See it if You want to see a play dealing with representations of the stages of life portrayed by two remarkable actors.
Don't see it if You are looking for drama with a hard edge or something unconventional. Read more
See it if You like shows that are just a slice of life: two ordinary people who are going through difficulties at very different stages in life.
Don't see it if You don't like small casts. You don't think a 9 year-old would get why Rohrschach is funny.
See it if U want to see a fabulous play with outstanding performances.Masur is BRILLIANT and young Eve Johnson is a powerhouse actress in the making.
Don't see it if Themes of depression, grief, loss or difficult family dynamics is a trigger.But this is a gem-a chance to see a brilliant actor at his best.
See it if you like a slice of life between an 8 year old and a 75 year old
Don't see it if you don't like screechy , high pitched child voices Read more
See it if You're entertained by interesting characters, especially precocious young ladies, interacting.
Don't see it if You really need a traditional plot.
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
See it if You want to watch two characters interact that at first appear to have nothing in common but then have everything in common
Don't see it if You are looking for something other than what the description tells us. It’s just two characters and very black box style Read more
See it if You love the honesty, openess, caring and hilarious quips of children, like heartwarming stories, both laughter and tears, you have empathy.
Don't see it if You dislike talky, energetic children, or have a problem understanding them. You don't want a child to have most of the lines. Read more
"Vaguely titled, sentimental, two-hander…A slender piece…Which isn't to deny that there are indeed some clever moments, even if Rory's verbal skills, interests, and general knowledge often seem to defy belief. There was certainly considerable laughter in the house…Veteran Richard Masur has played overtly gruff but actually warmhearted characters like Bernard often enough so that he need do little more than say the words and we accept him."
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“Johnson is a talented young girl with firm command of her lines, gestures and stage presence. However...Johnson’s constant barrage of comments...can grate on one’s nerves...One may appreciate the skill of the youngster and look forward to seeing her in a play that is more substantial and less cloying. Masur does what he must to move from initial annoyance to affection, in addition to reflecting loneliness and loss. However, Mallon’s play only offers a very thin experience.”
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“Mallon’s script is efficiently constructed and poignant, but there’s little verisimilitude here. The dramatic situation is contrived; the characters are fabricated rather than observed; and the dialogue rises only intermittently above the glossy superficiality of 1980s television comedy...What saves the day is Masur’s virtuosity, which redeems a predictable comedy-drama and makes the joyous final scene soar like one of Bernard’s beloved songbirds.”
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“Mallon may be a newcomer. But her ‘The Net Will Appear’ shows a mastery of storytelling, character development, and honest sentiment without artificial sweetening. Trouble and heartache, she vividly shows us, can touch life at any stage...But so can redemption through human contact – through love. The message is an old one, but the medium...is fresh, beautifully played, and absolutely charming...Directed with economy and sensitivity...It’s a powerful, intimate piece of theater."
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"Author Mallon writes by the numbers, but she does so competently and with feeling. Richard Masur's performance as Bernard is also by the numbers, but he's a skillful, likable actor and it works...I don't mean to damn with faint praise here. 'The Net Will Appear' is a nice, old-fashioned evening in the theatre, and Richard Masur's performance alone is worth the low-priced ticket. It is what it is, and it's a solid version thereof."
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"Seventy-five minutes of pure heart, pure warmth, pure fun. Go see it, and you’ll come out wanting to hug every loved one you have...Cheesy? Slightly. But it’s that charming kind of cheesiness you find in Hallmark movies, the kind you just can’t help but love, especially now that holiday cheer is in the air. Plus, the show’s hysterical...Richard Masur’s Bernard is especially candid and sharp-tongued...And Eve Johnson shines as the precocious young Rory."
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“A tender and quite beautiful play...Most remarkable...is how Masur and Lawler work so effectively and movingly off of each other. The highly skilled and accomplished elder never seems to be restraining his range or playing down to his young costar...He offers a complex, nuanced performance, confident that Lawler can travel with him...There are no great fireworks or shocking revelations...Cirnigliaro, Masur, and Lawler combine skillfully to achieve a warm pace for that journey.”
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“This is a tender, moving, slice of lives. Mallon dialogue snaps with wit and craft. She in concert with director Mark Cirnigliaro create memorable characters with amazingly strong performances from Masur and Lawler...Together the actors create a nice balance – she’s honest, forthright and all too apt to speak. He’s guarded for realistic reasons – especially given her age...The production is credible, warm and engaging.”
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