Retro Productions revives this biting and occasionally touching black comedy about three sisters whose father abandoned the family long ago, and whose mother recently passed away. More…
The Reardon sisters, now grown and all working in the New York City public school system, have come to a crossroads. Catherine and Anna still reside in the apartment where they grew up. Having barely survived a scandalous incident at school, Anna suffers a nervous breakdown. When Ceil, their older married sister, returns to try to commit Anna to an institution, the built-up resentments of the last decade are pushed to the forefront. Should Anna be committed? Does Catherine really need another cocktail? Who is strongest in this fight of wills?
See it if you're interested in the 60s. Women's options are limited. The tone shifts too often, tho, and the acting is uneven. Repetitive fights.
Don't see it if you want a polished piece. Act I sagged; Act II was better w the Steins, but even it dragged. Three sisters creating one hell for ea other.
See it if Little seen Zindel drama about three dysfunctional sisters Shakily veers from black comedy to tough melodrama Feminist overtones interesting
Don't see it if Able cast battles tonal shifts (both from author & director) with varying success Acting can get operatic but 3rd act brings it home
See it if You want to see '60s playwriting & structure. You want to support a talented Off-Off-Broadway company.
Don't see it if You want an older play w/relevance to now: everything is out-of-date.
Also This was frustrating: the acting, directing & staging were solid-more ... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see a play with female leads that is about a very dysfunctional family
Don't see it if You are looking for a well written black comedy. While the acting was not great they didn't have much to work with.
Also The first act for the most part is unwatchable. Heather Cunningham who... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy a slightly dated Dysfunctional Family drama with humor and realistic characters. These ladies really get into it and take us along
Don't see it if you aren't interested in another DF drama; you think that people making their own problems are not interesting; prefer up-beat dramas.
Also Some fine acting here, an interesting story that is not totally predic... Read more Read less
See it if You like great Black Comedy, very funny, great characters! Very intimate!
Don't see it if Flat out comedy or a big production
See it if you enjoy 60s dramas with terrific acting and a realistic set in a small space. It's pretty depressing overall but very well done.
Don't see it if you're looking for a comedy or a happy ending, or characters that aren't damaged and unhappy - that pretty much describes everyone.
See it if you want to see what was an important play for Estelle Parsons over 40 years ago.
Don't see it if dysfunctional family plays are not your thing.
See it if You want to see a play about three adult sisters and their challenges. You want to laugh. You want to see a play with great actors.
Don't see it if You are not interested in dysfunctional families. You don't want to laugh. You are not interested in a play about family challenges.
Also I enjoyed the play and the performers. The neighbors were very funny a... Read more Read less
See it if You like a dark comedy that takes place in the 1960s. It's a reminder of the second tier life of women and schoolteachers at that time.
Don't see it if You want a tighter production. There seemed to some over acting at times.
See it if you'll enjoy a traditional drama set in the 1960s with strong female roles, well acted, about the relationship among adult siblings .
Don't see it if you'll dislike a play about a dysfunctional family/ mental illness, with a largely female cast, you prefer big productions
See it if Uneven play about dysfunctional sisters well acted but falls short veering between comedy, dark comedy, and melodrama;falls short of mark
Don't see it if You don't like wild changes in tone and characterization; good staging but overdrawn but not fleshed out characters
See it if You can handle seediness. The drinking was the least of these characters' flaws. Good drama in the intense dysfunctional family tradition.
Don't see it if The acting could have been better in some cases but I'm guessing the actors are still settling into the roles.
See it if you like family dramas set in the past
Don't see it if you like big shows with enormous casts
See it if you like psychological dramas
Don't see it if family dysfunction disturbs you.
See it if family drama and infighting interests you.
Don't see it if you don't like family arguments.
See it if you like a good dark comedy in a nice intimate venue, performed by a very competent cast
Don't see it if a bizarre story about three sisters, that can be slow at times, is something that won't interest you
See it if you like strong women's roles or sibling dramas.
Don't see it if you don't like plays about women or dramas from the 60's.
See it if Especially if you are not familiar with the play, It is a good quirky dark comedy.
Don't see it if You are not interested in vintage and noted plays from the past.
See it if professional actors in a close stage. Good timing. Some funny notes in a sad undertone
Don't see it if want a tight show with consistently good lines where you cannot wait for the next verbal onslaught
See it if You want to see a piece that embodies that late 60's absurdist style of comedy about dysfunctional families with some clever performances
Don't see it if You would rather see better examples of the genre (Albee/Guare, etc)
See it if you enjoy somewhat absurd humor that switches to pathos rather unexpectedly. I thought I was at a comedy, and then Act 3 started...
Don't see it if the switch noted above isn't your thing. And if you're a school administrator, only go if you have a good sense of humor!
See it if you like dark dramas
Don't see it if you're expecting to leave feeling happy