The Net Will Appear
Closed 1h 20m
The Net Will Appear
77

The Net Will Appear NYC Reviews and Tickets

77%
(72 Reviews)
Positive
83%
Mixed
14%
Negative
3%
Members say
Entertaining, Great acting, Delightful, Funny, Great writing

About the Show

On the rooftops of suburban Ohio, a 9-year-old girl and a 70-year-old man strike up the most incredible friendship. Richard Masur stars in this comic and heartfelt drama.

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Member Reviews (72)

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1085 Reviews | 265 Followers
79
Enchanting, Entertaining, Intelligent, Funny

See it if You want a really good story as bout an older retired man and a precocious young girl.

Don't see it if If you dont want a show that's touching, funny and sad.

913 Reviews | 929 Followers
75
Sweet, Well acted, Warm hearted, Cute

See it if you like small shows about 2 characters that sweetly touch each other's lives while slowly revealing each others' turbulent worlds

Don't see it if you want high drama. Read more

888 Reviews | 1017 Followers
74
Sweet, Cute, Entertaining

See it if A sweet 75minute play with nice performance.

Don't see it if You dislike smaller intimate plays.

1015 Reviews | 420 Followers
67
Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Slow, Forced sentimentality, Relevant

See it if You like melodrama. This has some interesting ideas and clever staging but never quite takes hold.

Don't see it if You can’t overlook some pretty glaring acting flaws as well as a contrived script. Its entertaining enough but far from great.

982 Reviews | 343 Followers
75
Sitcom-y, Cliched, Amusing, Twee

See it if you like a sassy (not believable) kid. Rory is smart/precocious...except when she's clueless for laughs. Inconsistent char, but some charm.

Don't see it if you want true insights into human hearts. TNWA is played for easy laughs. Nice set. Well acted (altern Rory). Some unnecessary sexual talk.

567 Reviews | 147 Followers
76
Slow, Cliched, Funny, Delightful

See it if Dissimilar neighbours forge unlikely friendship. Soft candy coating wrapped around a hard vinegar center. Masur as always, very believable.

Don't see it if Tired set-up. The miscast kid can't act or deliver her lines...Merry Christmas.

543 Reviews | 133 Followers
78
Touching, Charming, Bitterweet, Good set, Good acting and direction

See it if Real life 5th grader Eve Johnson plays a wonderfully precocious kid with a memory I envy. She & Masur are touching as opportune friends.

Don't see it if you want a meaty drama you can sink your teeth into. This is a sweet story of an unlikely pair who make each others lives better. Funny/sad

488 Reviews | 316 Followers
85
Absorbing, Poignant, Great writing, Great acting, Great set

See it if Sweet, funny & sad play. Nothing is surprising but it is very engaging, well-acted and keeps your attention throughout. I'd recommend it.

Don't see it if you want more pizzazz. This is just a series of conversation between an older man and a young girl. But totally engaging. Read more

Critic Reviews (18)

BroadwayWorld
December 15th, 2018

“You will want to see this charming intergenerational two hander. It's a play that tugs at your heartstrings and also makes you smile...This unexpected friendship between two very different individuals is truly inspiring...The acting couldn't be better...The actors master Cirnigliaro's wonderfully written dialogue and make you feel as though Bernard and Rory's rooftop meetings are actually unfolding in real time...An honest, beautiful and genuine story that must be seen.”
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Lighting & Sound America
December 17th, 2018

"This is one of those opposites-attract two-handers in which two people meet and instantly irritate each other, then gradually open up and form an unshakeable bond. Since this is the only possible plot trajectory, suspense is impossible; one's enjoyment hinges on becoming engaged with the characters, a tall order under the circumstances...If Erin Mallon's script is both predictable and cloying, the rest of the production is thoroughly professional."
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Talkin' Broadway
December 12th, 2018

"Comically and touchingly demonstrated...What surprises most is how empathetic we grow to both characters. While the setup covers territory we've seen before, the playwright wins us over by feeding us information...in bits and pieces, allowing each to show their authenticity and vulnerability...The pair play beautifully off each other, and Masur gives an exceptional performance...A sweet and lovely little gem of a play.”
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TheaterScene.net
December 14th, 2018

"Gradually, as the course of a year passes, we learn about the characters' trouble-filled off-stage lives: Rory is coping with being part of a broken family; Bernard suffered loss early in life, and his wife now has medical issues. The growing friendship between the two opposites is obviously meant to create an occasion for epiphany. Too obviously. The drama in the characters' contrasting lives plays out with boilerplate predictability. It's all just a little too pat."
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Theatre is Easy
December 17th, 2018

“Masur’s and Johnson’s open-hearted, intelligent performances and Cirnigliaro’s thoughtful, understated direction polish up a play that occasionally treads water while in search of fresh ideas...Mallon’s humor can also be somewhat hit-and-miss...Still, Mallon just manages to thread the needle of balancing broad comedy with the multi-pronged pathos...’The Net Will Appear’ doesn’t demand much from its audience, but lovingly performed as it is here, it’s as gentle as an air hug.”
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Front Mezz Junkies
December 21st, 2018

"It’s kind and emotionally true, speaking sweetly and innocently of love, attachment, and loss in a way that feels authentic and engaging...Just believe me when I tell you this tender and emotional entwining of two souls in need is worthy of your time and your heart. Johnson is a charmer, building enthusiasm, emotionality, and engagement with a force that can’t be denied...A perfect gift of clarity, love, and kindness for the holidays."
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Exeunt Magazine
December 13th, 2018

"Delivers a similar momentary respite from the battering harshness of the outside world, in a straightforward but skillful production...The production takes on the risk of casting both roles with actors who are within a few years of the actual age of their character, and for the most part the gambit succeeds...The overall effect is static, yet there is something calming in its predictability...I’d describe my experience of the work as peaceful."
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New York Theater
December 14th, 2018

“Mallon’s sweet, modest play...Masur is terrific in portraying Bernard...Rory, a talkative, precocious nine-year-old, suddenly appears on the roof of the house next door, determined to engage her grumpy neighbor...Her naïveté provides much of the humor in the play. Many of her remarks are spot-on and hilarious, though some are too precious...Over the course of the 80 minutes of the play, Rory wears down Bernard’s reserve, and we learn more about each of them.”
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