Beautiful Day Without You NYC Reviews and Tickets

60%

(21 Reviews)

Positive

43%

Mixed

33%

Negative

24%

Members say

Confusing, Intense, Absorbing, Disappointing, Great acting

About the Show

Origin Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of this drama about neighbors in a Chicago suburb housing project are brought together by a deadly encounter involving their dogs.

Member Reviews (21)

Dizzying, Confusing, Excruciating, Indulgent, Overrated

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Intense, Uneven, Relevant topics unsatisfyingly explored, Cool set

See it if Three hander exploring racism, homophobia & general suspicion of the different among us but also incorporating every urban woe.

Don't see it if Characters confuse own points of view & sometimes shout over each other. Play’s intent somewhat unfocused & not original.

Critic Reviews (4)

"Occasionally hilarious and absorbing...This realistic premise’s off-beat treatment is reminiscent of Yasmina Reza’s provocative comic manner and the dialogue has the profane snappiness of Mamet. It’s a dense 90-minutes that are often confounding but ultimately rewarding. The minimalist presentation serves the material well...Calvani skillfully spins this out with tension, suspense, symbolism and an alchemical quality that infuses the events with poignant depth."
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"Unfortunately, the play's fuzzy writing, overabundance of topical subjects, and confusing production succeed more in throwing up new barriers than bringing down the old ones…The dialogue exposes us to racism, homophobia, addiction, same-sex marriage...But the characters are so superficial and the treatment…so commonplace they seem like dramatic garnish than matters of serious concern…Given the naturalism of the performances…the non-realistic setting becomes a distraction."
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“The connections joining the characters are tenuous at best, and the play lacks satirical bite and caustic social commentary. That said, Calvani deserves credit for tackling pressing cultural issues in the U.S. They seem to derive from the perspective of an outsider...The characters and their devotion to one another come across not as simply insensitive but borderline psychopathic...Would have been more effective if it were grounded in the here and now.”
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"From the beginning, the play never really does get off the ground, probably the result of an astonishingly unexceptional script. The dialogue is simplistic and repetitive, and rarely, if ever, do the actors speak in more than three-word phrases...Overall, the play is disappointing and falls well short of its potential. The serious issues it portends to examine remain elusive, its humor is tedious, its dialogue is undistinguished, and its acting is uninspiring."
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