The Wild Parrots of Campbell

See it if You know someone in the cast or crew and want to be supportive.

Don't see it if You want more than an occasional spark of decent acting from an otherwise dull, drudge filled two plus hours of millennial melodrama.

Also There was not one performance or storyline that I found believable in this entire production. Even the staging, lighting and costumes annoyed me.... Read more Read less

See it if Emotionally damaged young people seek refuge in a house that is haunted by past trauma. Relationship fireworks lead to self searching.

Don't see it if You are uninterested in flailing 20-somethings. One character was stereotypical comic relief.

Also I liked the contradictions: the parrots are reliable company but cruel reminders; the house is both refuge and prison. It made me think about aspects of my life that are at the same time both comforting and painful.

Also, it's interesting how the deceased mother character is remembered very differently by three different occupants of the house. Each has their own experience, and is surprised to find that it is not shared.... Read more Read less

See it if u want to observe a group of Gen Z slackers as they navigate young adulthood (& self-destruction) in a perceptive, fresh backyard drama.

Don't see it if ur looking for explosive drama, fast-paced storytelling & tidy endings; u simply can't relate to the young-life crises of Gen Z/Millennials.

Also I was pleasantly surprised by Alex Riad's The Floor Is Lava (and John Dimino's performance in that) earlier this year, and I was anxious to see the follow-up. The Wild Parrots of Campbell did not disappoint (nor, for that matter, did Dimino). I am anxious to follow Riad and his angsty Gen Zers as they age, mature (or not), and navigate the 21st Century. He seems to really have his finger on the pulse on a particular segment of the generation.... Read more Read less

See it if Extremely well played & staged, its' Reid's writing that captivates While overwritten, it unfolds at its own pace providing its tension

Don't see it if The influences are fairly evident; notably Shepard & Guirgis the storytelling is very potent Characterizations can often be one-dimensional

See it if subtle direction of complex interwoven character backgrounds interests you. Five people each exploring deep wells pain.

Don't see it if tobacco smoke bothers you. The auditorium is small and the actors smoke on stage.

See it if Not as strong as The Floor is Lava but has a lot going for it. Similar psychological candor re expectations & growth makes it worthwhile.

Don't see it if Both Lava & Parrots feature chrctrs at parties they aren’t enjoying. If dissatisfaction w/ surface contentment doesn’t interest, might skip.

Also Fantastic performance from Evan Hall.

I was engaged throughout, but Parrots is clearly withholding a bit too much before it showers Act 2 with activity. The rest of the cast hits their stride in the second half. Parrots left me wanting some of the characters to have their own spinoff play because I'd like to see what they do next.

The ending is a little too convenient. It satisfies what I wanted for each of the characters, but the economic circumstances make this outcome unlikely. The point might be that the financial hurdles aren’t as significant as the mental ones…but…this is the Bay Area, right?... Read more Read less

See it if You want a play with a relatively interesting plotline. We meet our cast in a round robin, several critical points are brushed over here.

Don't see it if You want an overstuffed, underdeveloped play. 2 hours 20 min and a lot of door slamming. The plots could have been streamlined and allowed

Also to be interconnected earlier. We dont really feel attached to any of our players in the first act. In the second act the fruit of the seeds from our first scene evolve, i wish this had been more focused.... Read more Read less

See it if A evening of drama which was emotionally wrapped in sadness & denial produced a true winning formula. Kudos to the entire cast. Thumbs up!

Don't see it if You are allergic to tobacco smoke. It is a key component to the emotional release of pinned up feelings.

Also I cannot say enough great things about this drama. The show is closing this weekend. I hope more of my fellow show-score participants see it. Again, bravo to the cast & director!💕... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy story telling at its finest. The relationships between the characters was funny, poignant and very intense.

Don't see it if Your looking for an evening of nothing but light hearted fluff

See it if You appreciate the complexities of family relationships , smart writing and well developed characters

Don't see it if You want a snappy story with a happy ending, or a big production. This is an intimate theater in the round. 2+hrs

See it if You want to see a story about a group of friends that you like but don't find exactly riveting.

Don't see it if You expect to come away with a clear understanding of the characters even after 2 hours and 20 mins.

See it if you enjoy great dialogue and well drawn interested characters exploring a complicated array of themes. enjoy dramas about family trauma

Don't see it if you mind a play being a bit overstuffed with ideas so that not all pay off. Mind a lack of a strong resolution.

Also This play is very nearly great. The dialogue is sharp and at times everything clicks. I think the play probably had a bit too many ideas and so themes like the dorky guy whose become way more successful than everyone he knows and is starting to be bothered by it don't really pay off. Amanda's arc doesn't really work for a host of reasons and her statement of empowerment doesn't hold up to scrutiny (though maybe that is intentional). Well worth attending as the dialogue is way better than most plays.... Read more Read less

See it if Young people problem s

Don't see it if Dislike teenage slackers

See it if You like a well written family story performed by very good actors

Don't see it if You like musicals or comedies.

See it if You want to see some very talented young actors dealing with subjects of loss, addiction, family issues and just plain unhappiness.

Don't see it if You have trouble sitting through a 2 and a half hour play. A bit too long considering where it ends up. Climax could use some rethinking.

See it if you like character-driven stories about relationships, baggage, trauma, etc. that are wonderfully acted and written. Lots of humor, too.

Don't see it if you lack empathy, you don't like flawed characters, you don't like to think/witness authentic dialogue and only want lots of action

See it if You enjoy a well developed play and complicated family dynamics. This is sensitive, intelligent, complex and moving and captured my heart.

Don't see it if You are not into the nitty gritty of family members in a complex and powerfully dynamic moment in their lives it asks us to listen.

See it if You like new plays that are character studies.

Don't see it if You like new plays that are plot driven.

Also I struggled to like this more "OK" because I didn't feel I new much about the characters past what was on the surface. It feels like they each get one thing dropped in about their past, but it isn't enough to define them.... Read more Read less

See it if you love some good ole fashioned angsty young person plays, like plays about outsiders or well acted millennial dramas

Don't see it if you have a short attention span (it's a long play), if you are looking for a feminist story, lots of screaming men but what's new

Also This play is an accurate portrayal of 4 Cali kids on the outskirts of society. Evan Hall in particular does a fantastic job of embodying the vividly intelligent and charismatic yet home bound depressant and alcoholic that one would meet in a California fringe town. The issue is with the "new girl" - despite Dominica Faraud's emotionally invoking portrayal of Her - this character is severely underwritten even thought she could have been seen as the hero of this story, the writing can make her come across as the villain as the brothers play tug of war with her sexual autonomy. Would have also liked to see more of a diverse cast in the male roles...... Read more Read less

See it if You like to see new plays that are about characters existing in today's world.

Don't see it if You like to see plays that are plot driven or plot heavy.

Also Could still use some trimming. I didn't buy the relationship between the leading lady and either brother. Nothing in her backstory makes me feel she would like either guy. The supporting friend roommate characters are the more interesting people in this piece.... Read more Read less

See it if A small character study about lost youth is your cup of tea.

Don't see it if A large plot driven show is your cup of tea.

Also There’s some good scenes but overall the play feels bloated. Watching the characters be miserable and annoy one another wore on me after awhile.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support yet another playwright who seems determined to write the same play over and over and over again.

Don't see it if you don’t want to support yet another playwright who seems determined to write the same play over and over and over again.

Also Find something new to say.

See it if you need to see every show

Don't see it if looking for a show with that requires an audience goer to be engaged and also stimulated either emotionally or intelligently.

Also A fluffy dramedy with melodramatic turns by several actors (lots of covering eyes with arms while "weeping"). The start and stop of new scenes and the slow pacing never gets the tension built so by the time we eventually get to the main conflict between the two brothers, the audience is merely rooting for the scene to be over so we can leave. Cant think of one notable thing in this production. Though the naturalness and great timing of actor playing the supporting character Kevin should be mentioned. Pass.... Read more Read less

See it if You like strong realistic dialogue between millennials. If you feel you can relate.

Don't see it if Want a strong plot, some scenes go on too long

See it if you enjoy earnest theater looking for human connection

Don't see it if you enjoy Bway blockbuster style