The Underlying Chris NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (203)
See it if Fascinating exploration of innate vs. acquired identity. Vignettes of "Chris" at different life stages. Warm, amusing & intellectual.
Don't see it if You would be confused by 10 actors of various ages/races/genders playing Chris. You prefer intensity & emotion to inward reflection.
See it if you enjoy Will Eno's work. It consists of a series of small scenes which appear to be unrelated at first.
Don't see it if you need a strong clear plot to keep your attention. The episodic structure makes the play difficult to watch.
See it if u want to learn the meaning of life in a play about universality & identity as told thru birth-to-death vignettes from the ever-astute Eno.
Don't see it if you prefer directness, realism & conventionality to allegory, abstraction & non-conformity. Read more
See it if Talent is there. Concept is innovative...Must read recap before viewing.. Different outlook re: life. Rating an ave. for partner and myself
Don't see it if Reminder:get gist of roles before viewing. Will Eno needs studying before watching his plays.
See it if An unusual chronicling of a life from start 2 finish. Since all people have both male & female aspects to themselves Chris is no different.
Don't see it if you don't like when a playwright enjoys playing with his audience; you prefer a straight forward story that doesn't make you think.
See it if want brief reminder of what life & theatre can be. like expectations to B turned on their head, want to pay attention & figure it out
Don't see it if like not challenge of disruption of theatrical expectations, want ONE actor to play the same character all the way thru, fight 2 stay awake
See it if you like plays that make you think, that deal with issues like who are we,can we be good & bad at once,are we more than 1 person
Don't see it if you want a straight line, totally comprehensible play.This is probably one you should see twice.That's not a good thing.It should be easier
See it if You are a Will Eno fan. I was honestly confused for half the play. Too much thought for a Sunday matinee, but an interesting view on a life.
Don't see it if You want to see a straight forward play. Put on your thinking caps. Scorecards needed.
Critic Reviews (16)
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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"The Understated Charms of 'The Underlying Chris,' and a High-Decibel 'Crucible'"
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"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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"The subject of Will Eno’s new play is, he tells us, 'Life on Earth.'"
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"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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"Will Eno's Charming and Sweetly Philosophical 'THE UNDERLYING CHRIS'"
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"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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"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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