The Hummingbird's Tour
About the show
This Off-Broadway premiere features three opinionated siblings in their 60s and their ancient childhood nanny, who are thrown into a philosophical frenzy by an unexpected guest with a mysterious prediction. More…
It's California, 1970. Norton, a retired professor, entertains his sisters in the weeks leading up to Easter, the eldest of whom has just visited a nearby Ashram. There she claims to have met someone with unique powers, the description of whom is almost as unsettling as the fact that he's just outside the door. The three siblings, one a realist, one an old Episcopalian and one on the 'Hummingbird's Tour of Theology' are thrown into a comic metaphysical frenzy by this unwanted guest's agitating predictions and bizarre intimacy with their lives.
"A fantastic, wonderful, kind of escape, 'The Hummingbird’s Tour' ultimately feels empty of any real emotional connections. The only real believable relationship between characters is that of the three siblings to their childhood nanny, which can be attested more to the chemistry between actors than anything else...It looks and sounds magnificent; the set alone makes you want to get up and explore the stage to find all of the little details that went into this creation." Full Review
"Playwright Margaret Dulaney does an excellent job of mixing comedy, philosophical notions and relatable family drama into one story. There was the occasional one liner that didn't quite land with the audience, but the general tone of humor flowed well throughout the story." Full Review
"'The Hummingbird’s Tour'... has enough thoughtful substance to engage those with a bent toward this kind of material; its repartee—despite the potentially ponderous subject matter—is blithe enough to generate gentle laughter, and its schmaltzy conclusion, far-fetched though it is, may stir some emotions. But, after two hours, its lack of action, dependence on often fuzzy theological chit-chat, and uncomfortable mix of the real and the unreal, may not leave you feeling particularly enlightened." Full Review
"While the script isn’t entirely forgiving of its age—much of its dialogue feels rather creaky, and many of its discussions never reach their full existential potential—it does manage to inject what could be a rather stuffy premise with a hearty dose of humor…Though it may not be remembered as the most provocative or the most inventive piece of theatre out there, 'The Hummingbird’s Tour' is an entertaining diversion, and a sweet reminder of the importance of embracing life’s full potential." Full Review
"That kind of whimsical, wishful thinking is the way director John Augustine has approached playwright Margaret Dulaney’s play, which is not what playwright Dulaney needs. Her play needs a firm grip and a clear mind…It all starts with the play. This one is a mere wisp…It’s pleasant. And nice to look at. And nobody’s a bad person. Pass the sour cream and onion potato chips." Full Review
"None of this stirs up much in the way of drama; instead, everyone passes the time making wry little jokes that are often deficient in wit and insight…The lack of urgency in her text and in John Augustine's direction does little to engage us in the characters' very mild problems, but at least the people on stage are pleasant…The best thing you say about 'The Hummingbird's Tour' is that it is cheerful as it searches, in meandering fashion, for a solution to its central non-problem." Full Review
See it if you want a fun, realistic show about family, aging, and death.
Don't see it if you can not sympathize with people at different stages in their life.
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