Straight NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (240)
See it if you want to see an unconventional and unexpected take on what is becoming a hackneyed premise (questioning one's sexuality) in NY theatre.
Don't see it if you are expecting (and looking for) the usual, stereotypical, sitcom-style handling of the gay-straight-bisexual question.
See it if You're gay or kind of
Don't see it if You're homophobic
See it if you are not looking for anything too heavy. A 90 minute brisk relationship tale with really good acting & an interesting twist. Fun outing.
Don't see it if you don't like gay-themed plays or are uncomfortable with on-stage make out sessions.
See it if The excellent Jake Epstein as a gay man who feels he must conform and date a nice girl even if it means a life of unhappiness.
Don't see it if A bit anachronistic as I'd hoped we'd gotten beyond this point by now. Tom Sullivan is fine as the college boy he sees on the side.
See it if you like "romcom" type of shows and writing.
Don't see it if you want a deep reflective show that will leave you questioning the idea of love
See it if you don't have great expectations, has surprisingly good acting, think nothing about sex has changed in 35 years
Don't see it if You want to know what today's youth are like - that was what I wanted to see. This was the world I knew in 1971. You have to pay much.
See it if the subject matter interests you.
Don't see it if you're familiar with bisexual love triangles.
See it if you like plays that emphasize character and dialogue, also if you enjoy a good mix of comedy and drama. I saw it for Jake Epstein!
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with the idea of a character exploring his sexuality, or if you are looking for something flashier.
Critic Reviews (31)
"'Straight' is beautifully written, brilliantly directed by Andy Sandberg, and superbly acted by the trio of Jake Epstein, Jenna Gavigan and Thomas E. Sullivan...My one criticism of this drama is that I would have preferred to see more time with the three characters on stage together...But I quibble, for the overall effect of 'Straight' is stunning in its power and nuance...New Yorkers, there is no excuse of not ordering your tickets to 'Straight'."
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"'Straight' features one of the finest acting debuts of the season. Recent Tisch grad Thomas Sullivan plays Chris, the youngest member of a disoriented love triangle. The show itself is solid – a fun, smart take on modern love – and Sullivan elevates it whenever he’s onstage."
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"What this play shows us is how damn hard it still is for someone to come out, even to himself, and even in this age of gay pride and legal marriage...Andy Sandberg directed 'Straight' with such fluidity...The pacing worked so well that at the end of the 90 minutes with no intermission, I wanted the play to go on. It ended perfectly, although not for the characters."
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"A wonderful opportunity to look in on three appealing people’s personal lives, their choices and their drama…It is Thomas E. Sullivan as Chris who is the best part of the play. Sullivan’s earnestness and eagerness as Chris, trying to get more from life and to be a more open person is magnificent and incredibly real…I can’t give the ending away, and I’m not sure I agree with it as a dramatic choice. But it gave me a lot to think about and didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment."
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"A witty, thought-provoking alternative to the heteronormative narrative that usually steals the show...Although 'Straight,' directed by Andy Sandberg, deals with an intense subject, it is not too heavy a play. It tackles serious topics with hilarious punch lines and comical situations...The two [actors] create a fascinating and unpredictable duo you quickly become invested in. The play combines social commentary with relevant humor to unpack gay stereotypes."
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"The story line seems very true to life. It is entertaining and filled with zingers and one-liners that will crack you up to the point you’ll feel sorry for Ben since he never comes to terms with being gay...If you like funny, sad, sexy, and surprising drama, fidelity, identity crisis and the moral complexity of a generation that prides itself on the pretense of acceptance, this is definitely the right ticket to buy; you won’t be disappointed."
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"If the premise sounds a little dated, that is very much the point. Even in this age of same-sex marriage and openly gay celebrities, the act of coming out is still fraught and by no means inevitable for many...The message of 'Straight' is that the requirement to choose a label presents itself as an irrevocable turning point...It may be the success of identity politics as a political strategy, as a path to equal rights, carries with it a subtle tyranny that its advocates never foresaw."
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