Death of a Driver

See it if Two super performances Writer's note so important for the tale. Love the way the actress separates poss. romantic scenes from action scenes

Don't see it if Not a happy story. The set needs work (ie: to separates sites) see ALSO

Also Small intimate space works.. Director (nee Abingdon) does a fine job.
African stories need to be heard in the U.S.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a smart take on relationship differences, both by countries and people, acted very well on a nearly bare stage with good lighting.

Don't see it if you need a full staging to appreciate a good story or you want a happy ending.

See it if you want to understand something about the complex and often confusing relationships of well meaning foreigners in third world nations.

Don't see it if you like your theater light. This is a serious piece that hits hard where it hurts.

See it if you enjoy a very well written and acted drama that takes place in Kenya. Very simple set but very well used. Wonderful character study.

Don't see it if you like a comedy or an elaborate set or don't like a play about conditions or politics in Kenya.

Also This was a wonderfully written play by Will Snider who is definitely a young playwright to follow. I hope a larger theater such as Roundabout or MTC picks up this play. The characters are developed very well and the relationship between them is the key to this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You like proactive story telling.

Don't see it if You don't like serious plays about something.

See it if you want a small smart show with terrific character development and two wonderful actors dealing with political & social themes.

Don't see it if the above pros are not your thing.

See it if you want to see a really thought-provoking show

Don't see it if you don't want to see a show that sets your expectations so high with its topic and description that it would be hard to not disappoint

Also the show is set in Kenya, but could be anywhere the world where there is a huge socio-economic disparity in populations. The characters, as written, must be gender specific, but are race and nationality neutral with very few changes. It could take place India, Syria, Appalachia, or any slum or developing area around the world.

The "helpers", no matter their motivation, must become political to succeed. The people living in the developing area are always "political", whether passively or aggressively and always have their fates "controlled" by those in power.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see two actors with great chemistry give a great performance in a small theater with simple yet effective staging.

Don't see it if You are not interested in political and social issues anyplace other than the U.S.A. You want to miss out on a great performance.

Also These two did an amazing job in this performance. I enjoyed their humor and storytelling. They had me feeling like I was there. I liked the reference of a "spare tire". Go see it if you can.... Read more Read less

See it if A trueful and painful story regarding power, gender and change.

Don't see it if Not interested in Africa.

See it if You're interested in development and aid work and wonder about the mindset of the people who do it.

Don't see it if You think two people talking about work and politics for an hour sounds boring.

See it if You are interested in interactions between Americans and Africans in Africa. Doing good is not as simple as one might wish.

Don't see it if You want an elaborate set. This is a minimally staged production with two actors, but it is beautifully done.

See it if you are interested in seeing an exceptional drama. Both Sarah Baskin and Patrick J. Ssenjovu are excellent

Don't see it if you prefer musicals

See it if you are interested in third world development--you like "two-handers" --you enjoy exploring moral dilemmas

Don't see it if You want a plot with action-- you get frustrated by accents that are difficult to understand

See it if Post-colonialism in Kenya (white female boss vs. local male employee); visceral acting esp. from the guy; informative post-show talk;

Don't see it if You’re expecting big production (this is a black box theatre with 70+ seats); you don’t care about the US and its ppl’s engagement overseas;

Also It’s written by a non-Kenyan (white American), but through a Kenyan’s voice. Even the Ugandan actor, Patrick, praises the playwright’s good “listening” skill. Good job!... Read more Read less

See it if You would enjoy a thoughtful two person plays about the challenges of development in Africa and of bicultural relationship generally.

Don't see it if You want a clear take home message and a balance between the two characters (Kennedy is a better character than Sarah).

Also Another issue in the play is the set while sparse is fine it seemed to me that using a set that conveyed a bar for jail scenes did not work. I think you needed a barrier more than them not being on the same level. I loved the development of the tire idea both in the spare tire and the tiee necklace. In the end Sarah is a spare tire for Kennedy she just doesn’t know it as he is discrete. He feels she’s getting what she wants so that he is really loyal to something else is irrelevant. The clear exploitation of her and arguably women in general represented by the idea makes it impossible to know where the two ever stood. Was it always an act? The ability to debate Kennedy’s motives and his ethics (his politics are sympathetic after all) and the performance by Mr Ssenjovu are the strength of the play. Sarah is just less compelling. I think you can wonder about what she wants and is doing and she grows more cynical but I think the debate comes from a lack of info more than anything else.... Read more Read less

See it if You’d like to see great performance, great script, great chemistry by actors, a play deals with urbanizing Kenya, local politics, relations

Don't see it if You do not like small bare bone theater, not into serious topics, plays has many layers, politics bore you, profanity bothers you

Also Phonemonal play, punch you so many times, makes you want to learn more about development of Africa, local tribes, how elections changed the local government.

The night I saw the play, there was a talk back with both actors, a human rights lawyer. It was great to see their point of view as well as to learn about collaboration process. They did such a fine delivery.... Read more Read less

See it if You have high expectations. The pace of the story is impeccable, you won't be bored. The dynamics between the two characters is just right

Don't see it if You just simply crave for big production.

See it if adroitly staged warmly acted intelligent drama. excellent antidote to mainstream pat solutions to international relations.

Don't see it if no pat solutions. no good guy vs bad guy. no sets (thank god) and you will have to stay involved to stay involved.

Also When I read the program note contrasting this to Green Book I got scared, but really they are entirely different animals. The writer apparently lived this experience and he very carefully avoids tipping the scales here.
I do think the last scene could be dropped or at least rewritten -- the need to bookend the story was a little too trite, IMHO.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in an intense very energetic well developed dialog between the characters. Direction is excellent, hats off!

Don't see it if If you don't like stories that connects people from 2 different worlds

See it if you want to see a play with an interesting premise that has potential but is not fully developed.

Don't see it if unrealistic/poorly supported character choices, repetitive settings (bar-jail-bar-jail etc.), and lack of depth/complexity will bother you.

Also The author's note set up an interesting premise but the play didn't really venture much beyond what was stated in that note, nor do a stellar job of encapsulating the complexity of the situation/premise.... Read more Read less

See it if You are concerned about cultural misunderstanding, the culture and politics of Kenya, economic development

Don't see it if You have no interest in the above and do not like two handers (although I am not so fond of them either but I really liked this show)

Also Well paced but the last prison scene could have been expanded more--to understand better the female lead's ambivalence. Because the play was so short (although it said what it needed to say) it could have been paired with something else, either a sequal or better yet, another play with a similar theme but another viewpoint or focus
All in all, I was impressed with how the play said so much in such a short time yet did not seem rushed or cluttered; nor did I feel that it hit me over the head with political polemic... Read more Read less

See it if If you like plays with simple staging and a small cast.

Don't see it if You would rather see plays with extravagant staging with a big cast.

See it if you have any interest in development in the Third World, including possible miscommunications and messy politics

Don't see it if you don't care what happens in Africa and other parts of the Third World; or if you think Americans are always right when in other countries

See it if You like quick plays which have something to say

Don't see it if You don't read your program notes--the play spanned 10 years across the various scenes which wouldn't have known otherwise

Also Only about 75 minutes and an easy walk from Penn Station so worth checking it out... Read more Read less

See it if You like great acting: The Green Book/Driving Miss Daisy, with a more substantive story line.

Don't see it if You're a snob and stick to inane Broadway musicals, without substance.