Urban Stages presents the U.S. premiere of Daniel MacIvor's play about what is needed to repair a familial bond under the pressures of religion, recovery, and a ticking clock. More…
In 'Communion,' Leda’s born-again daughter shouts a painful truth: "People don’t have mothers like you." The gap between Leda and her daughter is filled with silence and anger. Upon the advice of a therapist dealing with her own host of troubles, Leda tries to bridge that distance and prepare her child for the calamity just ahead. But are some bonds too damaged to mend?
See it if you like theatre that doesn't fill in all the blanks for you. Great writing and an excellent cast produce that magic shared theatre moment.
Don't see it if you have no experience or interest or empathy for understanding parents with addiction and their children.
See it if You'll be touched at the poignancy and the hurt that's revealed in the therapist's office. Takes place in "real time".
Don't see it if You don't want to hear the tales of hurt. But what a powerful play. 90 minutes.
See it if you enjoy intelligent dramas about mothers and daughters, and the different roads they take through life. Excellent ensemble acting.
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with many Pinteresque pauses and silences.
See it if You like plays that are so slow you feel as if you could drive a train through the pauses between lines. Fly on the wall at therapy sessions
Don't see it if You want to see a well directed play that is original and holds your interest. Dysfunctional family plots are not your thing.
See it if You are interested in mother daughter conflicts and how it is trying to be resolved through therapy.
Don't see it if Mother and daughter issues don't concern you. You don't like the idea of someone getting therapy.
See it if you enjoy a good story and love theatre.
Don't see it if you're not interested in people's drama.
See it if examination of mother/daughter and client/therapist relationships and a women's own clashing self-images intrigue you.
Don't see it if you are impatient with intense, slow client development and evolution and plays about women and relationships, not action or complex sets
See it if If you like well-acted shows about family relationships.
Don't see it if If you don't like shows dealing with religion, death or alcoholism, or you prefer shows with a lot of action.
See it if you value the therapeutic dynamic with its necessary pauses for self-reflection and active listening, excellently mirrored by great cast
Don't see it if you want resolution / gratification for the characters, or seeking "proper" set design or continuous dialogue, or easily impatient/irritable
See it if Trio of actors do the best they can with the material; must trust the piece by seeing it through to the end
Don't see it if unimaginative direction; none of the characters are initially compelling; off-page backstory described in text seems more compelling
See it if You look good drama and to be moved emotionally.
Don't see it if You like musicals and comedies.
See it if you want to see 3 characters deal with extreme family dysfunction. An estranged mother, her therapist, and a born-again evangelical daughte
Don't see it if you're bothered by poor directorial choices which sabotage the play
See it if well-acted play, with characters somewhat clear, and a scrip partially coherent and cohesive, perhaps done on purpose by author/director
Don't see it if If you do not believe in psychotherapy.
See it if you don't have anything to do
Don't see it if you don't have time to waste
See it if You like to wallow in misery, you like to be punish, you r a mental health industry pro/quack looking for more business in audience!
Don't see it if U know better that it''s a self indulgent unedited BORING piece for playwright/director who loathed to cut down his self adored work!
Also The most boring & useless play in 2016! The first 15 minutes with main... Read more Read less
See it if you like slow, no moving action, actors working so hard to elevate material
Don't see it if like good writing and direction.
See it if you've any therapy experience (provider, consumer), I think you'll enjoy the depth, delicacy & humor of the 3 actresses. They're great!
Don't see it if you don't mind reading between the (human-behavior) lines , which doesn't take much effort, you won't be confused or bored.
See it if You enjot serious subject matter, clever writing, excellent acting.
Don't see it if You desire funny light-hearted material. Elaborate staging, movement.
See it if You want to learn the way "Client Centered" (Rogerian) psychotherapy works.
Don't see it if You are impatient. The first act is very slow.
See it if You know Rogerian psychology and want to see its possible consequences, and if you like mother-daughter relationship dramas.
Don't see it if You are annoyed, bored, or impatient with people recovering from various extreme behaviors.
See it if You want to be a fly on the wall during therapy session. The tense relationships between familial strangers drives this narrative.
Don't see it if It reminds you too much of your own therapy sessions.
See it if you are interested in what makes people tick. If you ponder about life and love. If you like plays that are thought provoking and dramatic
Don't see it if You do not like slow moving plays. If you want a whole lot of action.If introspective stuff is not your cup of tea.
See it if You like heavy family conflict.
Don't see it if You like light and fluffy.
See it if you want to see a deeply human, touching and well crafted piece of art. An interesting format and a pure scenic design.
Don't see it if you cannot stand in your seat for 90 minutes watching a play that contains little to no physical action.
Also The play starts off slowly, It took a good 15-20 minutes for me to sta... Read more Read less