The Neurology of the Soul

See it if There is some good acting here. If you like slow plays. If your interested in science.

Don't see it if Very uneven, poorly written. It goes on and on.

See it if you’d like to see a piece that puts some of our civilization’s big ticket items on trial: love, science, need, commerce, fidelity, art…

Don't see it if you don’t think of the theater as a place you want to think.

Also Love, science, need, commerce, fidelity, art: I’m glad that playwright-director Edward Einhorn puts all these ingredients of our social interaction on trial in his intriguing play “The Neurology of the Soul.” I think that theater, the most communal of the arts, is just the place to examine these things. I’m also glad to report he mostly succeeds. Because of the human importance of the subjects he’s probing, I wish things had got a little hotter. Twice during the proceedings 2 different characters let out a rafter-shaking primal scream. They might be 2 most engaging (if frightening) moments of the show. This is less quirky than other Einhorn plays I’ve seen. The regularity of the many scenes of domestic, business & artistic life felt a little rote as they unfold, & the final reconciliations a little sentimental & too easy. But anyone interested in how human beings try to satisfy basic needs in a society fully dominated by commerce will want to see this.... Read more Read less

See it if Thought provoking re: What if. Post performance talks by experts in the field.Nice use of videos.hope for a follow up when more info is ..

Don't see it if When actors behind the screen the voices need clarity.Post play interviewee when answer co host tended to talk to him and not the audience

See it if you would like good juxtaposition of marketing and human neurological response research presented in an entertaining way w/ good projections

Don't see it if you do not want to watch the ills of market techniques and relationship troubles by researchers with loved ones.

See it if for the insightful blend of science & art that underpins the plot. The theater has artwork & post show interviews to support the theme.

Don't see it if you have triggering issues with brain explorations and MRIs.

See it if Science and art can meld beautifully. Unfortunately they do not do so in this play. I never felt engaged by any of the actors. Do you agree

Don't see it if You need well developed characters rather than cardboard cut outs to enjoy a play. You are easily bored by slow moving stories on stage.

See it if You really like a slooow sci-fi type romance.

Don't see it if You want an entertaining show. Best part of this is the stage sets.

See it if Neuroscientist scans wife’s brain to measure emotions (love). Results are used by his boss for product marketing and by his wife to make art

Don't see it if You don’t like intellectually challenging plays that examine what it means to be human, to love, appreciate art, make & sell things of value

Also This play provides an overview of scientific neurological research and asks meta-questions: What is consciousness? What does it mean to be human? What is emotion on a neural level? Can thoughts and feelings be manipulated?... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays that are thought provoking, unique in theme, realistic dialog, good characterizations and fine acting.

Don't see it if you dislike plays that deal with scientific mind research and the effects on human lives and serious rather then light/comic presentations.

See it if If you a great story of mind vs. heart vs marketing told by a super cast.

Don't see it if You like more traditional theater.

See it if You like science , art ,and an exploration of relationship dynamics It didn’t go deep enough but was entertaining

Don't see it if You want to be seriously challenged. This is more stereotypical but fun enough

See it if you're interested in new technology and the business of promoting and selling works of art .

Don't see it if you want to hear all the lines spoken by the female lead. She spoke too low, too fast and often behind a curtain.

See it if You are interested in marketing, art, or neuroscience--you are more intellectual than emotional

Don't see it if you want believable characters enacting a believable situation.

Also There is a play in there trying to get out. The premise is an interesting one but not well realized. I couldn't believe Amy and Stephen and their marriage. The best parts were the "lectures" by the actor playing Mark. I believed him.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in the neural bases of emotion, consciousness, suggestibility, and motivation. Einhorn juggles these impressively.

Don't see it if you prefer to engage with complex believable characters over ideas. This is Stoppard lite, but without compelling human behavior

Also Playwright director Einhorn's ambitious, idea-driven play attempts to introduce so many theses, scientific and emotional-- along with exploring how the two may intersect--that it gives short shrift to the human beings whose lives are impacted by these ideas. The competent actors struggle for much of the evening to find truthful choices amid so much theory mongering.
Many interesting questions are raised, however, and the production stages them with some interesting techniques, using scrims and projections. Would more technical wizardry help deliver the science more satisfactorily, or merely highlight the contrivances in the human drama?
There is nonetheless an engaging playful quality to the juggling of so many interesting subjects.... Read more Read less

See it if want to be reminded about everything that you ever read about neuroscience and marketing; you are fans of 4 good actors

Don't see it if do not want to be bored for 1 hour and 40min looking on predictable situations on stage and listening to the banalities. Stay home, please

Also nice, clean location, comfortable chairs, a little far from a subway; very helpfull usher, who is also helping on stage during performance. Liked that two helpers were invited for the final bow alone with 4 major characters. The show creator was there, hope that he will find ways to improve... Read more Read less

See it if You want a smart but simple love story about how neuroscience can be used by us and against ourselves. Enjoy two dynamic performances

Don't see it if You mind a main arc that is predictable and at the end a bit sappy. Don’t get academic humor or enjoy that.

See it if A neurological researcher uses his wife as his subject for experiments to image the brain in response to romantic and sexual stimuli.

Don't see it if ... if you don't enjoy plays that need more work. The concept is very interesting, but actors are stiff or miscast.

See it if You are interested in a play that deals with scientific research on love which the results might change the view of neuroscience

Don't see it if You do not like small productions, plays with a lot of medical and science referrals, infedility, love

Also This was definitely an interesting subject and makes you question a lot of things. With the advancement on science, is it possible that your emotions are translated by brain scan imaging, and how far they can go to use this data, to analyze human behavior, where does the privacy starts or ends? The play focus on how these results effect our decision and how neuro marketing could extract this data to their benefit for their campaign but it makes you wonder on a broader scale where else they might use it, now we know the big brother is watching.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy a play that examines the nexus between neuroscience, marketing , art and love

Don't see it if You have no imagination

See it if ...you’re interested the dangers of using science to enhance marketing techniques. Also a story that combines Pygmalion & Frankenstein.

Don't see it if You expect a well cast play. The part of Marc was well cast & well developed. The characters, Stephen and Amy were not well written or cast.

See it if You just like science (though trying to explain love thru science is really kinda foolish IMHO)

Don't see it if you're expecting witty dialogue and thought-provoking themes

See it if You like plays with twisted plots and good acting.

Don't see it if You like plays with simple story lines that are easy to follow.

See it if you are interested in entertaining a new idea about how the psyche might work..

Don't see it if you are looking for a an insightful and original take on how our brain works.

See it if You like to learn while being entertained.

Don't see it if If you do not enjoy shows that are different and want different perspectives.

See it if You’re interested in modern times, the bad side of marketing, marital ups and downs, the seedy side of art marketing and a good script.

Don't see it if You think it will be more about science than human vulnerabilities.