The Babylon Line NYC Reviews and Tickets

73%

(138 Ratings)

Positive

71%

Mixed

25%

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Entertaining, Funny, Slow, Disappointing

About the Show

Lincoln Center Theatre presents Richard Greenberg's new drama about a writer and the special student who reawakens his artistic impulses. Starring Josh Radnor ('How I Met Your Mother') and Elizabeth Reaser ('Twilight').

Levittown, 1967. It’s the first night of an adult-ed Creative Writing course in a classroom at the local high school. The teacher, Aaron Port (Radnor), lives in Greenwich Village and reverse commutes once a week on the Long Island Rail Road’s Babylon line to Wantagh. His students are a mixed bag: Frieda Cohen, Anna Cantor, and Midge Braverman, housewives all, embrace each other on arrival. The two men in the class, Jack Hassenpflug and Marc Adams, keep mostly to themselves. One final student, Joan Dellamond, rushes in late. She is a housewife, but not like the others. Maybe this class will bring her, and Aaron, something that neither quite expects. Playwright Richard Greenberg is the author of numerous Broadway plays including 'Eastern Standard' and the Tony-winning 'Take Me Out.'

Show-Score Member Reviews (138)

A memory play with some solid writing, but it's indulgent., Thoughtful, but too long and drags in places., There are some funny acting bits, and good performances., Absorbing, for the most part., Everyone gets little moment to shine .

See it if A cast of fine actors keep this afloat. It's helpful if you know Long Island and the late '60's, but it's solid, funny, some parts great.

Don't see it if Don't want to work a little hard to have it make sense. You have to be willing to listen and forgive some stereotypes. One false ending.

Entertaining, Cliched, Funny, Great acting, Slow

See it if You don't mind side characters overshadowing leads since Graff and Halston were the standouts of the show. Or you're a Greenberg completist.

Don't see it if You're looking for interesting set design because everything is pretty stagnant and the story doesn't live up to the writing or acting.

Funny, Confusing, Quirky

See it if You're interested in the art of writing. If you have a fondness for Long Island and enjoy seeing entertaining characters from that milieu.

Don't see it if You want a cohesive play that cuts deeper. You're tired of depressed female characters who are not really that interesting. Read more

Entertaining, Uneven, Slow, Amusing

See it if It's entertaining enough, w/ some amusing and funny moments. Randy Graff is superb and steals every moment she has - a total joy to watch.

Don't see it if The pacing at times tends to drag. One of the actors was either miscast or poorly directed and unfortunately the show suffers because of it

Cliched, Dated, Indulgent, Overrated, Slow

See it if you enjoy story-telling theater, and like the process of telling stories more than necessarily being surprised or riveted by the content

Don't see it if you want edgy stories with a profound or lasting impact

Relevant, Indulgent, Cliched

See it if you're interested in the ideas of stories and how they're told, and/or if you're from Long Island (there are lots of fun references).

Don't see it if you prefer musicals, or are looking for a more innovative/fringe play.

Funny, Entertaining, Indulgent

See it if you enjoy thoughtful and amusing discussions of writing, and catty jokes from old ladies.

Don't see it if you'll be bored by extended prose monologues, or if you like things to happen in your plays.

Banal, Cliched, Disappointing

See it if there's a place in your heart for 1960's Long Island. Some fun familiarity (remember Jan's). Graff/Holston and Wood doing good work..

Don't see it if You're easily bored by banal story telling. Not close to Greenberg's better work, Take Me Out or Assembled Parties. But better than his last

Critic Reviews (32)

Trailer

Creative team

Lincoln Center Theater