The Half-God of Rainfall NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (174)
See it if you are interested in stagecraft. You like poetry. You have an interest in the classics and mythology. You like thought-provoking theatre
Don't see it if you are triggered by themes of sexual assault. You don't have at least some familiarity with Greek mythology. You prefer plot-heavy shows
See it if fond of creative use of space and visual projections. Great cast w/ powerful performances..
Don't see it if interested only in traditional take of Greek mythology. If expecting fancy costumes & set design. Production was minimalist but creative.
See it if Mixing Greek Mythology, Nigerian Folklore and Basketball? Yes and it works. One of the most interesting shows in town, right now.
Don't see it if Want a play by the numbers? This will not be for you.
See it if you enjoy ensemble performances; if you find mythology interesting; if you like unique theatrical experiences.
Don't see it if you’re looking for a traditional theater experience; if you don’t enjoy ensembles and narration throughout a play.
See it if You like mythology. You can accept magic. You are interested in political themes. Fabulous set, staging, dance/movement, performances.
Don't see it if You prefer traditional dramas
See it if the acting in parts of this was breathtaking. The set and projections were fantastic. The story was epic.
Don't see it if you're looking for a modern myth epic about basketball. It is much more a mythic epic of abuse and revenge and love.
See it if you are interested in intersectional retellings of Greek mythology, you value creative stagecraft and experimental theatre-making.
Don't see it if you are triggered by sexual violence, which is not portrayed realistically in this piece, but it is still there and very affecting. Read more
See it if you might like a mix of Greek & Nigerian mythology & a dash of basketball; good performances in an unusual & interesting setting
Don't see it if you don't like monologues, which is how most of the play is presented; sets are minimal though effective; I found the play intriguing and Read more
Critic Reviews (12)
“This is a writer whose intuitive understanding of the common threads of tradition, globalization and human instinct could very well create a new mythological tapestry for our interwoven times.”
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"3/5 Stars. A talented cast of seven works hard to activate this imaginative but inscrutable tale, which is often relayed in long passages of narration delivered directly to the audience. There are striking moments...Yet 'The Half-God of Rainfall' is challenging to follow: Ellams' lyrical epic is easier to parse on the page than the stage. It is many, perhaps too many, fables in one."
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“The smaller scale of human action and character gets lost amid the grand sweep of mythology and language...A divine battle scene, heavily narrated, comes a little too close to resembling Live-Action Role Play.”
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“It is Modúpé’s pain and power that leads the story to a climax...The stilted dialogue threatens to undercut ’Half-God’s’ impact, but Magar’s production is too beautiful to be held down for long.”
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“ ‘The Half-God of Rainfall’ is at once an entertainment and a lesson, and that’s exactly what an epic poem should be.”
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“Magar's staging has many moments of invention…But one leaves the theatre remembering the staging and design, not the story and characters. The Half-God of Rainfall is, in many ways, an impressive theatrical frieze, but its figures never quicken into compelling characters. For gods, they remain strangely powerless.”
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“ ‘The Half-God of Rainfall’ is tangentially about basketball, but like the other basketball-inspired plays from this season...one does not need to be a fan or even knowledgeable of the sport. In Ellams's imagination, power, subjugation, and tactical gamesmanship plays out in a much bigger arena.”
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“It’s definitely a staged work the likes of which you might have seen something similar in your theater-going past. Yet, it’s safe to say you haven’t seen its exact like before. This already makes it well worth seeing.”
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