All My Fathers NYC Reviews and Tickets

82%

(26 Reviews)

Positive

100%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Intelligent, Ambitious, Thought-provoking

About the Show

La MaMa presents this world premiere, a new tragicomedy by Paul David Young, that centers on the life-changing declaration by Young's elderly mother that he is the bastard son of the family pediatrician.

From the show:

This surreal, seemingly scripted disclosure instantly rewrites the playwright's devoutly Christian, Southern upbringing. Young, whose life had suddenly turned hyperbolically dramatic, incorporates text from both obscure and well-known family plays such as The Seagull, Oedipus, Well, The Strange Discovery, and All My Sons.

Member Reviews (26)

Affecting, Innovative, Funny, Engaging

See it if you want to see a play that is equal parts innovation, feeling & fun.

Don't see it if you don’t like characters in a play to break character. Read more

Thought-provoking, Resonant, Intelligent, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if You want a really smart and inventive play. Treats aging characters sensitively but with a touch of humor.

Don't see it if You’re sensitive regarding old age and dementia as well as cancer.

Great acting, Ambitious, Meta, Poignant, Unconventional

See it if interested in an offbeat, beautifully acted, funny/sad play that encompasses dementia, paternity issues, deception, dead characters & more.

Don't see it if you prefer a traditional approach without characters breaking the 4th wall & a teasing epilogue that goes on a little too long. Read more

Intelligent, Indulgent, Great acting, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if you want a play that can only be done as a play. SPOILER It beraks down the fourth wall. Totally enjoyable despite its serous topic.

Don't see it if you want fluff this is not for you.

Fantasy, Unconventional, Realistic characters, Excellent acting, Interesting

See it if you like well developed characters, superb acting & themes of family members attempting to deal with considerable stress.

Don't see it if you dislike frequent flights of fantasy, dream sequences, dead people talking & interacting & some talking to the audience.

Great writing, Great staging, Great acting, Funny, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a solid play in every way. I was totally involved

Don't see it if You want a production with full sets and high tech. This play doesn’t need that to be enjoyable

Disappointing, Resonant, Intense, Great acting

See it if You enjoy family dramas with good writing.

Don't see it if If you don’t like the supernatural brought into the script. Read more

Relevant, Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Great acting, Great writing

See it if you want to see a powerful and well-acted story about identity and paternity, one of the best off-Broadway shows currently playing.

Don't see it if you want an elaborate show with big production numbers. This is a show with a simple set and four actors.

Critic Reviews (3)

"These early scenes are juiced up to no end by the great Deborah Hedwall as Regina, a malicious sphinx dispensing venom from the comfort of her stuffed chair, when not disappearing altogether into a fog of confusion…a surprisingly nimble and funny fantasia on an issue that affects all of us."
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3/4 Stars "'Sometimes You Can Go Home But Maybe Shouldn't': Paul David Young's drama eventually waxes metatheatrical to no heavy benefit"
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"'All My Fathers' is a semi-autobiographical play that takes detours into dreams, memory, and literary history…it opens up a can of worms that it never figures out how to close. Your enjoyment of it will likely depend upon your tolerance for worms."
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