The Niceties NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%

(53 Ratings)

Positive

90%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Relevant, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Intelligent, Absorbing

About the Show

At an elite East Coast university, a polite conversation between a professor and a student becomes a powder keg of race, history, and power.

An ambitious young black student and her esteemed white professor meet to discuss a paper the college junior is writing about the American Revolution. They’re both liberal. They’re both women. They’re both brilliant. But very quickly, discussions of grammar and Google turn to race and reputation, and before they know it, they’re in dangerous territory neither of them had foreseen – and facing stunning implications that can’t be undone.

Show-Score Member Reviews (53)

Great acting, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Ambitious

See it if You enjoy two-hander dramas that discuss intense historical and political themes and plays that make you think.

Don't see it if You briefer lighter, more active fare. This play is all two people talking about controversial subjects.

Absorbing, Great acting, Intelligent, Profound, Relevant

See it if A bravura performance. Based on a true story, addresses the ways people with different views just yell at each other instead of listening.

Don't see it if The character of the student was so entitled that I wanted to slap her. So did many in the audience.

Ambitious, Entertaining, Edgy, Great writing, Intelligent

See it if a stirring modern day drama is something that interest you.

Don't see it if a college campus based race drama is uninteresting to you. Read more

Edgy, Intense, Intelligent

See it if you were a member of the debate team OR enjoy lively banter.

Don't see it if you're expecting a traditional play with plot, story and vividly drawn characters. Read more

Thought-provoking, Relevant, Argumentative, Angry, Indulgent

See it if Old white history professor locks horns with revolutionary black student. Angry debate and power struggle ensues. Smart & engaging.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a lengthy intellectual impassioned debate. Reminded me of the arguments I have had with my 20-year old daughter.

Great acting, Great writing, Refreshing, Funny, Thought-provoking

See it if You want to see a play that looks at both sides of the racial debate. Allows the audience to make its own conclusions on "right" and "wrong"

Don't see it if You feel like a play such as this needs to take a firm moral stance because there can't be shades of grey.

Ambitious, Great acting, Intelligent, Intense, Relevant

See it if You want a thought-provoking play about race, privilege and college campuses.

Don't see it if You want characters who are nuanced and open to evolving.

Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Slow, Relevant

See it if You want to think through how even some variation in beliefs can pull us apart if we're not careful. You like intense dialogue between 2 ppl

Don't see it if You want something light and just for easy entertainment. You prefer tidy endings.

Critic Reviews (8)

Trailer

Creative team