Britannicus

See it if you think you’d like to experience a faithful production of a straightforward translation of a masterwork of French neo-classic theater.

Don't see it if you find classic theater slow & wordy.

Also The Xoregos Performing Company is giving a gift to New Yorkers who love classic theater, mounting a well-wrought production of Jean Racine’s “Britannicus”, a masterwork of French neo-classical tragedy, at Theater for the New City. The production is clear, tight & intelligent. Faithful to the tradition, the passions of the characters from the court of the Roman emperor Nero seethe but only occasionally explode. Scenes proceed in orderly fashion as the pieces of the plot click inexorably into place. All violence takes place offstage. All the performers are good or better, speaking well, looking stately except when they’re falling apart, & never getting in the way of the unfolding story. (Nero, a charming if volatile snake, gets many laughs.) The handsome set is simple with classical references; costumes are period; the musical score is spare & percussive. Theatergoers with an interest in the history of the form will want to see this production of a rarely seen classic.... Read more Read less

See it if You like historical plays

Don't see it if You expect some originality. This is a desultory production.

See it if If you want to learn a bit about Ancient Rome and don't mind sitting through 2 hours of not-ready-for-prime-time acting and directing.

Don't see it if you'd rather see a bad play well-acted than a good play poorly acted. True, not everybody, but enough to undermine the entire production.

See it if It is a great treat to see this rare classic play. The ensemble was good, especially the role of Nero, Narcissus, Agrippina and Britannicus.

Don't see it if If you are looking for the elaborate staging or action play.

See it if you want to experience a classic by Racine rarely performed and relevant today with themes of power, tyranny and madness

Don't see it if you don't like wordy plays

See it if You like history, plays about Ancient Rome, and going to small theatres.

Don't see it if Not so great acting that distracts you from the writing.

See it if To see part of the classic French canon, with intellectual not emotional appeal. Dont miss it if you are interested in Roman history

Don't see it if if you're looking for glitzy productions, lots of movement. Clueless about Emperor Nero and bored with wordy plays, low budget productions

Also While the play itself lays out much of the backstory, it is helpful to know some Roman history going in, particularly about the Emperor Nero. Also helpful is an understanding of the canons of Greek tragedy - unity of time, place and action, so you don't get impatient with this play that hews to these rules. A challenging play that is competently acted, particularly by the young Nero, but not remarkably directed.... Read more Read less

See it if Like the classics with accessibile translation. Good acting. Historical drama that is not often done.

Don't see it if Like musicals and kids shows,

See it if you like smart, easily understood historical plays about Nero, Agrippa and the tragedy of the murder of Nero's half-brother, Britannicus.

Don't see it if you don't like history, or you don't like plays that use language beautifully and are beautifully acted and directed.

See it if The acting was superb - each character brought to life so fully and layered. The direction bringing out the predatory circling fears, greed.

Don't see it if Don’t see it if you hate dramatic historic or biographical plays

Also Loved the shifts from animal rage to very human fear and greed then fusing into madness. And woven through, seeing political strategy as both madness as well as all too familiar political calculating... while seeing Emperor Nero one minute as son of a ferocious mother trying desperately to be his own man
And in the next scenes manipulating and dominating.... Read more Read less

See it if The intrigues of Nero and his conniving mom to steal the throne, fascinating

Don't see it if Much dialogeu and slow pace but inteeresting apways

See it if you like intellectually satisfying works.

Don't see it if you think life is easy and people are simple and you can't be bothered with history or literature or conflict or dealing with good and evil.

See it if If you want to see a highly extraordinary piece of work beautifully performed.

Don't see it if You expect something typical and predictable, and don't appreciate irony and conflict and the human condition.

Also I saw it twice; and if I could, I'd see it again.

See it if you are interested in classical plays well performed

Don't see it if you prefer action and patter and elaborate sets to expressive language, excellent acting, and beautiful costumes.

Also The play takes place in Rome in the first century. It was written by a Frenchman in the seventeenth century. So, as some critics say, it is indeed "dated." But the American English translation is of the twenty-first century.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re interested in attending an exquisitely staged, searing disquisition on political treachery.

Don't see it if you have no appreciation of fine classical theatre, in which case you might be better advised to catch “Star Wars, Part 23.”

See it if you want to support actors who deserve an audience. Or if you have a deep love of all things classical theatre.

Don't see it if you can't stand bad direction ruining what could be a good production.

Also This is a terrible production.

The main culprit is the direction. It's very clear that Shela Xoregos has no skill or knowledge of directing for the stage. Scenes are assembled without any style, and powerful moments are undercut by a distinct stupidity in their staging. Rather than allowing her actors to behave and move believably , Xoregos forces them to stand and pontificate. You can feel the clash of the actors trying to give solid performances while being hamstrung by the confines of the direction.

The actors have been unfairly maligned in some of the other reviews. It's quite clear that they are the only good part of this production. There are moments where the acting manages to shines through; you can sense there is a good production somewhere inside this mess, if the director had given the actors the freedom they deserve.

Inelegant translation, weak and poorly incorporated set design. Nonexistent sound & lights. Lower score if not for the acting. I'd say more but...... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy superb acting from talented individuals in an intimate space

Don't see it if you are not willing to embrace the NYC independent theatre experience

Also It was strikingly clear that the actors were very restrained by the direction choices. blocking was clunky, odd, and did not let the actors live up to the potential of their characters. did the director even have a conversation with the cast on their vision of the show? it did not appear to be so. the actors are all very talented individuals and it seems a waste that their talent was not utilized fully. this is a difficult play that truly requires the cohesive element that produces good theatre, and the discrepancy btwn direction, lighting, and the actors was too obvious. Leaving a high score for their sake, but I hope the director will re-examine their "process" in the future, rather than use their cast as disposable.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy dialogue-driven plots, classic plays, Roman history and complex family relationships

Don't see it if If you need action, stunning -- or any -- sets, a fancy venue or props

Also Britannicus is staged in Theatre for the New City's tiny basement blackbox. Racine's work has been translated into English and most of the actors do a great job with what is a classically written, dialogue-driven play. Such classical works are not easy to perform and the actors put the energy and time to master their parts. It is enjoyable seeing young actors who obviously are devoted to bringing classical, rarely performed works to the stage. Katy Copeland commands the stage as Agrippina, portraying a power-obsessed mother with aplomb. Stephen Kime is excellent as the complicated Nero who, like the historical figure was known, is initially charming but descends into treachery and madness.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy classic theater that is beautifully written and acted. Britannicus, Nero and Narcissus were standouts!

Don't see it if You don't enjoy a lot of dialogue where all action takes place off stage.

See it if you enjoy classical theater, Roman history, intimate spaces, great acting, faithful adaptions, & wonderful costumes.

Don't see it if you enjoy inspired direction (other than "stand there and say this"), you don't enjoy long winded speeches, or want a poetic translation.

Also My first experience seeing a Xoregos production & it could very well be my last. The cast, bless their hearts, is full of very talented young actors that unfortunately work within the confines of uninspired direction with no reason to why any of it is happening. The lighting design is non existent and the set design is minimal with furniture that is rarely used. Where in the palace is this? I still don't know (tisk tisk director). The three stand-outs include: Kime, as Nero, giving a wonderful performance that unfortunately feels stilted from the lack of direction, or too much of it, Copeland as Agrippina giving a colorful performance & works with the "walk back and forth 8 times before speaking" that must have come from the direction & Austin, as young Britannicus who bares as much of his soul as he can under the limitations. The stage is so deep that interesting staging could've been easily possible. Great cast, weak direction and production desig... Read more Read less