The Birds (St Ann's Warehouse)

See it if you enjoy Greek language drama interpreted in a contemporary format. Many current references to our world today. The cast is exuberant .

Don't see it if you enjoy linear plays that seem to flow, The Birds seems to explode outwardly in all directions. Contains nudity and use of toy guns.

See it if you enjoy alternative theater that is particularly creative. The staging of the birds is great.

Don't see it if you require a sensible and comprehensible narrative

See it if You are ready for a real adventure in theatrical interpretation of a classic full of energy, humor and strange insights.

Don't see it if Reading supertitles is not for you since this is in Greek

See it if you can focus on the beauty of the Greek poetry in the midst of unnecessary exhibitionism and chaos. It is a comedy but this is more hostile

Don't see it if you are offended by gratuitous nudity and if you are looking for more structure and coherence

See it if you are interested in international productions, like movement-driven pieces, or like shows that fully utilize the given space

Don't see it if you have a hard time with subtitles or are opposed to nudity

Also There were some nice moments of theatre magic (the gigantic light-up globe being passed around and the life-size bird) but it felt mostly disorganized. They utilized the whole of St Ann's nicely with the trees and bird-calls - I really felt the energy of this mystical avian paradise in the space. The nudity wasn't necessary, some of the treatment of the women was incredibly uncomfortable, and for heaven's sake can we stop infusing pieces of theatre with references to the current president? I go to the theatre to escape this political nightmare - not to be confronted with a bunch of Greek actors chanting "grab her by the _____". That moment took me out of the piece and made me want to leave. I genuinely loved some aspects of this performance but was overall disappointed.... Read more Read less

See it if Energetic, enthusiastic ,pretty over the top company of young actors. Great space, staging. If you liked the play hair, you will like this.

Don't see it if You expect to see the authentic old comedy of aristophanes and if you dont like a lot of nudity.

See it if One of the best plays I’ve ever seen. It’s an absolute must-see for anyone interested what theater could/should be. Also it's a wild party!

Don't see it if you prefer dusty broadway revivals

See it if if you want to see something refreshing, unusual interpretation of classic play and hear (modern) Greek!

Don't see it if you have issue with nudity, also if you don't want to see a 2 hours play w/n intermission.

See it if you would like to join the performers on stage for a (wet) scene or you want to see several women bare their breasts for no apparent reason.

Don't see it if you want to be reminded of the worst shows you've ever seen at The Flea and want to pay five times what those amateur-hour shows cost you

See it if you're curious about an updated version of a Greek comedy; you want a show blending theater/dance/song that isn't exactly a musical

Don't see it if you're bothered by nudity or subtitles, you want a traditional production of this Aristophanes play

Also I really enjoyed the dance/movement aspects of the piece, particularly the parts featuring the bird-characters moving en masse/responding to threats; I also loved elements of the set, especially the moon/balloon, which was used to great effect to create a sense of movement and wonder. I sometimes found myself missing lines of dialogue because I was watching the movement instead of reading the subtitles, but overall I found this a really interesting production.... Read more Read less

See it if Classic theater. Wildly funny. Very creative.

Don't see it if There are subtitles...it’s in Greek!

See it if You are so used to watching the super quick super titles. You enjoy satiric productions.

Don't see it if You don't like seeing a lot nudity and being hit by some toy guns.

See it if you're curious about this independent Greek theatrical group

Don't see it if you mind self-indulgence masquerading as profundity

Also In the absence of intermissions many audience members left as they could.... Read more Read less

See it if you like non-narrative, non-linear theater with fantastical creatures

Don't see it if you expect a plot, a narrative arc or a comprehensible script

See it if you enjoy a play in a different language, and that is based on a Greek Classic.

Don't see it if you want to have some easy entertainment, and if you do not like seeing nudity on the stage.

Also Very interesting, but clocking in at two hours, it can seem a bit long. The whole thing is a bit confusing, but the plot is easily followed. The subtitles were quite good, on the walls across from the audience. Overall entertainging, but very, very strange.... Read more Read less

See it if You like re-imagining of classic Greek work, inventive staging, or foreign language theater.

Don't see it if You want something with a more linear narrative or stronger plot.

See it if you love ancient theater brought back to life.

Don't see it if you can't handle the script being entirely in Greek with subtitles on the wall.

See it if you are interested in or curious about ancient Greek comedy.

Don't see it if you prefer your comedy polite, or realistic, or drawing room, or coherent, or topical, or neat.

Also This production misses some opportunities, but I’m glad I saw it. Old Greek comedy is rarely revived in the US. It’s good to be in touch again with western theater's Dionysiac beginnings, even in somewhat muffled, supertitled form. The music is quite wonderful, & the group movement, more naturalistic than "dance", performed mostly by the bird chorus that gives the play its name, while repetitive, fuels the raucous happenings. Lighting seemed off, especially when it failed to catch an elaborately costumed bird who entered a few times. (Most birds here do not wear naturalistic gear.) Individual scenes didn’t have a clear profile, which blunted the conflict—a man has set himself up as bird-god vs. the real gods—& hampered the forward movement of the slender plot. 2 beautiful sculpted clouds, lit from below, looking like lopsided moons, disappeared too soon—this after all is Cloudcuckooland! But the reconciliation of gods & birds in a carnivalesque finale felt fittingly bacchanalian.... Read more Read less

See it if great music saves everything; you like a Shkspr in the Park approach to classics—less academic but uncovers all latent entertainment value

Don't see it if you strongly prefer uptown over downtown theater, illusionism; must understand everything; you don’t expect to see people acting like birds

Also Rocked my world. But could be excruciating to the next guy. I do think language/culture barriers make the show less lucid than it would be to a Greek audience. I often thought “if only I could watch both the supertitles & the performance.” The long speeches are rewarding but reactions to punchlines seem delayed. It’s also centuries old, absurdist farce, & the production’s intended for the outdoors. Be prepared for more degrees of separation than usual.

But I was still wowed! The clarity of the music’s effect is all the more surprising. Great music elevates everything for me, and this show is sort of like if a movie theme composer scored a gritty production at The Flea. Takes a while to get into, but the highs are so high.

Comparable to (but less family-friendly than) Shakespeare in the Park: retains poetry but adapted to primarily entertain, not above gags, slightly modernized/politicized. Utopia is realized but in less reverent terms.... Read more Read less

See it if I can't tell anyone to see this, I was done after 20 minutes and wish I could crawl over everyone to leave.

Don't see it if It's felt like a bad show presented as La Mama from 1974.

See it if You are happy to trade much of Aristophanes wit for a visual feast of dance, song and casual nudity.

Don't see it if You would prefer to indulge in the political satire and jabs at human behavior, and have the means to buy a good translation.

See it if u speak Greek (2 hrs of it w/ English projected titles), are a fan Greek mythology, or r interested in an absurd hectic squawking lame mess

Don't see it if you are expecting a tight performance with a moral message based in mythology (like I was). It was like a provincial art school performance

See it if you want to see a pure sensational theatre. It does not move you by language, but it moves you by actions and sounds.

Don't see it if you are not a big fan of watching performance and subtitles at the same time.

See it if you are interested in modern versions of ancient Greek plays.

Don't see it if if you are not willing to see a chaotic/boring adaptation that mixes dance and hystrionic acting.