Boy NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (77)
See it if gender issues are important to you, or if you like great dynamics of truly messed up family
Don't see it if you're bored with gender issues
See it if /for Bobby Steggert's star turn as boy raised as a girl, excellent ensemble, and fine portrayals of boy/girl's dilemmas as he grows up
Don't see it if since play raises but fails to address a number of questions about identity and has an artistically unsatisfactory ending
See it if the social relevance of gender identity is important to you. A moving story of nature vs nurture. Great performance by Bobby Steggert.
Don't see it if you're looking at the hot picture of Bobby Steggert thinking your getting a gay-interest show. This is purely gender-identity related.
See it if You want to see a fascinating story about self discovery and the hell it takes to get there. Remarkable lead performance.
Don't see it if If you don't enjoy live theatre that explores topics of sexuality, transgenderism, or really scary circumcisions.
See it if Thought-provoking especially since it is based on a real story. Well written and acted. Moving. What would you do in their place?
Don't see it if you are looking for a transgender or a gay themed play. It is about gender.
See it if You're interested in stories on gender themes. It's a unique true story that I haven't seen play out before. Interesting & thought-provoking
Don't see it if Parts of it run a bit slow. Well acted & written but not a must see. If you're interested in the subject you should enjoy yourself.
See it if you want to learn more about intersex people (or at least about one fictional intersex person).
Don't see it if you don't like flip-flopping time lines.
See it if It's not only about gender but also what is identity. So fascinating. Really great writing and great actors. Must see.
Don't see it if It's not a funny or entertain play.
Critic Reviews (23)
"Without makeup or costume changes, Bobby Steggert glides back and forth between genders and ages, all the while quietly conveying the anguish that the title character is experiencing. It's a lovely performance...Linsay Firman directs with unaffected sensitivity but the play is unable to shake the earnestness of an after-school special, which undermines some of its dramatic impact."
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"Playwright Anna Ziegler takes a unique and imaginative approach to the timely issue of gender identity in the expertly written, inventively staged drama 'Boy.' The cast is uniformly excellent...Director Linsay Firman cleverly navigates through the years, dealing with complex issues concerning traditional gender roles in a gentle, tender manner that threatens to explode at any moment."
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"The hot-button issue of gender identity is at the center of Anna Ziegler’s 'Boy,' a troubling and moving new play...Ziegler plots the course carefully, and under the direction of Linsay Firman, the flashbacks make sense and flow smoothly...Every so often Ziegler indulges in sentimentality, notably in a late scene...But the errors are few. Even if you’ve thought you’ve heard all the arguments about the topic, 'Boy' brings them home powerfully."
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"Before you imagine an issue-heavy, movie of the week drama, rest assured this is focused strictly on the characters at hand. You won't find any villains here...The empathy for everyone is what makes 'Boy' so good...Ziegler's intelligent script lays out this complex story with precision and grace. From the very start, the ideas of the show are allowed to breathe...Steggert's performance is of aching simplicity and truthfulness, never showy, never grand-standing."
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"A true, very raw and tender story penned by Anna Ziegler...This show packs a powerful and real punch...Tough, tender, raw are the words that come to mind repeatedly when observing Mr. Steggert in his fine portrayal of the little boy trapped inside this little girl."
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"Anna Ziegler’s script is heartfelt but rocky, and Linsay Firman’s direction feels incomplete, as though the actors are still in rehearsal. The cast lay their hearts on the stage for this production, but they are, almost without exception, miscast in the roles as written...A strength is the story itself, and the message of hope and love...Though it could have been executed better, it is a strong starting point, and goes a great way to holding up an otherwise lackluster production."
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"In addition to the uniqueness of the plot, audiences will enjoy seeing how the set provides easy identification of where the story is at as well as strong acting...This ability to easily focus on when the play’s action is taking place allows viewers to focus on the struggle the boy has in determining how much nature plays in who we become sexually as an adult. That point is made very clear as a very satisfying ending is given. A strong cast provides the right tone for this controversial topic."
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