The Mushroom Cure

See it if you like to hear how one guy conquered OCD. And how he found love, at least for awhile. Clever, funny, insightful, honest, raw, engaging.

Don't see it if you want more insight into how Adam got OCD or how the cure worked. Some parts too slow, others too fast. Why's it hard to get mushrooms?

See it if You have an interest in OCD, alternative therapies, Love and some really great story telling. One of the better one person shows I’ve seen.

Don't see it if You have no interest or experience with mental illness or recreational drug use.

See it if You want a play that deals with OCD. Has some funny moments. As a one man show, Adam Strauss does a nice job. Good lighting.

Don't see it if If your not into one acts. If you do not like smaller east village theater like St Mark's.

See it if Comic with OCD seeks hallucinogenic cure, while courting his smart girlfriend. Hip humor, captivating story, good acting.

Don't see it if You don't want to see the challenges of living with OCD. You don't like self-deprecating humor. You prefer a bigger production.

See it if you enjoy one-man shows with too much material in search of a good editor or director. There is way too much material covered here.

Don't see it if you do not like overlong one-man shows.

See it if You typically like one person shows

Don't see it if Watching one actor tell a story for almost 2 hours bothers you

Also I don’t typically like plays with only one actor. There seems to be more and more of these shows lately. I thought the actor did a really good job telling story but I won’t say he is a good actor because he told his own story.... Read more Read less

See it if You like one-man shows and enjoy stories about mental health, drug use and romantic relationships.

Don't see it if You prefer elaborate staging or are offended by drug induced stories or if you are not engaged by story telling.

See it if you are ready for a deep dive into the frustrations, highs, lows, and exhausting recovery of a victim of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Don't see it if you cannot sit 90 minutes without interval in a solo man show with minimal set, a monologue with a few other parts played by him &dark theme

See it if you like one-person shows. If you want to see a comic portray in a funny and touching way, his own struggle with OCD.

Don't see it if you don't like one-person shows with the actor portraying multiple characters talking to each other. It can be annoying and isn't done well.

See it if you enjoy intense personal stories performed as a solo show.

Don't see it if you're disturbed by drug use or frank sexual discussions.

See it if you want to witness an open story about living with OCD told in a way that will make you feel compassion yet laugh out loud through it all.

Don't see it if you don't like one person shows; or shows without any staging; or are uncomfortable with the topic of OCD or anxiety disorders.

Also I think Adam did a great job exposing life with OCD - and now I wonder if we all don't suffer with it a little bit, at times - but nothing to the extent that Adam describes vividly and with great humor.

He is smart and he is a very good performer.

I saw this show in Jan 2017 - so it is open again.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be bored to tears by the self-indulgent story of a soul suffering from OCD, his attempt to cure himself with mushrooms and cacti

Don't see it if You're interested in the real potential of hallucinogens to help in remediation of many mental illnesses. Stand-up Strauss isn't up to job.

Also This was one of the most meandering, repetitive 100 minutes I've spent especially given that the author/performer was not particularly engaging or likable (to me). Many people left at intermission, but I stuck it out with no personal gain whatsoever. Oh yes, I learned in detail how to take virtually any species of cactus and create a home brew hallucinogen. BTW, I am VERY interested in the potential of these plants to be healing agents.... Read more Read less

See it if Your Drug addicted

Don't see it if Not an addict

See it if you enjoy personal stories, told from the heart.

Don't see it if you want to hear something more polished. It's honest and raw, and could benefit from another rewrite.

See it if if you'd like to understand more about mental illness & OCD from the viewpoint of a former sufferer -- who is also a stand-up comedian

Don't see it if if plays involving drugs, drug dealers, tripping, the F-word, and a painful addiction are not your type of "comedy"

See it if You have, or are close to, one with OCD and are able to find humor and pathos in the condition.

Don't see it if Non-linear, perseverative monologues disturb you. Also if you are actually looking for hard evidence of psyllocibin as a curative for OCD.

See it if you enjoy The Moth enough to extend the stories into novellas. Good insights, humor, use of language. Intelligent and entertaining.

Don't see it if one-handers leave you cold, and you are discomfited by entering deep into someone's troubled psyche.

See it if you want a funny and fascinating retelling of one mans experiences with a variety of hallucinogens.

Don't see it if you don't like one man shows or are opposed to drug use.

See it if you are interested in a comedy about trying to heal yourself through alternative medicine -- with a side of romance.

Don't see it if you don't like solo shows.

See it if You like the stand up acting vibe, the direction can use some editing changing the way the actor moves and Reducing the production time.

Don't see it if You don’t like solo shows

See it if You want to spend 90 minutes in the head of someone with OCD. It may not be “fun” but it’s a riveting true story. Great experience!

Don't see it if You go expecting to laugh. Many reviews describe it as funny. I found it to be too real to be funny, but I really liked it.

See it if You like a funny one man show by a standup comic- fast and refreshing about psychedelic drugs and quest to cure his OCD

Don't see it if You don't like one man shows or the topic of Drugs or OCD

See it if A masterful storyteller who baits you in for a very personal journey that you can’t help but to feel connected, stirred and inspired by it

Don't see it if A one-man show with little to no props. Far from being silly- let’s just joke about mushrooms and drugs as the poster may suggest.

Also I came in with a very low bar and left the stage moved and humbled by the performance. I feel like Adam was my dear friend and I was adjoining him on his journey of honest frustration and realization with addiction (to overcome his flaws). Timing of his jokes were also just great, pretty funny guy.

One of few shows where I thought the lighting was spot-on. Transitions often feel too brisk and takes away the homogenousness of the show, but not this one. Fading away and coming back actually allowed the previous story to linger on and build onto something else.

It’s not a show I can recommend everyone especially if you can’t get past dry and slow build-up. It may also be quite difficult for someone to relate and connect to the subject matter of drugs. Minimalistic to the fullest. But then, I am very glad that I had gone to see this. I feel like I became a slightly better person than I was walking into the theater couple hours ago.

He says everything is a true story and I believe him... Read more Read less

See it if you’ve ever thought of tripping out on magic mushrooms, or are searching for a way to deal with OCD. Adam Strauss is a gifted actor.

Don't see it if you are not an adventurous person, have no feeling for the person seeking to find a way to gain control over OCD or dislike one man plays.

See it if You appreciate an autobiographical program largely based on drug usage.

Don't see it if You are offended by a drug fueled theme or need any type of scenery or a multi-person program.