Van Gogh's Ear
66

Van Gogh's Ear NYC Reviews and Tickets

66%
(44 Ratings)
Positive
57%
Mixed
25%
Negative
18%
Members say
Slow, Ambitious, Great staging, Great singing, Disappointing

About the Show

The Ensemble for the Romantic Century presents a theatrical exploration of the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter inspired by Vincent's letters to his brother Theo.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (44)

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139 Reviews | 19 Followers
79
Ambitious, Great staging, Great singing, Intelligent, Clever

See it if for an interesting approach using classical music, art and word depicting a painter's mind

Don't see it if you're expecting more of the status quo in theater; it leans more to the music

66 Reviews | 14 Followers
79
Clever, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a unique approach to telling Van Gogh's story, including art appreciation, music appreciation with some fine talent.

Don't see it if You do not appreciate creative sets and good musicians. You need to see cast interaction. Need playbill assistance to comprehend

don
506 Reviews | 1009 Followers
75
Entertaining, Intelligent, Quirky, Slow

See it if you want to get a feel for Van Gogh's tortured life and to see of his works. Projections are great.

Don't see it if you expect more in the way of a play and are satisfied with some classical music. The 2nd Act tends to slow down too much.

abe
123 Reviews | 18 Followers
75
Ambitious, Great staging, Edgy, Thought-provoking

See it if likethe triple threat of play, opera and classical music staged in an interesting manner

Don't see it if You expect to see a traditional play and may not be crazy about opera

414 Reviews | 70 Followers
74
Great projections, Wonderful chamber music, Disappointing, Slow

See it if if chamber music, operatic arias, & vivid projections of Van Gogh's works are enough to compensate for a shallow portrayal of a complex man

Don't see it if You love Vincent Van Gogh. The actor was excellent but the lines were just depressing. Read more

186 Reviews | 53 Followers
70
Slow, Great singing, Great staging, Ambitious, Entertaining

See it if You want to see something very different.

Don't see it if you don't like slow moving plays.

89 Reviews | 21 Followers
68
Slow, Thought-provoking, Resonant, Intelligent, Great singing

See it if You like multimedia performances that incorporate projections, singing and acting.

Don't see it if You get bored easily.

444 Reviews | 79 Followers
64
Disappointing, Slow, Slow slow slow

See it if you enjoy chamber music and opera singing.

Don't see it if you want to delve into the character of van gogh....This show is more about staging, background pictures and music.

Critic Reviews (17)

Theater Pizzazz
September 7th, 2017

"Beautifully sung, creating mood along with some emotional magic, the show was an effort at giving multi-media resonance to Van Gogh’s life and art...Also noteworthy was the unusually excellent and artful use of David Bengali’s projections, which often showed Van Gogh’s brushwork in close detail juxtaposed against a larger view of that portion of the painting. Fascinating! And that goes for the entire show, as well."
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Theatre's Leiter Side
August 17th, 2017

“Although musically marvelous and visually vibrant, ‘Van Gogh's Ear’ is dramatically dull…Perhaps a more powerful performance by…Hudson might have made van Gogh's suffering theatrically palpable enough to overcome the dramatic inertia. But his blandly uninteresting portrayal demonstrates the danger lurking in Wolf's conception: if you're seeking to capture the spirit of so vigorous a personality as…van Gogh's, then you need more than beautiful music and gorgeous projections on your palette.”
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Wolf Entertainment Guide
August 19th, 2017

"More of an elegy than a drama...As the painter, Hudson’s interpretation of the dialogue is rather emotionless...What makes a more profound impression is the playing of compositions...The production has a haunting quality, but its lack of intense drama can make the effect at times soporific. Apart from the music, the most striking aspect is the projection of van Gogh’s art...It would help if there were more sparks to the enterprise."
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W
August 18th, 2017

"Hudson’s intense examination of that which his character sees, past us, over our heads, is mesmerizing...Wolf did a masterful job of editing hundreds of letters, creating a cohesive story...Vocalists and actors propel the scenario with vigorous presence. Integration of the visual and audible is almost seamless...Our eyes are subliminally directed from dramatic or musical vignette to vignette with a feast of related art...The piece is compelling, intriguing, and a feast for ears and eyes."
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Off Off Online
August 18th, 2017

"Abounds in pleasures, from its stately pace, to the extraordinary musicianship that suffuses it...The Van Gogh that Hudson portrays is in turmoil, but he is never weak...The musicians add a central contribution, classical music, that is seldom found in theater...The combinations of music, voice, language, live actors, and visuals evoke passion, mystery, and a persuasive alchemy."
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The Huffington Post
August 20th, 2017

"A singular presentation. It is a theatrical concert that uses music to capture van Gogh's life and work—and the result is stunning...An innovative and hypnotic exploration of the color of sound and the sound of color, smoothly directed by Donald T. Saunders...Hudson plays the tortured artist with depth and sensitivity...'Van Gogh’s Ear' is a high-quality production; its combination of visual and musical sensations is mesmerizing."
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Show Showdown
August 17th, 2017

"'Van Gogh's Ear' is one of the most thoughtful and elegant shows I have ever seen, and I really, really, really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, the show is boring...The direction features painfully slow pacing that aims for meditative but achieves dull...Hudson also lacks the intense spark of the insane genius...If you are really into van Gogh...and if you're okay with ponderous pacing, you might want to completely ignore this review. There's a lot of talent and beauty here."
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Z
August 18th, 2017

"Hudson portrays the title character wonderfully, with the production under the strong direction of Donald T. Sanders...The audience is able to view and understand van Gogh not just as an artist, but as a human being whose struggles with doubt and depression are all the more relatable...The overall production elements were also key to the success of the performance...'Van Gogh’s Ear' provides the audience with more understanding of the man who painted iconic works."
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