This annual festival of new American short plays returns to 59E59 for its 13th consecutive year. The festival's two series consist of three plays each. More…
From the show:
Series A
HERE I LIE
By COURTNEY BARON
Strangers Maris and Joseph, a young editor and a nurse, collide in this play about what it means to exercise compassion and self-care, in the face of hardship.
INTERIOR
By NICK PAYNE
It is a seemingly normal day for a small family in a quiet, quaint neighborhood. Two men convene outside. The actions they choose to take in just a few short moments will change the course of this family's life forever.
THE BRIDGE PLAY
By DANIELLE TRZCINSKI
A man stands at the edge of the George Washington Bridge and is about to jump, when an unexpected stranger interrupts him.
See it if you want to see 3 loosely connected 1-acts about our obsession with death/illness/suicide, all well-acted & well-staged with mixed results.
Don't see it if ur looking for a full-length narrative or some lite summer fare. [Despite the death theme, it's still an engrossing & entertaining 90 min.]
See it if On-death-and-dying triptych. Some bad news conveyed, then an attempted leap, and then, a couple addicted to feeling ill sing "Take On Me."
Don't see it if That rarity in an evening of shorts--All are duds. Or as they put it:"Something marches inexorably toward us." Exactly that.
See it if The theme running through the series is death and the playwrights and actors handle the topic with grace, humor and respect.
Don't see it if you do not like short plays performed back to back; you prefer large, colorful productions. Don't let the topic scare you away, well done.
See it if You are willing to sit through two one act plays that are not very good but you do get the pay off of the one in the middle being great
Don't see it if If you are not interested in seeing three plays that all deal with sad and unfortunate situations
Also Here are my individual scores for each of the three ... Read more Read less
See it if You want a selection of plays with some interesting ideas and quality actors scattered throughout.
Don't see it if You don't want the good moments to be tarnished by some very dull writing and flat acting in other parts of the shows.
See it if you like shorts of varying quality. 1st is tedious, 2nd somewhat disappointing, 3rd very odd but absorbing & disturbing. A mixed bag.
Don't see it if you prefer a full-length play or aren't interested in challenging or potentially disturbing material.
See it if Your attention span is limited and you like short plays with serious themes.
Don't see it if You dislike plays that are depressing and deal with death, illness, and depression involving self-indulgent characters.
Also I have been attending the short plays at 59 E. 59 for many seasons, an... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see a show with great acting. The performers were great. The middle show was written well.
Don't see it if You are expecting great scripts. Two of the shows seem to be written with the idea that they are deep and profound, but really miss the mark
See it if You want to be transported by exceptional actors and can hardly wait to debrief with those you shared it with. The Bridge: exceptional!
Don't see it if You don't like short plays! It can be disappointing to get wrapped up in characters & have it end so much sooner than you wish!
See it if you like experimental theater, support small artists, and don't mind seeing three plays with similar themes
Don't see it if you don't like to take a gamble on small artists - when going in you know that not all three will be great.
See it if you like one acts.These are all quite interesting & very well done.Acting, as always, is very, very good. I look forward to these every year
Don't see it if you want a Bway musical.These are quirky/serious/interesting looks at relationships and personalities.I love the short form.
See it if you can enjoy 2 excellent out of 3 short one act plays about confronting or contemplating death, tolerate the 3rd: confusing, poor developed
Don't see it if you cannot sit 90 min. in uncomfortable seat w/o interval, prefer light drama, comedy, musicals, or longer, fully developed play/more sets
Also The concept of similarly themed short plays performed as one show perm... Read more Read less
See it if Three short plays that make for a nice evening, though the theme isn't cheery although The Bridge Play has a lighter touch. Worth the price.
Don't see it if What's become a 59E59 tradition and summer highlight has no appeal for you.
See it if you like short dramatic plays centered around a theme. In this case, death and its meaning in relation to life.
Don't see it if you want a full length play or something on the light side.
Also Three short plays with varying success although none of them are worse... Read more Read less