White Noise

See it if you're fascinated by American racial issues. Strong acting. Well staged, altho in-the-round w difficult sight lines.

Don't see it if you need a focused work; many subplots. Doesn't fulfill promise of premise. Needs cuts. Engrossing, but unsatisfying. Plot holes. Talky.

See it if Everything about this was stunning, especially the script. Show of the year so far.

Don't see it if You can’t stomach riveting shows about race.

See it if Black & white friends embark on a stomach-churning experiment. All of us are damaged - and continue to suffer - from the legacy of slavery.

Don't see it if You don't want to squirm. It's long, indulgent, and contrived, but not meant to be realistic.

See it if A first rate cast led by a charismatic Diggs keep us riveted throughout Park's provocative but overwritten 3hr opus Sharp, shocking & timely

Don't see it if Parks' dramas while always overstuffed w/intelligence are often messy & didactic; no exception here Eustis unable to corral all the subplots

See it if Confrontationally comedic and then provocatively dramatic look at race, class, and slavery. Well cast with Diggs ("Hamilton") in the lead.

Don't see it if Four long monologues.Ebonics.Stunt request to don slave choker.Overly long doesn't make it epic.Audience to sort meaning inside the verbiage

Also "Some folks are doing their best to do things right."Dual meaning title.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a show with an incisive point of view on what it means to be black today and also what it means to love black people today.

Don't see it if you can't handle a show that doesn't provide easy answers and makes you sit in the discomfort of never quite being sure who's "good."

See it if You’re interested in relevant plays about racism that are smart and witty, and don’t feel stereotypical or banal.

Don't see it if You can’t deal with a 3 hour play with some lengthy monologues, no matter how fast it moves. This still needs some light tweaking, too.

See it if you want to see a quartet of fine actors in what is probably Suzan-Lori Parks's best play.

Don't see it if plays about race and racism make you uncomfortable. This play is thought-provoking and is great for after-show discussion.

See it if You want to see a masterful performance by Daveed Diggs in a modern play about racism in the modern world. Great supporting cast.

Don't see it if Seeing behaviors that will make Caucasians squirm with recognition of unknowingly behaving badly among friends of color.

Also Susan Lori Parks has written a masterful play with a modern setting to highlight racism in the world today. Are you really colorblind among your friends?
The set includes a bowling lane.
Supporting cast is perfect.... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate creative shows about race.

Don't see it if You don't appreciate creative shows about race.

See it if Great acting by all. Brilliant premise and well executed. Disturbing and funny in turn. Every scene was a revelation.

Don't see it if It was a little long. Which is why it doesn't get a better grade from me. Don't see it if you don't like being uncomfortable

See it if You are a fan of no plot plays. This is more of an experience than a play. It will exercise your brain and probably upset you.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a happy evening and non stressful experience. This can re-open your eyes regarding politics.

See it if Two interracial couples torn apart by the aftermath of an event that evokes deeply rooted racism, a legacy of white male power culture.

Don't see it if Racism (slavery) dehumanizes everyone it touches. Starts as a realistic story then becomes implausible as more improbable elements pile up.

Also What does it take to shock an audience out of complacency? A human in neck irons and chains next to a cotton plant? Simulated sex pales by comparison.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in plays that deal with relevant social topics like racism, appreciate great acting, or like intelligently-written plays.

Don't see it if you don't like to feel uncomfortable. Some scenes are very disturbing to watch. It's a long play, but pacing moves quickly.

See it if Terrific, engrossing play with an original approach to racial issues. Great performances. Left me breathless.

Don't see it if I wish the ending was more conclusive. A terrific premise that the author didn’t quite know how to end.

See it if you want to see a beautifully crafted, disturbing piece about white privilege and the African American experience. play knows no bounds

Don't see it if you are easily disturbed by a playwright that shakes the dice and alters the playing field in ways that may make you uncomfy

See it if you like nuanced, ambiguous plays with fully realized characters.

Don't see it if you feel uncomfortable watching discussions of racism and prejudice.

See it if intense stories on how racial relations have been affected by our histories, our personal ones and the legacy of slavery; 4 characters*

Don't see it if don't want violence or sex on stage; 3 hours would be too long no matter how riveting (although a couple of the monologues got a bit wordy)

Also *each with a moving monologue that makes their characters very developed.
These monologues are interspersed with various combinations of 2 of the characters. Their relationships change dramatically and frequently. A couple of scenes with the four together.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re okay with being uncomfortable. YOU WILL BE. That is absolutely intended.

Don't see it if you’d be disappointed this doesn’t quite reach where it’s trying to head.

Also Daveed Diggs is affecting and raw in this role. Sheria Irving gives a star turn as the young woman trying to navigate the aftermath of a privileged upbringing rife with accusations she isn’t “black enough.” Thomas Sadoski is THAT white guy (every white guy, to an extent?) to disgusting perfection.

However, the white characters are too one-dimensional in their white nonsense to surprise the audience with their general dumbfuckery. They are both clearly awful from the outset, so it’s hard to get invested in the “reveal” of their shittiness. Also, I didn’t grasp the point of all the hookups/pairings overkill. Admittedly it may have been over my head, but I felt it detracted rather than added to the story.

The run time is long and feels it. There is much repetition, along with ridiculously long monologues that lose effectiveness the more they continue. The white characters’ monologues added little to the play except time. I would have cut those altogether & shortened Mr. Diggs’ opener.... Read more Read less

See it if a fan of the provocative Suzan-Lori Parks’ work, which is sometimes “hit or miss”: here, it’s mostly “hit,” with stronger believability.

Don't see it if you will feel uncomfortable with “real talk” about race, slave history, abuse and violence, manipulation, and the breakdown of friendships.

Also White Noise throws everything into a pot—race, self-identity, sexuality, education, careers, friendship, privilege, politics, the court system. Somehow, such ingredients make something illuminating, tense, and disturbing. Though no actual stove, there is a microwave, an apt metaphor for how quickly the tensions escalate, boil, and overflow so that everyone gets burned. By “everyone,” I mean four friends—Leo (Daveed Diggs), Misha (Sheria Irving), Dawn (Zoe Winters), & Ralph (Thomas Sadoski). It’s a typical formula: old college-mates who have inter-dated and, a partner-swap or two later, are still together, bonding over bowling. But this tale is amplified by the black artist Leo’s decision to become a slave to white, privileged Ralph. While Parks’ work is caught between realism and absurdity, there’s something gripping and desperate here. I’m not done teasing out the full possibilities, but left thinking deeply about White Noise and how discomforting works can lead us to the fuller meal.... Read more Read less

See it if One of the best discussions on race I've watched in theater. Speaks the unspoken, complicated experiences of race, sex, gender, class, etc.

Don't see it if Slavery or guns are triggering. 3ish hours go fast, but some don't like to sit that long. Explores issues w/o true solutions, which is life.

Also Ticket from online rush via TodayTix app for $27.50.

See it if Great performances

Don't see it if Racial justice is not your concern.

See it if A chance to see Daveed Diggs talent in a smaller venue, amazing. Unusual premise, challenging monologues, Parks always delivers a jolt.

Don't see it if It felt very long, I began to blank out during some of the longer speeches. If you are not interested in issues of racial identity do not go

See it if You want to be challenged by an original premise, albeit logically flawed.

Don't see it if Scenes of racially and historically-based emotional violence will disturb you beyond repair.

Also Baggy storytelling, unnecessary monologues, and cliched characters mar an intriguing, disturbing concept. Operates more archetypally than naturalistically.... Read more Read less

See it if This show made me physically uncomfortable throughout. Like I wanted to throw up. And that meant it was doing its job. Faced with the ever..

Don't see it if ..present underlying structures of racism that are laid bare, I wanted to get out of the theatre. And I am imminently grateful that I didn't