Chess Match No. 5
Closed 1h 30m
Chess Match No. 5
65

Chess Match No. 5 NYC Reviews and Tickets

65%
(55 Ratings)
Positive
58%
Mixed
26%
Negative
16%
Members say
Slow, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Absorbing

About the Show

SITI Company and Abingdon Theatre Company present the world premiere of an avant-garde work inspired by American composer, writer, artist, and philosopher John Cage. 

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Show-Score Member Reviews (55)

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88 Reviews | 19 Followers
50
Cliched, Banal, Disappointing, Excruciating

See it if you are a fan of John Cage and his seemingly "esoteric" philosophical musing about art and life, maybe.

Don't see it if are looking for a show with any semblance of plot or want to have the ideas of John Caged doled out to you . . . tediously.

63 Reviews | 26 Followers
50
Brainy, Overwritten, Great acting, Banal

See it if you love Will Bond and Ellen Lauren so much you wouldn't miss anything they are in.

Don't see it if you have no patience for brainy plays with a lot of text and not much of action. Read more

208 Reviews | 39 Followers
29
Ambitious, Excruciating, Indulgent, Slow, Disappointing

See it if You are willing to spend 90 minutes watching two actors play chess while pretending to talk about philosophical and obscure concepts.

Don't see it if You don't like pretentious theater that tries ( and fails ) to be " avant-garde " and challenging. This is a boring and inert production.

175 Reviews | 30 Followers
25
Confusing, Dizzying, Excruciating, Tiring, Boring

See it if You enjoy watching actors make toast, drink coffee, play chess, and talk nonsense for 90 minutes. Trouble falling asleep? Not at this show!

Don't see it if You want to see a play that's about something. This was about NOTHING! 90 minutes of my life gone forever!

272 Reviews | 57 Followers
15
Dated, Pretentious, boring

See it if you have patience for art-speak drivel that has pretensions to grandeur but is empty of meaning. Full of erudite references to nothing.

Don't see it if you expect insightful writing, character development, relevance and meaning. You are looking for an intermission to escape.

61 Reviews | 18 Followers
13
Confusing, Disappointing, Indulgent, Excruciating, Slow

See it if you enjoy pretentious "avant garde" performances which are thought provoking for some.

Don't see it if you are a fan of John Cage. Do not like pretentious plays that seem like they go on and on and on for ever. This play was a long 2 hours. Read more

35 Reviews | 11 Followers
100
Intelligent, Profound, Great staging, Great acting, Abstract

See it if You enjoy experimental theater done by masters of their craft

Don't see it if You have a short attention span or get lost in big ideas

37 Reviews | 7 Followers
70
Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great acting, Resonant, Slow

See it if You like experimental/ devised theater, or John Cage. You like philosophy, and you like letting your mind wonder and consider things.

Don't see it if you don't like experimental theater, performance art, 2 person minimalist shows, or if you need plot, message, or concreteness. Read more

Critic Reviews (16)