See it if you like discovering lost English plays from the early 20th century, like Chekhov pacing, outstanding costumes, reflect on aging and success
Don't see it if you can't enjoy a three act, slow, old fashioned style play with sad, mournful characters contemplating what they have made of their lives
See it if you like long, leisurely stories from the early 1900's that unfold slowly and tell of bittersweet romances gone wrong!
Don't see it if you don't want to catch a glimpse into times past of the leisurely rich at the seaside!
See it if you like leisurely plays with a period feel as long as they are well-acted and present characters that are interesting.
Don't see it if you really object to plays that are too long!
See it if a deliberate, well acted drama with thoughtful characterizations appeals
Don't see it if you want a lively, fast moving contemporary work
See it if you are a fan of Checkov and British uptightness. This is truly British Checkov at its most iconic. Very good acting but interminable.
Don't see it if you want happy endings and action. It almost feels as if it happens in real time. There is nothing unexpected but it is all well done
See it if You enjoy old fashion tales about British life
Don't see it if You prefer fast moving, action packed dramas Read more
See it if Great acting in a neglected play.
Don't see it if Wish for more action - this is a play of words.
See it if some good lines & thoughts
Don't see it if you hate long shows > 2:30 hours
"‘A Day by the Sea’ has us wondering how this play ever got produced in the first place, let alone beat out others more deserving of a revival…This production features good actors, but the slim plot, sketchy character development, and exposition-laden dialogue don’t give them much to work with…Morfogen scores the most laughs...He has lines like, 'Does something happen soon? It’s pretty dull, this,' which brought laughs of appreciation from the audience thinking the same thing."
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"Manages to be Chekhovian in feel and yet be its own fine drama...Director Austin Pendleton and the top-notch cast certainly knew what to do with this sixty-three-year-old neglected gem...There’s Hunter’s strength: the line that makes your mouth open with awe and reminds you that you’re in the company of a first-class writer...For those who insist that any play over a couple of years old is automatically dated, how about the sequence where Uncle David predicts global warming?"
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"There is some slow going in early scenes, but remember, this is a three-act play. Once the characters’ needs and frustrations are presented, the play, in gifted director Austin Pendleton’s hands, moves along vibrantly...Performances are excellent, with particular subtlety and detail demonstrated by Katie Firth and Julian Elfer...'A Day by the Sea' is a rich and thoughtful production, with a warm and universally meaningful text."
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"Under Austin Pendleton’s steady and gentle direction, we gradually see how effectively Hunter scratches the surface of social interactions to reveal what lies beneath: sadness, anger, and disappointments, as well as hopes and dreams...'A Day by the Sea' initially seems like a play of manners...Although Hunter’s play is not raw like those of Pinter and Osborne, it’s not Disney either—not everyone lives happily ever after. Instead, it shows how much we really just march through life. "
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"'A Day by the Sea' is a full three hours, which is long by modern standards, but it remains interesting throughout. Under Austin Pendleton's sure-footed direction, the play's 10-person ensemble is top-notch…This play is so full of understated yet beautifully expressed, human moments…'A Day by the Sea' is a snapshot of life in 1950s England that is every bit as recognizable in 2016 New York City, and most likely will be for future audiences, whenever and wherever they may be."
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"Its profligacy with words leads to a run time of nearly three hours...'A Day By the Sea' is a piece that could easily falter and become dull, but it gives director Austin Pendleton the kind of actors’ scene work at which he thrives, and with an interesting, often excellent cast, he manages to maintain audience concentration and engagement for the full run time handily. It’s a fine, bittersweet way to end New York’s theatrical summer."
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"'A Day by the Sea' is intelligent and moving. It presents a slice of real life. In a word: terrific...Don’t be deceived by the passive-sounding title; cataclysmic events are the backstory here that Hunter weaves deftly throughout the story…The set design is museum quality. Executed by Charles Morgan, the action is literally framed—like the large oil paintings that are backdrop. Director Austin Pendleton has done a splendid job choreographing a story that moves with comparable artistry."
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