The Terrifying
Closed 1h 30m
The Terrifying
75

The Terrifying NYC Reviews and Tickets

75%
(10 Ratings)
Positive
70%
Mixed
30%
Negative
0%
Members say
Edgy, Confusing, Intense, Absorbing, Ambitious

About the Show

Minor Theater presents the world premiere of this horror story about a family that turns the tables on a fearsome creature.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (10)

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63 Reviews | 26 Followers
87
Absorbing, Clever, Edgy, Great staging, Great writing

See it if "Penny Dreadful" meets "Waiting for Godot" is your idea of good theater

Don't see it if you expect naturalistic acting in a metaphorical tale, or can't tolerate the same actors playing multiple roles (sometimes in the same scene Read more

114 Reviews | 24 Followers
75
Clever, Confusing, Great staging

See it if ...you enjoy new works, horror, edgy, dark, downtown theater. Great use of space and sound design. Cast gives 100%.

Don't see it if ...you want light-hearted entertainment; there is dry humor. I get that the writer is making social commentary but not quite sure what it is

93 Reviews | 16 Followers
70
Confusing, Edgy, Intense, Amazing set design, Absorbing

See it if you want to see a show with incredible design elements (and live sound design!) as well as a play that explores typical theatrical rules

Don't see it if you want a straightforward play that's easy to understand.

60 Reviews | 21 Followers
60
Great staging, Thought-provoking, Confusing, Cliched, Ambitious

See it if you appreciate great tech. Really interesting use of the staging. Very intriguing to see a horror piece adapted to the stage.

Don't see it if you aren't willing to leave the theatre with a lot of questions. Ending came out of nowhere and was un-earned.

34 Reviews | 7 Followers
79
Riveting, Quirky, Intense, Dizzying, Delightful

See it if You're interested in baroque language and fear. You can take pleasure in unusual, off-beat acting styles. You love amazing sound design.

Don't see it if You need naturalism in your theatre. You can't look past some bad acting and poor lighting design. You dislike jumpscares and/or malaprops.

40 Reviews | 56 Followers
68
Disappointing, Intense, Slow

See it if you enjoy small theatre plays with limited cast and dystopia feel.

Don't see it if you're looking to be scared or creeped out. A lot of sudden loud noises meant to strike fear, instead caused some laughter.

17 Reviews | 6 Followers
96
Absorbing, Funny, Delightful, Enchanting, Entertaining

See it if You're a Moore fan, you are a Dem, open minded, like inspirational stories

Don't see it if You love Trump Read more

6 Reviews | 4 Followers
60
Confusing, Ambitious, Edgy

See it if You want innovative and moody theater.

Don't see it if You want your theater staid and usual.

Critic Reviews (5)

The New York Times
March 19th, 2017

"This disregard of the classic elements of style makes scarefests a natural field of exploration for Ms. Jarcho, a queen of experimental mayhem. Traditional logic, coherent plots and credible acting have never been among her priorities...All these men are played with ripe and delirious hamminess by Pete Simpson, who is giving one of the most unlikely and dazzling comic performances of this season. Funny he may be, but it is Simpson who brings the show to its sobering conclusion."
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Time Out New York
March 20th, 2017

"Jarcho has spun a metaphysical conceit around her characters, putting the audience inside what turns out to be a B-movie...On the page this is interesting, but on its feet the different modes create confusion. Is the goal black comedy?...Is it 'terrifying?' Well. Shows can be both comic and scary at once, of course...But it needs delicate calibration. This is where execution muddies the issue...The play's parts, which seemed so healthy separately, just won't make a functioning body go."
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Theatre is Easy
March 28th, 2017

"While a visually stunning and cleverly staged production, there is still room for improvement. The script at times sacrifices clarity for intrigue, and none of the characters seem to have been developed thoroughly enough...The co-existence of camp and horror also seems to make them negate each other: the rapid shifts between styles make it hard to truly get lost in the story."
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Theater Pizzazz
March 20th, 2017

“Who’s more terrifying: the monster or its victims? Playwright and director Julia Jarcho...will answer the question in a tidy, melancholic monologue at the end of her new horror comedy, ‘The Terrifying.’ What she won’t do is scare you or make you laugh, though the production frequently tries to do both, pummeling you with a seat-rattling sound design and often goofy humor...All of it is a sensory overload and too much fuss for a messy commentary on how monsters come in all shapes and sizes."
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Exeunt Magazine
March 22nd, 2017

“An object lesson in the magic of live performance, building a striking theatrical experience out of a slim, unsettling folk tale of a script…Jarcho breathes mood and texture into the play’s archetypal characters and broad narrative strokes. The piece is realized with confidence and control in every detail, anchored by Ben Jalosa Williams’s immersive live sound design and a bravura performance by Pete Simpson in all three leading-male roles.”
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