Arcadia (PTP) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (59)
See it if Tom Stoppard at his finest filled with drama and romance.
Don't see it if It's a sexual play so the subject matter may be difficult for some patrons.
See it if you will enjoy a play about people with ideas that has wit, conflict, and suspense.
Don't see it if you find wordplay and cleverness that recall both Restoration comedy and Oscar Wilde tedious and empty. Read more
See it if an exceptional production. Lots of science, the understanding of which isn't totally necessary to get the 2 interwoven story lines.
Don't see it if You don't want to think. It takes paying attention but its worth it. It's also long. Read more
See it if Beautiful writing from a masterful playwright. Good direction and acting, great costumes. Humorous and clever. Two stories in one.
Don't see it if The accents are a little off, but certainly not a reason to skip the show. The small theater provides a wonderful intimacy.
See it if You are prepared to pay close attention to each word of often academic argument. You will be rewarded with wit, humor and grist for thought.
Don't see it if You want light, easy summer fare, and don't want to tax you brain
See it if you're interested in a first-rate, lucid intro to a Stoppard masterpiece, enhanced by generally great acting and terrific set and costumes.
Don't see it if you don't want the challenge of big alluring ideas and intricate dialog even if the payoff is great fun throughout and a satisfying ending. Read more
See it if you love math or poetry. You love plotting where every line counts. This is my favorite play.
Don't see it if you don't like very wordy plays, you won't enjoy connecting who in the present is wrong about what in the past.
See it if you want to see a very well-conceived and smartly-staged production of one of Stoppard's finest works.
Don't see it if you aren't prepared to focus & think at a complex, intricate story, full of provocative ideas & concepts, that is anything but "light fare".
Critic Reviews (16)
"As intriguing as these subplots are, it is not these machinations across the centuries that ultimately empower 'Arcadia.' That is what makes Cheryl Faraone’s staging of “Arcadia” so successful. She has managed to tap deeply into the playfulness of Stoppard’s script...What makes this shift in focus possible is Professor Faraone’s PTP/NYC cast which she directs with a high dose of care with just the right splash of whimsy."
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"Stoppard’s 'Arcadia' exemplifies the British playwright’s gift for combining intellectual inspection of the corners of science, philosophy and history with high comedy. The wit is dry, but the plays are juicy, and 'Arcadia' is one of his best...Although there are moments when the actors’ projection falters or they face upstage and words are lost, there is nonetheless much fine work...'Arcadia' is seldom done. Faraone’s production, even with flaws, provides an opportunity well worth seizing."
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"Bursting with crackling dialogue and near-sublime wit...A through-and-through excellent cast artfully directed by Cheryl Faraone makes the longish play fly by with scarcely a slow moment, consistently engaging our visceral spirits and our intellectual muscles alike...Anyone who appreciates the happy confluence of a great, timeless text and a company of players with a feel for history as robust as its skills will gain from seeing this masterful production."
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"Well done, largely thanks to Faraone's smart, clear, well-paced, and compassionate direction...The show is extremely funny, with twists and turns on top of twists and turns, and more themes than one play should be able to handle...The cast ranges from good enough to quite good...The PTP 'Arcadia' was the first where I found the modern scenes almost as wonderful as the ones in the 1800s...Not without its flaws, but it is a must-see for any Stoppard fan."
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"You must see this show...It is an intellectual thrill ride with humor and grace...Few plays are held in as high esteem as 'Arcadia,' and few companies have the talent and experience to do it justice...Potomac Theatre Project provides an evening of theatre that transports us and captures our imagination. The acting and directing are superb, and the play ain’t bad either."
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"If words are not your thing, this production is not for you. However, if you love language, humor and magnificent intelligence, don’t miss it...The play touches on imagination, garden design, the Romantic vs. the Classic temperament and good old sex...Calling this play witty or intellectual or both robs it of its charm and brilliance—it‘s way beyond. The Potomac Theater Project produces works that spark thinking and give audiences the opportunity to celebrate theatrical craft."
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"This unfussy production offers up an opportunity to reevaluate the play as one of the major dramas of our time…The production likewise allows the writing and acting to flourish...Faraone handles an ambitious script with aplomb, eliciting potent performances while keeping the pacing taut. The cast works as a remarkably intuitive ensemble, like instruments in a chamber orchestra. PTP succeeds in offering a refresher course on the sublime delights of this evergreen play.”
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“'Arcadia' is a dense, thrilling and wonderfully look at the big questions…Cheryl Faraone has her hands full with this play that bounces between time periods and accomplishes it with grace…Mr. Smith, while fully looking the part, disappoints slightly in his delivery of the rapid-fire text…Lady Croom (Megan Byrne) deftly manages comedy and imperiousness in equal strengths.”
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