Torch Song (Off-Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (377)
See it if you want to see two powerhouse performances from Michael Urie and Mercedes Ruehl
Don't see it if themes of homosexuality offend you or you can't handle a nearly three hour running time
See it if Michael Urie is peerless and very fortunate to have talent and star quality. In this wonderful play with a great cast, he gives his all.
Don't see it if Besides Urie, Mercedes Ruehl lights up the second act as the Jewish Mom who never yells or argues (insert jokes here). Kudos to the staging
See it if you love Michael Urie and the incomparable Mercedes Ruehl; you like plays about gay men; you like Harvey Fierstein's honest approach
Don't see it if you don't like plays about gay men; you would be offended by simulated sex on stage
See it if you enjoy a good dramedy with a great cast interpreting inspired material.
Don't see it if if you are in any way offended by gay situations. Read more
See it if You want to see one of the historical LGBT plays brought vividly to exciting life! Michael Urie leads a phenomenal cast
Don't see it if There is no reason to not see this play. If you are homophobic, you need to see it all the more (but probably won't)
See it if You love important ideas leavened with a heavy dose of humor.
Don't see it if You just can't imagine any Arnold but Harvey Feirstein.
See it if You are looking for a beautifully written piece exploring the challenges of family relationships when the choices conflict with beliefs
Don't see it if You have difficulty dealing with gay subject matter told in a straight forward uncompromising manner. No nudity but lots of simulated sex. Read more
See it if You’re a friend of Dorothy...especially if like me you’ve only seen the movie and if you’re moved by gay issues, especially from the 80’s.
Don't see it if You’re homophobic or don’t care about gay subject matter.
Critic Reviews (35)
"This is a work that feels uniquely of its bygone moment, yet still manages to speak -- urgently, poignantly, often hilariously -- to concerns and anxieties of today. That's one definition of a classic...Kaufman makes the individual sections flow smoothly into a cohesive whole...Urie tackles a role singularly identified with Fierstein and beautifully makes it his own...The entire supporting cast is excellent...Unlikely we'll see a more vibrant or revelatory revival this year."
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“It’s hard for me to imagine that it could have been any more enjoyable, funnier, or any more touching that this current trimmer, sleeker incarnation...A not-so-gentle reminder of how far we’ve come...But ‘Torch Song’ is not an openly political act; it’s intensely personal...Urie is one of those remarkable actors who is so exposed that you see the defiance behind the tears and the pain underneath the laughter...At the end, you are drained, moved, and thrilled. This torch lights up the night.”
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"This streamlined production keeps the poignant, powerful story intact, while making it a bit friendlier and forgiving for a modern stage audience...The simple, unfussy staging is perfectly suited to the action...'Torch Song' emerges as a culturally-relevant play even for our time. The subject matter can be heavy, but the director's light touch transforms it into a poignant and humorous view of a somewhat uncomplicated, pre-AIDS gay world."
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