Betrayed by the Mind II

See it if you would like 5 short plays performed by a cast of ten talented actors , each with a varying theme of betrayal by one's mind.

Don't see it if you will be influenced by the very low scores given on this forum. It is also not a "100" as it was awarded for Friday's performance.

Also The Trainer and Gun were the longest and well acted. Mr. Freeman was very good in both skits. This is not conventional theater but it was much better than I expected after I saw the reviews on Show-Score. If you want to really know what bad theater is , go see Fort Dicks, like I did last week. Betrayed By The Mind looks like a Tony winner compared to that garbage.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy multiple plays for the price of one.

Don't see it if You dont want to use your imagination to figure out a plays ending.

See it if you like over the top and almost soap operatic performances and situations developing a theme of how loneliness make people stupid.

Don't see it if If you want consistent performances (clearly the actors are going for something) and consistently compelling narratives.

Also I thought the play was interesting as I took it as generally pitting a character performing in almost a vaudevillian way surrounded by a actors performing in more noir ways. I thought the theme was interesting and coherent though the plots are often banal. It would be slightly uncharitable but not unreasonable to call this play misogynistic. I took it as exploring male isolations and fears and so the women were to me more a representation of how a scared or lonely person took them than real characters (the first play in particular establishes that interpretation as did how soap operatic some of the performances were). However the women are either exploiters or objects of desire and exploitation.... Read more Read less

See it if you haven't anything better to do or want to support the actors.

Don't see it if you are looking for a complete story.

Also 5 plays with so-so actors and no feeling of completion. I really wanted to leave and the seats are very uncomfortable.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to explore five takes on betrayal by the mind, each an interesting idea, some just short presentations, but all lack conclusions.

Don't see it if you do not like a mix of various ideas in 90 minutes that need further development to make them entertaining or thought provoking.

See it if You enjoy a mumble jumble of one acts

Don't see it if You are looking for serious theater

See it if you think lawyers are gullible.

Don't see it if you know when someone is out to pull the wool over your eyes.

Also The seats are less comfortable than 21 years ago when I brought a 3 year old to a kid's show here, and we nearly slid off the forward pitched seats.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support a cast member. Otherwise, skip it.

Don't see it if You want anything close to a ready-for-audiences show. Everything needs work.

Also I've seen some great shows at 13St rep, but wow, this is not ready for audiences. Confusing scene transitions b/c they are actually short plays (you get no indication that one ends and the next begins).
Sadly, there is nothing to recommend this. The stories are weak (especially the noir attempts) and the actors need a lot more rehearsal time.
The lighting and sound cues were way off.
NOTE: The theatre's heating system sounded like a heavy-breathing person and was extremely distracting.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support actors and writers that need to present a "work in progress" production to the public.

Don't see it if you want a polished show with interesting content

Also I guess I have been spoiled. Ive seen many great productions through show-score. Unfortunately this was the first really bad one,I had to sneak out after 45 minutes. Overall bad writing, and long pauses between lines.... Read more Read less

See it if your friend is in the cast; if you're up for "taking a chance" on 5 short skits; if you've mastered the willing suspension of disbelief

Don't see it if you prefer high production standards; you like plays that make sense; you hate when lawyers are made fun of; you expect comfortable seats

Also With 5 shorties on the bill, you hope the next one might get better -- but no.
"In the Net" presents 4 people, 2 at a time, in a sex chat room. The first two [1 M, 1F] are physically attractive & into getting each other off. No conflict. No dramatic arc. Why are we even seeing this -- to be voyeurs? In the 2nd half, there are 2 males, one pretending to be a young girl. Utterly pointless.

In "Housekeeper 2" a Muslim maid cleans the home of a wheelchair-bound man who is divorced & paying alimony + child support. Because she wants more $$, she hides or breaks items until the client agrees to write her a check.

In "You Don't Listen" an arguing couple waits for a bus. The man suggests they don't marry until they have better jobs. When a panhandler appears, complimenting the female on her "beautiful green hair," she sprays him with mace & then stabs him to death.

Cliched, unrealistic situations + dialogue that's neither polished, tension-building, nor amusing. Yikes!... Read more Read less

See it if You saw the first one.

Don't see it if You have other options.

See it if ...you enjoy fine theater. Saw the opening. What’s important to keep in mind is that there are 5 separate plays with similar themes.

Don't see it if ...you want a fun + simplistic escape ...if you don’t appreciate the experience of feeling on stage as it’s an intimate theater experience

Also I highly recommend this play. All the actors were talented and the dialogue and directing was good. I especially appreciated « The Trainer » and thought Frank Freeman’s character was fascinating as was Peter Sullivan who played the trainer along with his assistant Samantha Coppola. Excellent performance!... Read more Read less

See it if This is not your average pedestrian set of plays. In my vew, The Trainer is a masterpiece and Gun is a very solid play.

Don't see it if You are looking for run of the miil humdrum theatre.