The Thin Place

See it if While the show has at certain points some humor, a good story, it is to wordy and slow at points. Needs rework.

Don't see it if Like Hillary and Clinton, hnath throws up a stinker. Show goes to another needless place 60 minutes in.

See it if “You believe what you want to believe.” Other people’s belief systems can feel phony and unsettling. Maybe because our own isn’t solid.

Don't see it if You won’t enjoy a “real” psychic’s relationship with a “fake” psychic as a metaphor for deeper conflict between people’s beliefs & egos.

Also This was an entertaining yet difficult play. Some discussion helped to discern its meaning. For example, at the dinner party, the “scariest” ghost story, which is never finished, is about a pair of “sharp scissors”. Perhaps scissors that cut through people’s beliefs? And what was the significance of the attempted communication with the dead? The people may be gone, but their ideas, thoughts and feelings are an ongoing source of conflict and confusion. Why end the show with a magic trick? To illustrate the fragility of our “thin” belief systems.

(Spoiler alert) I believe the illusion at the end was performed as follows.

The actress’s notepad was actually an electronic screen with a wireless connection. The actress pretends to write a word on her notepad, then asks an audience member to guess out loud what word she wrote. An offstage assistant writes the guessed word on an offstage tablet, causing it to appear on the actress’s notepad.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Hnath completist & will appreciate his novel experimentation with a timeworn premise such as communicating with the "other side".

Don't see it if you expect Hnath's experimentation to reveal anything clear-cut or fresh about faith, the paranormal or the reliability of storytelling.

Also Is The Thin Place brilliant or just pretentious? The jury's still out. You decide.... Read more Read less

See it if Hnath's intellectual thriller is rigorously staged, stunningly lit & impressively acted (esp Danson) while embedding itself in your psyche

Don't see it if Slow, dense & elliptical drama takes its time before showing its true colors Patience & a certain credence in the supernatural required

See it if Playwrights is a great place to see theater. We always like to follow the writer..

Don't see it if The DARK scene needs a better sound system. The idea of house lights on for the major part of the show bugs me. ALSO

Also Confusion for us re: the purpose of the two late entering performer??????... Read more Read less

See it if rich in ambiguity; Lucas Hnath raises interesting ?s about what is real/what's not, how manipulation is key 2 effective communication

Don't see it if haphazard; story starts out strong portraying relationship between medium & subject, loses its way w irrelevant characters/plot

See it if Between realities, in a sliver, lies a netherworld where the past lives with the pesent. Twist relationship rests on the questioned truth.

Don't see it if Between worlds, in a thin place, rests a very thin plot. Gimmicky accent. Direct address. Cumbersome lighting cues.

See it if The Thin Place is where life and death most closely reside; good premise run amuck; bright lights to make us feel exposed/darkness for fear

Don't see it if though well acted the play is very slow & talky; less a ghost story than a search to hold onto what is lost

Also For me, the play feels trite. This is not a new story, many of us have searched and continue to search for a place where the living can commune with the dead. This particular story makes me feel as though someone is about to jump up and yell "sorry, just kidding!" I generally like the work of Lucas Hnath but found this disappointing.... Read more Read less

See it if You like stories about psychics. You like to be surprised. You like the intricate webs of Lucas Hnath’s Intricate characters.

Don't see it if You do not believe in mediums. You are easily startled. You have no imagination.

See it if You are willing to take a chance on something weird and unusual. The writing is excellent.

Don't see it if You don’t like being scared. It’s not only keeps you at the edge of your seat but it is truly scary

Also Typically five minutes after a play ends I know exactly what I’m going to score it and what I’m going to say about it. That is not the case Here. I’m almost afraid to write my review because I have a feeling it could change over the next few weeks and months. These are all positive things because I know this will be one that I will be thinking about for a long time. Other than “woman in black” and Todd Robbins “play dead” I don’t ever remember being scared before at a theater. There’s a big difference between being on the edge of your seat and being scared. And this gives you both feelings which are great!
All the performances were great. The lighting and the direction we’re also great. I typically like bigger sets. But all the characters were very well written and I didn’t mind the minimal set at all. I do not like solo plays so I’m really glad this was not presented as a solo piece. Unfortunately I’ve not seen anything by this playwright but hope to see more in the future... Read more Read less

See it if you like Hnath's work.I am a fan, but was disappointed.Story about why he wrote it & about the title was more interesting than the play.

Don't see it if you want a pay off for 90 minutes of build up.Has potential but needs work.Ending is very weak.

See it if interested in a Hnath play that's on the fluffier side of spooky. You don't expect a fast-paced or intense show.

Don't see it if Not the most potent play. I wasn't curious about the characters. The lead's wooden personality is off-putting even if intentional.

Also Leaving things unsaid/held back wasn’t enough to make this sufficiently mysterious and intriguing to me. The Thin Place is interesting to consider in relation to other Hnath plays, but it’s pretty conventional in relation to other “ghost”/psychological mystery writing. I can't bring myself to call this a thriller.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like ghost stories and tales where the dead may (or may not) speak to the living. The actors were fine...

Don't see it if ...but sadly stuck in a rare misfire by Lucas Hnath. I found the story boring. There is little to no action. The show kind of just ends

See it if you enjoy new creative theater that is both thought provoking and keeps you in suspense

Don't see it if you like elaborate shows with lots of scenery and traditional story lines that are not ambiguous.

See it if you enjoy stories of the paranormal and enjoy Hnath's work.

Don't see it if a straighforward plsy is what you enjoy.

See it if Absorbing story of a timid, lonely woman haunted by her grandmother and mother trying to connect with an older strong female woman.

Don't see it if Get spooked too easily. Light in story/plot isn't your thing. More about the haunting, lonely feels.

Also Diversity: timid female protagonist. No people of color.
Ticket from website with Young Member discount for $26.50.... Read more Read less

See it if I can usually find something redeeming about any show but this is a tough one for me. Concept was interesting but poorly exexuted

Don't see it if You value your time.

See it if you're a fan of Hynath, especially in the same style as Hillary and The Christians.

Don't see it if you're expecting more to do with spiritualism or a plot-driven play instead of people sitting still talking about ideas for 90 minutes.

See it if You’re a fan of Lucas Hnath. I am. This was not his strongest cohesively, but he’s always so entertaining. Funny, suspenseful, wonderful.

Don't see it if You need a big theater with big staging. You need a steady theme—you never quite know where this is going, even when you think you do.

See it if you like a surprise and aren't afraid to confront the afterlife (or what may be the afterlife).

Don't see it if you are easily spooked or are not a fan of being talked at during a show.

See it if seeing the talented Randy Danson is enough for you even if you don't connect with the story

Don't see it if you're expecting a play as engaging and enjoyable as Hnath's Hillary and Clinton, The Christians, or Red Speedo.

See it if you love Hnath and/or would like to see something suspenseful.

Don't see it if you don't like to be startled.

See it if You want a theatrical ghost story that subverts its premise and still gives you chills.

Don't see it if You want closure in your plays. You are more interested in answers than in questions.

Also Lucas Hnath is a playwright who challenges his audience but entertains them as well. This play, ostensibly about the supernatural, is also about credulity, belief, politics and is a terrific ghost story.
It's very entertaining and you never are quite sure where it is going, but it's always involving. Excellent performances from Randy Danson as The Medium and Emily Cast McDonnell as Hilda, "a not very interesting person" who would like to see ghosts.... Read more Read less

See it if You like experiencing different theatre with challenging thought process. You see this with an open mind.

Don't see it if You are interested in theatre with “normal” parameters.

See it if You are comfortable with unresolved plot and moral & factual ambiguity You are a Lucas Hnath fan that wants to track his path as a writer

Don't see it if You are looking for a traditional"ghost" story, this is more of a low key psychological examination of loss and guilt and moving on

Also Lucas Hnath has an amazing versatility in genre. What unites all his plays is some kind of moral dilemma that spills into the viability of personal relationships. A Thin Place is much more subtle than his other plays - such as The Christians, Red Speedo, Doll's House Part II or Hilary and Clinton. The emotions are considerbly more muted. I didn't love - as I really do enjoy high melodrama - but my husband really enjoyed that aspect & he also enjoyed the significant degree of the unknown. A Thin Place is a murky play where the basic facts - unlike his other stories - are hard to establish.

The cast is strong and the play is the right length.

If you really try to follow certain playwrights including Hnath - than you probably don't want to miss A Thin Place but otherwise I would take a pass on this one - especially if you need all your extra dimes to get to other shows.... Read more Read less