linear plot annoys you.

Also Free ticket from Show Score.

See it if You are interested in how people act under the pressure of captivity. You like intense character development.

Don't see it if You don't like intense shows.

See it if you enjoy "talky" character-driven plays, political plays and good acting.

Don't see it if you prefer musicals, comedies or action-driven dramas. You don't like "talky" plays.

Also The play was first produced in 1992 while the "Troubles" were still going on in Northern Ireland. A lot of the dislike of the Englishman by the Irishman has to do with the political situation at the time. The irony of it mattering in the situation in which the men find themselves is important to the plot.It's time-specific and that is a bit lost here. The play is, IMO, a bit dated.

It's also a bit slow in parts. I think it would be better with some editing. The play is saved by some very fine performances.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a superbly acted, nearly Beckettian play about political, physical & psychological imprisonment that endangers our humanity

Don't see it if you're unwilling to sit for nearly 3 hours & allow 3 characters evolve through a gamut of emotions as they define what's important in Life

Also I first saw this play on Broadway many years ago with Stephen Rea as Edward. Jonathan Judge-Russo as this Edward was a revelation, and all 3 actors were amazing. This play is still is as relevant today as it was back in pre-9/11 days and perhaps even more so today, considering our disheartening loss of outrage over how people fight each other in this world.... Read more Read less

See it if exceptional acting about a frightening, tough subject that demands your focused attention is the kind of drama you appreciate.

Don't see it if you need happy endings, pretty stories or good guys only.

Also hard to believe this was written decades ago and the world hasn't changed. This is a heartbreaking statement about tribalism, terrorism, and at the same time deeply moving decency and humanity.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy heavy, character-driven drama.

Don't see it if stories of anger and maental anguish make you uncomfortable

See it if you want to witness what it must be like to be in prison in a foreign country and understand the strength of mind and body you must maintain

Don't see it if the subject matter is too dark

Also I hesitated going to see this show because I am very uncomfortable with scenes or discussion of physical torture - and happily that was not presented.

The three characters were all well developed and their roles expertly played on stage.

We got a real glimpse into the complex tricks your mind can play on you when held captive. We witnessed the fighting, tensions, biases and finally humor and shared stories and sense of imagination that bonded them together and helped them cope.

This play was great but the venue for it was not. The three actors were sitting or lying on the prison floor for a large portion of the play so they were very hard to see from the back rows. If the venue had a raised stage, it would have worked better.... Read more Read less

See it if You care about the counter-terrorist campaign and it’s global effects. All three actors are great.

Don't see it if Plain setting; A bit long; Doesn’t give voice to the middle eastern people

See it if you like at times clever play with pathos performed well. Enjoy plays about groups dealing with boredom and extreme circumstances

Don't see it if You mind a play that goes too long and moves toward repetitiveness and feels like its a scene or two long.

See it if Your main focus would be actors, no decor, no prop except for a few, just their powerful words they exchange while being hostage in a cell

Don't see it if You do not like lengthy plays, not a fan of watching the brutal impact of living in a cell for indefinite amount, with complete strangers

Also Get ready for a drama beyond belief, still relavant today

See it if you can deal with the suffering of others who do not deserve to be mistreated or manipulated by politics.

Don't see it if you find acting so realistic and it bothers you that others are suffering.

See it if you want to be reminded how little the world has changed since this was penned by the great Irish playwright so many years ago

Don't see it if you are unable to concentrate and sit for 2.5 hours of intense theater depicting a hostage situation involving 3 men from different nations

Also So glad I went to see this opening night, which went off pretty smoothly to this novice reviewer. Good house too considering the blizzard and chaos around NYC tonight... Read more Read less