The Underlying Chris
Closed 1h 25m
The Underlying Chris
72

The Underlying Chris NYC Reviews and Tickets

72%
(202 Ratings)
Positive
72%
Mixed
21%
Negative
7%
Members say
Thought-provoking, Confusing, Great acting, Ambitious, Clever

About the Show

This world premiere play from Pulitzer Prize finalist Will Eno is a high-spirited look at how a person comes into their identity, and how sometimes it’s life’s tiniest moments that most profoundly change our lives.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (202)

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253 Reviews | 46 Followers
100
I sensed that mr. will eno was inspired by luigi pirandello's six characters in search of an author, Empathy is the thread that ties it all together, It defies logic but in the end it makes perfect wonderful sense!, A thinking person's kind-of-play, Original, universal and personal

See it if You're a person attracted to the macro questions of life: what constitutes a good life and how do you make one even if you're not born lucky

Don't see it if Eleven actors of different ages, gender and race playing the same character, are beyond what you wish to comprehend Read more

219 Reviews | 88 Followers
95
Resonant, Thought-provoking, Great writing, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if You can follow a slightly surreal, kind of non-linear plot. You like non-traditional stories. You like good writing.

Don't see it if You want something easy to follow or traditional. You’re looking for something big and flashy. Read more

271 Reviews | 66 Followers
92
Intelligent, Great staging, Great acting, Funny, Absorbing

See it if You would be interested in a gender-fluid autobiography.

Don't see it if You don’t want to pay close attention; the details are rewarding, but require focus. Read more

300 Reviews | 64 Followers
91
Refreshing, Great writing, Entertaining, Clever, Absorbing

See it if you like your comedy and tragedy in equal parts and can follow non-linear narratives

Don't see it if unfinished stories are not to your liking or you get confused by actors playing multiple parts

203 Reviews | 49 Followers
90
Great writing, Great acting, Funny, Entertaining, Ambitious

See it if want a non-traditional look at life from cradle to grave, with a lot of laughs and an excellent cast.

Don't see it if you don't want to be challenged and need everything spelled out for you. Can be confusing, but if you hang in there, it is very rewarding. Read more

318 Reviews | 61 Followers
90
Thought-provoking, Confusing, Great acting, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if You like a talent cast of 11 (including children), who play multiple characters. It’s very emotive, well-acted, well-staged. If you watch

Don't see it if AND love ❤️ “This Is Us”, on NBC, then you’ll love this play. I love that the cast was diverse, in age, gender, ethnicity, size, etc. I love Read more

88 Reviews | 30 Followers
90
Exquisite, Profound, Thought-provoking, Funny, Absorbing

See it if you love unconventional plays that are both masterfully written and emotionally satisfying.

Don't see it if you get easily confused with alternative and idiosyncratic storytelling. Read more

167 Reviews | 51 Followers
90
Absorbing, Profound, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Great writing

See it if You enjoy seeing theater that tries to tell stories in different ways. This show was simultaneously completely relatable and foreign.

Don't see it if You don’t like to think at the theater. You like straightforward storytelling.

Critic Reviews (16)

The New York Times
November 21st, 2019

CRITIC’S PICK ‘The Underlying Chris,’ You Are Who You Were" Will Eno’s new play about the many people each person contains is glib at first, but grows, like life, from trick to tragicomedy.
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New York Magazine / Vulture
November 22nd, 2019

"The Understated Charms of 'The Underlying Chris,' and a High-Decibel 'Crucible'"
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Variety
November 21st, 2019

"The subject of Will Eno’s new play is, he tells us, 'Life on Earth.'"
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The Hollywood Reporter
November 21st, 2019

"The latest play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Will Eno, author of 'Thom Pain (based on nothing),' chronicles a life from infancy to death in unconventional fashion."
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Theatermania
November 21st, 2019

"The 'Underlying Chris' Asks, What's in a Name? It Might Not Be a Self Will Eno debuts his latest exploration of life, death, and the identity that coalesces in between.'
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BroadwayWorld
December 2nd, 2019

"Will Eno's Charming and Sweetly Philosophical 'THE UNDERLYING CHRIS'"
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Lighting & Sound America
November 27th, 2019

"Eno's efforts to universalize the title character works against him; his subdivision plan, parceling Chris out to different actors, allows us to follow him/her through the seven ages of man, but it prevents a recognizable person from coming into focus."
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Talkin' Broadway
November 21st, 2019

"One of the Chrises ruefully admits, 'It's easy for people to forget who they are sometimes.' Perhaps this is true, but in Eno's lovely and thought-provoking play, 'The Underlying Chris' makes a memorable and indelible impression."
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