The Xoregos Performing Company continues its 2018 season with Jean Racine's classic drama set in Nero's palace in the First Century A.D. More…
The characters of 'Britannicus' include Nero, his mother Agrippina, and his step-brother Britannicus, rightful Emperor of Rome. This production marks the East Coast premiere of Howard Rubenstein's translation and offers a rare opportunity to see French classical theater in America.
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 lov... 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... 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 fu... 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... 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.
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 blac... 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 b... Read more Read less