The Long Rail North (Soho Playhouse) NYC Reviews and Tickets

69%

(17 Reviews)

Positive

47%

Mixed

47%

Negative

Members say

Thought-provoking, Relevant, Slow, Absorbing, Intelligent

About the Show

“The Long Rail North” is the story of Private Thomas Morgan, a Black Union soldier who must escape by train with Molly, a 12 year old Southern White girl who he rescued from a plantation fire.

Exhausted with limited resources and even fewer allies, Thomas continues traveling north in a near-empty boxcar, hoping to get Molly to safety despite her ignorant and preconceived opinions of him and his race, all while both Union and Confederate forces pursue them. He must do whatever he can to protect her...no matter the cost.

Member Reviews (17)

Earnest, Amateurish, Weak script, Disappointing, Little historical value

See it if you're fascinated by everything re: the Civil War and are forgiving of deep script flaws (characters, plot, message). Inconsistent acting.

Don't see it if you expect polished theater in NYC. This is not even close.

Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Intelligent, Clever

See it if you would enjoy a story of the south during the Civil War that takes on issues of race, privilege, slavery and lawlessness w/a twisting plot

Don't see it if bare bones staging and the constant roar of a moving train would irk you. Some of the dialog is lost with soft voices and the acting varies.

Clear, Uneven, Powerful, Contrived, Thoughtful

See it if you would like to see a play about slavery in the US that is also something of a thriller.

Don't see it if you have no tolerance for plot contrivances, even when skillfully deployed. Read more

Absorbing, Intelligent, Relevant, Riveting

See it if An unexpected thought provoking work. Hope that it continues. Audience seemed to agree with us, Xavier Rodney and Anna Hogan were super.also

Don't see it if The set is minimal but at a larger site much can be added ???? I wondered why Private Morgan did not wear remains of his Northern uniform Read more

Absorbing, Entertaining, Confusing, Thought-provoking

See it if Civil war time, most take place on a train.

Don't see it if Some of the language is of civil war time. On stage is only two wood boxes. Read more

Ambitious, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Intense

See it if You like stories about the past in contemporary language. You enjoy plays about historical events.

Don't see it if You dislike an ironic tone and/or melodramatic plot twists. You don't want to heat any racial slurs, even in historical context.

Cliched, Entertaining, Relevant, Thought-provoking

See it if you're interested in Civil War stories or the black experience

Don't see it if violence or racial epithets are triggers for you

Slow, Full of cliches, Overrated

See it if You like historical plays that concern the Underground Railroad and/or Civil War, believe love conquers all, and and don't mind slow action.

Don't see it if You are tired of plays about despicable racist attitudes and/or dislike flubbed lines, w/ some mediocre acting. Play needs better editing. Read more

Critic Reviews (1)

For a previous production

“A Civil War story in which people care for others in a way that transcends political and other allegiances...The action of this play exists in a space where people from different sides of this polarizing conflict can have mind-altering conversations...This play turns the typical heroic melodrama on its head...Hill’s direction rules this spare theater space, filling it with a truly unique, modern sensibility that many of the characters are unable to comprehend.”
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