Dad in a Box NYC Reviews and Tickets

65%

(11 Reviews)

Positive

18%

Mixed

73%

Negative

Members say

Disappointing, Ambitious, Quirky, Clever, Banal

About the Show

In Kim Katzberg's latest solo work she plays a plethora of characters, struggles to become more real onstage, and both be truthful to her father and express her inexplicable love for him.

A prestigious improv comedy workshop seems like an ideal career boost for Katzberg, until she finds her fervid imagination hamstrung by generic critiques. "...Suicidal girl on a date? I'm not sure it's a network thing.” But the real improvisation starts when Katzberg’s emotionally distant father dies, paralyzing her psyche and forcing her to confront her California-cool brother and erratic prodigal sister.

Member Reviews (11)

Insipid, Fluffy, Disappointing, Cliched, Banal

See it if If you want a show that is experimental theater and brings feelings about a persons life i to it.

Don't see it if If you want a more polished show. This one gets loud with its video.

Quirky, Banal, Disappointing, Clever, Ambitious

See it if you like experimental theater/performance art with heavy video use, all performed by one person who is putting it all out there with gusto.

Don't see it if you want drama - I was bothered by video sound level, laugh track and confused by the comedy juxtaposed with the serious issues tackled.

Heartfelt, Insufficiently dramatic, Stand-up, Therapeutic, Solo

See it if you would like to see an engaging performer use an elaborate stand-up routine as personal therapy.

Don't see it if you are looking for drama. Read more

Ambitious, Funny, Entertaining, Clever, Fluffy

See it if Some entertaining moments but needed work.

Don't see it if A comedy show based on morbid thoughts of her father.

Banal, Intense, Indulgent, Confusing, Ambitious

See it if you appreciate experimental theatre, multi-media and character, one actor and act, short, autobiographical, somber drama attempting humor

Don't see it if you prefer polished, linear drama, light theme, comedy or musical, or a larger cast and more elaborate set and costumes, or clear resolution Read more

Flop, Trillin it's not, Conflict kills it, Nothing funny here

See it if I can't think of a single reason to see this show. I didn't laugh once.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a woman, conflicted over her father's death from pancreatic cancer, fail miserably trying to make us laugh. Few did. Read more

Quirky, Indulgent, Disappointing

See it if You are familiar with improv classes, flaky therapists, weird meditation sessions, and pop cultural references. You like performance art.

Don't see it if you don't like to see people working out their problems onstage

100

Kim's vulnerable story is beautiful.

See it if You want to be moved by a woman who opens up her heart to you.

Don't see it if You want to see a big Broadway musical.

Critic Reviews (2)

"As a child to a lost parent, who dealt with countless other losses between the ages of seven and seventeen, and as someone whose artistic life has in large part been devoted to explorations of extended grief, I have to ask, 'What the fuck?' This show made me angry. Really, truly, madly, deeply. Furiously. While I understand the impulse to make a show where you finally get to say those lifelong unsaids that you never got to scream, I see so much more strength in letting sleeping dogs lie."
Read more

"An off-putting moment gives a taste of the uncomfortable candor and strained humor of the hour-long play...There are little skits and parodies that Kim is presumably presenting to her improv class...I found none of the jokes and routines funny. I realize some were meant to reflect Kim’s indirect efforts to come to terms with her father, but they weren’t effective...There were moments, however, that suggested the powerful play that Katzberg could have fashioned."
Read more