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 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 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 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 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 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 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 stories of the paranormal and enjoy Hnath's work.

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

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 don’t mind some gimmicks-of-ghost-story plotting, are a fan of Lucas Hnath’s works, and/or are invested in original yet sparse concepts.

Don't see it if you'll roll your eyes at talk of communicating with the dead, oddly-placed lesbian undertones, and cheap (but effective) lighting trickery.

Also True to Lucas Hnath’s works, The Thin Place is invested in small moments, intimate interactions, minimal staging, and only a few actors. This could be a 75-minute monologue, as the play plods when there are more than one or two actors on stage. Cheap sound effects “scare” and make you jump. I’d have cut two useless, annoying characters from the middle and focused on dabblings with “the thin place,” a membrane between life and death. The opening sequence about mediums and trying to contact the dead telepathically and haunting family relationships are engaging. The play’s finale, too, is very atmospheric, weird yet alluring, and definitely makes you leave the theatre feeling pensive—maybe even a bit confused in a good way. If we want something badly enough, can we simply imagine it, and make it so? There are a few surprises and sleights of hand at work here, too, but I’ll leave those for the audience members to learn themselves. Thought not as “haunting” as I’d hoped, TTP does entertain.... Read more Read less

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 you are interested to discover the wonder of playwright Lucas Hnath. He takes you on a ride you could never expect. I like to be surprised.

Don't see it if you are not open to experience the surprise playwright Lucas Hnath sprinkles through the writing of his plays. It's like nothing you know.

Also I was eagerly awaiting to experience this new play of Mr. Hnath. He is a master storyteller. When I learned that actress Randy Danson was in the play, my ears perked up even more. Mr. Hnath didn't disappoint with this new play of his. He surprised me me more than I could have imagined. I left the theater that evening impressed by the satisfying meal of a play I had ingested. He truly has a way of telling a story like none of his contemporary peers. I ginned from ear to ear as I left the theater totally STUFFED from the experience.... 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 like ghost stories, like the kind you tell around campfires. Also monologues and spooky lighting.

Don't see it if You don't like to suspend your disbelief, shiver, or use your imagination. It's a real play, but less "theatrical" than "storyfeeling".

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.