Alexandria

See it if you'd like a powerful clash betw gay rights and Christian fundamentalist dogma. Sophisticated discussion is well-acted. Ending is far-out.

Don't see it if you're looking for lite entertainment. While absorbing and even occas'ly funny, ALEX is about the rise of theocracy and where that c lead us

See it if You want to see a show that feels like it’s written from tomorrow’s headlines. Darkly topical. Smart. Helps you see both sides fairly.

Don't see it if You don’t like to see outside your rose colored glasses. This feels very scary and very real and very much where we’re heading to me.

See it if A show about a fundamental Christian and a person who is gay. Recommended, nicely done. The ending is a little crazy. Nice staging good dir

Don't see it if Direction.If you want something lite. If your not into controversial plays.

See it if to see a sharply dramatized polemic on religious tolerance, cogently enacted by a Christian zealot, his lesbian friends & a wayward gay teen

Don't see it if you're obstinate in your own feelings about gay rights (esp gay marriage) & Christian Fundamentalism; you've had enough of dystopian drama.

See it if you’d like to see a play that’s both a polemic & a thriller that looks at the human consequences of the battle of the Evangelicals vs LGBTQs

Don't see it if you do not care at all about the battle of Evangelicals vs LGBTQs.

Also "Alexandria" is that rarest of theatrical birds: a play that successfully marries polemic & thriller in a beautifully realized drama, not a lecture. The main characters Ray & Pam, who begin as friends & work colleagues & wind up embodying the opposite poles of the play’s argument, are 2 of the most memorably human characters I have seen in any drama all season. Ray makes the most convincing onstage case I have ever heard of the fundamentalist position of loving queer sinners while hating their sins—&, incidentally, working against their inclusion in the community, legally & practically. But playwright Gatton’s plot efficiently exposes Ray’s position as malignantly complicit in the automatic persecution of queer individuals by the mob—without due process ever figuring into the equation. Despite the dystopian territory into which the play finally veers, the skill of playwright, director & players is totally exhilarating.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a fresh look at the times we are in reflected by a fine cast portraying five very different characters in a small town - wonderful!

Don't see it if you have no tolerance for difference of opinion or religion - these characters are struggling with issues, but know you are missing a gem.

See it if wonderful grown-up exchange of ideas btwn two opposing sides; initial fair fight showing religious advocate to be reasonable, even loving

Don't see it if consists of 2 many long-winded speeches; playwright puts thumb on scales and shifts tone thru unrealistic ending/see below

Also Playwright Vince Gatton refreshingly, at least initially, gives a strict advocate of Christian values his due by making him appear open and reasonable. But then Gatton starts to let his political biases - hinted at in the title "Alexandria" whose ancient library was destroyed by book-burners - take over. SPOILER ALERT First, he shows the advocate in his blog posts to be dangerously intolerant. Then he springs on his audience, without adequately explaining its origin, an unbelievable ending: a surrealistic post-apocalyptic scenario in which modern civilization has broken down and violent, intolerant religious zealots reign supreme. What the playwright appears to be suggesting is that this is the type of world that would result if religious fundamentalists, even if well-intentioned, prevail. Perhaps so, but this supplants what had earlier been an interesting debate, effectively presented, between fundamentalism and progressive forces.... Read more Read less

See it if Friends with different beliefs from each other. And things changes

Don't see it if About some people believe in religion and societies coldness and meanest to people who don't fix in their world according to their reglion.

See it if welcome display of differing ideas & conflicts therein, want 2 bathe in the raging currents of possible events, want to be challenged

Don't see it if fear conflict, don't want to hear anyone else's side of things, believe all is well the way it is now, dislike intimate performance spaces

See it if Intelligent show contrasting differences in views on religion, sexuality, morals among people that consider themselves friends, but are they

Don't see it if you don't want to consider any point of view other than your own. There are a few long monologues & at times is overly talky,

Also The playwright attempts to be even handed in giving each side their say, but you could tell where his sympathies lie.... Read more Read less

See it if you like shows that make you think after you leave the theater

Don't see it if you are more than half-intelligent and still believe that Revelations belongs in the Bible. Or you just go to theater to "have fun".

Also I walked out of the theater thinking this was an 87, but the more I had to think about this review I moved my score to 93. It is nice to have to work after you leave the theater.

Gatton's antagonist, "Ray" is an archetype that Gatton manages to successfully humanize. That is normally something I would hate, but Gatton seamlessly pulls it off and makes the play more complicated.

The theme of an attack on "believers" and portrayal of "god" as malevolent will probably offend many. The thought that sympathy without empathy is a worthless expression will probably hit many where they live. Sympathy alone does not make you humane or give you an excuse for your fundamental beliefs

I did not fall in love with any of these characters, but I understood them. That may result in lower appreciation of this fine work by some, but here I didn't need characters that I loved.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a well written play, performed by an excellent cast that is very entertaining, relevant, intense and thought provoking.

Don't see it if You don't want to see a great play. You don't want to see a play about unlikely friends in a small town in the deep south.

Also This cast was amazing. The staging was great. This play was so well written and moved along nicely. This play had a twist that I didn't expect. Wow. I will not give it away but if you get a chance to see this play, please do. I associated the name of this play with a program that I watch on television because of how this play developed. I am not sure if that was the writers intent but that is how I perceived it. I was not disappointed with this play. Everyone on stage and behind the scenes did an amazing job on this performance.... Read more Read less

See it if You’d like a play that will stick with you - characters on extreme opposites interacting in what I see as a terrifying future.

Don't see it if You cannot watch plays with very opposite characters and issues - from gay rights to extremely conservative religiousness.

See it if you like intense drama that warrants good conversation afterwards. Stephen Heskett ("Ray") & Kristen Vaughn ("Brenda") are near perfection.

Don't see it if the topic of debate doesn't interest you. Except for the ending, it's done well. Great little theater; nice set-design uses stage very well.

Also Evangelicalism & Fundamentalism are NOT the same.

"Ray's" Evangelical point of view is the same as the upbringing most of us Catholics rec'd: "Love the sinner, hate the sin". Judgey, but NOT a Fundamentalist tenet.

Liberalism & Progressivism aren't the same either, but they aren't as simple to ascertain w/in the confines of the show. "Pam" & "Brenda" seem more Liberal (fighting for social issues & human rights) than Progressive (not interested in the basic creeds, beliefs, or salvation argument of "Ray's" Christian blog).

Each side's well-presented & well-debated for the most part. There's interesting dialogue & very wordy monologues.

I DO recommend the show to most, although I have a beef w/the ending. The last scene actually starts-off quite riveting, but the apocalyptic outcome is jarring & doesn't mesh w/the previous 80min. Good conversation's already prompted, but now the disjointed ending is the topic, instead of the book's debate: Religious Belief VS Friendship & Compassion.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a pre & post apocalyptic well acted.

Don't see it if You want to see an action filled play. This is monologue heavy.

See it if you like plays that make you think but don't hand you the answers. If you don't mind leaving the theater feeling unsettled.

Don't see it if you are looking to be entertained without working a bit. If you are uncomfortable with themes of religious extremism and homosexuality.

Also The ending took me by surprise and felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if I can't stop thinking about this compelling story about what could happen in the "religious liberty" culture war of today. Don't miss this!

Don't see it if No, everyone should see this. It should be on Broadway or on Netflix or on primetime TV--it's that good and that important.

See it if You want a well acted,well written play about the religious right.

Don't see it if You don't want to be intellectually stimulated.

See it if Co-joining of people in small southern town who have wildly different world views but are "friends" with excellent presentation of opp POVs

Don't see it if U can't muster sympathy for a conservative Christian or a foul mouthed lesbian activist,or might find play's apocalyptic close too extreme

See it if One of the best things I have seen in a long time. Both sides of the coin are represented beautifully with heart & mind thanks to the actors

Don't see it if Go and see this glorious production of "Alexandria", a timely and timeless play. The two lead actors are just sensational.

See it if A wonderful surprise to see current hot-button topics explored with warmth and depth. Very sympathetic characters who speak intelligently.

Don't see it if Go. It's not a rehash like many recent LGBTQ issue plays.

See it if you enjoy an intelligent drama exploring current issues [civil rights, religious bias, terrorism] with complex characters & no easy answers

Don't see it if you prefer light-hearted fare, if profanity offends you, if you'd rather be at a musical; if you don't like your assumptions challenged

Also The great library at Alexandria, Egypt was a repository of ancient learning. The library where this is set is Alexandria, Virginia in the Deep South -- a place for evangelical Christians -- you know, the group who has protested against abortions and gay marriage. Thus it is another seat of "ancient learning," i.e., people devoted to the teachings of the Bible.

The cast is quite wonderful, however, the playwright did not give the African-American character Ol' Mo [James Foster, Jr.] much to do and I even wondered why he's there in the first place. His most memorable moment is when he spits out food prepared by Ray's wife, shaking his head as he mutters "Cilantro!!"

The play went totally off the rails at the end. The finale seemed much more drastic and unrealistic than it had to be.

However, I do recommend seeing this play.... Read more Read less

See it if if you would like to see an ultra Christian person and his friend/coworker who is a lesbian deal with each others beliefs

Don't see it if if you are not interested in being open minded on religion gay issues

See it if You like good story-telling. You want serious drama to have humor as well. Debate on human rights vs. Christian ‘salvation’ is of interest.

Don't see it if You might be offended by a story that portrays a man who sincerely believes God wants him to live by rules made up by early Christians

Also two-thousand years ago and still wants acceptance and tolerance by others towards himself. The other characters in this mostly well-written play, two lesbians and a young gay man (beautifully played by Jonathan Melo) ARE accepting and tolerant asking only for the same. But that isn’t enough for their evangelical friend Ray. Beginning with a revelatory casual lunch and ending with a surprising apocalyptic bang, no one escapes unscathed. Is Ray’s god the god of love? Is he?... Read more Read less

See it if Dystopian setting that hit many of today's hot buttons, with special focus on fundamentalist religion. Well-structured, linear storytelling

Don't see it if Don't, if social issues aren't your thing and, especially, if you are a defender of the faith.