Wilder Gone

See it if Hanks' absurdist/feminist/neo-wild west tale has a murmur of racism/nativism humming in the background despite Bordelon's creative staging

Don't see it if Takes a fair amount of time to piece the story together but its wildly humorous doing so Dickinson's 'preacher' leads an uproarious cast

See it if you’d like to immerse yourself for 85 minutes in a world that is thrilling, surprising, humane, complete & manages to earn its happy ending.

Don't see it if your heart is too weak for a night full of thrills—& not a cheap thrill among them.

Also One of the few best new plays I’ve seen this year, “Wilder Gone” receives a wild & engaging production in Clubbed Thumb’s “Summerworks” series. How thrilling that playwright Angela Hanks has developed a completely unique voice that is fully theatrical, deeply humane & manages to give life to a range of characters different enough to compete yet all sharing a one-of-a-kind world that is enough like ours to matter, yet a little removed so we can get some perspective on things. These 7 characters ride a plot that is full of exciting, surprising events, yet never feel like puppets that the playwright is maneuvering to a neat ending. That ending is more-or-less happy for all but 1 character, but the happiness feels earned because they all have come through the trials the play has set up for them. The staging is as exciting as the play. All 7 actors shine, & the 3 strong-minded women whose deep desires drive the plot are quite magnificent. I’m looking forward to everyone’s further work.... Read more Read less

See it if imagination and entertainment are a significant to you. Lots of fun elements and plenty to discuss afterwards.

Don't see it if you are expecting realism or clarity.

See it if Great work interests you.

Don't see it if You don't know how to get to the Lower East Side.

Also Marvelous, hilarious new play with a pitch-perfect cast, and brilliantly directed. A delight from start to finish.... Read more Read less

See it if you like zany, quirky tales that zip along with slightly over-the-top characters sprouting dialogue in jazzy, poetic riffs.

Don't see it if you don't take sugar in your coffee

See it if You want to see a solid, funny play with a solid underpinning.

Don't see it if Not in the mood for a comedy.

Also Wilder Gone is a sharp, funny play about two women fighting over the same piece of land. Thalia (played by Toni Ann DeNoble), with her boyfriend Streeter, is a black woman (it's an all-black case, btw), who used her ability to pass to gain a plot of land after having lost her home. Mabel (Crystal Dickinson) is a neighbor who runs a boarding house, aspires to be Dallas' (the area is set outside of the city) first female preacher and wants the land for a revival.

There are engaging romantic subplots with Thalia-Streeter and with Mabel having a dalliance with John Jack, a wandering preacher.

There is also a sub-theme of children who've lost their parents with Peanut Brittle, a 12-year-old orphan who is being raised by Mabel and Oliver Oak, who is missing both parents and works three jobs to get by (including being the town baker).

The play is staged well with the sparse stage effectively transitioning to Oliver's store or Mabel's room as needed.

This is a funny, well-acted show.... Read more Read less