Dress of Fire

See it if love historical dramas.

Don't see it if you don't like historical dramas or great acting

See it if You like great acting. You are interested in issues of war and peace. You like new works in an intimate venue. You like classic literature.

Don't see it if You don’t like plays that depend largely on talk. You want light entertainment. You have no idea who Helen of Troy was and don’t care.

See it if Pendleton groupie.

Don't see it if Hate Greek drama and any adaptation thereof.

Also Pendleton is fine. Acting is a mixed bag. Beautiful stark white set, nicely accented accordingly when the story demands.... Read more Read less

See it if Pendleton fan. You enjoy hearing well acted soliloquies, women's point of views on war. You support new works and characters indiv thoughts

Don't see it if You don't like new works or small theaters or don't want to think- I found myself taking sides and walking away wanting to learn more

See it if If you like the classics and how they relate to today

Don't see it if If serious story telling is not your thing.

See it if If you're an Austin Pendleton fan, or are looking for some discussions on war and peace

Don't see it if You really need to see a conventional plot on stage.

See it if You want to see a different take on the Trojan War

Don't see it if You want a light show

See it if if you want a new take on the Trojan War and a view of war from the women who watched their men play the game. Orhan/narrator is interesting

Don't see it if you are not interested in exploring another vantage point between war and peace or are not willing to listen carefully.

See it if We would not miss a play where Austin Pendleton is involved .Helen and Cassandra were well played. 13th St.Rep provides an intimate space.

Don't see it if One has to have a taste for War Stories. Sorry to say but the Trojan War has been "done" a bit better recently.

See it if you enjoy giving some of your time and thoughts to plays that explore universal ideas about the nature of war, exemplified by Trojan War.

Don't see it if you lose patience with talky, low budget plays that are mainly political treatises, where the acting and direction are uneven.

See it if You want to see Austin Pendleton. The lead female as the queen and Cassandra are also effective. You like history.

Don't see it if You are not a fan of history pieces. The set is also minimal.

See it if you want to support a young theater group working on interesting material. An attempt to present the daily life of women living under seige

Don't see it if Real housewives of the Trojan nobility is not your thing -- only its not funny. Cast of 12 all doing monologs.

See it if you enjoy monologue heavy plays exploring characters and motivations and have a working knowledge of the Iliad

Don't see it if You don't enjoy monologue heavy plays, or prefer linear plot structures

See it if You're interested in Greek mythology

Don't see it if You want something fast paced for most of the show

See it if you are interested in pseudo-greek theater about the lives of the characters in the seige of Troy and seeing young, inexperienced actors

Don't see it if You prefer authenticity and reality in theater as well as more professional level performances

Also Most of the actors seemed extremely inexperienced and the wonderful Austin Pendleton was miscast as King Priam of Troy. A few of the cast had good moments Alexandra Laliberte as Queen Hecuba, had some moments, as did Elena Rusconi as Helen. The men were weak and unfocused and the director seemed to be aiming for some sort of dream-ike theatrical effect with a window at rear of stage which did not work. This felt more like a college exercise than a professional production.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in contemporary takes on the Trojan War, that source for so many surviving classic Greek plays.

Don't see it if you are looking for either a classic Greek drama or a conventional modern play.

Also A student of classic Greek drama, I welcome playwright Nina Kethevan’s cogent antiwar take on the Trojan War. But so much stage time consists of Helen, Cassandra or Hecuba addressing the audience directly that it doesn’t always rise to the level of drama. Just as curious dramaturgically: 1st Helen, then Cassandra, achieve dramatic prominence only to fade from the play entirely. A suitor woos Cassandra in a lovely scene, but never returns. We later learn he’s courting Cassandra’s younger sister. Not staging a 2nd encounter with Cassandra seems a lost dramatic opportunity. In act 2 a huge chunk of time is taken up with a flashback: The royal couple (Priam & Hecuba) entertains 3 kingly allies of Troy, an idyllic contrast to the future war, but dramatically inert. It sets up Priam’s 11th hour realization that peace is sweet & gives Hecuba a chance to deliver (quite powerfully!) a roaring defense of war. But this seems a small return for having dissipated all forward momentum.... Read more Read less

See it if you are an Austin Pendleton fan; you will enjoy a new play based on Greek mythology

Don't see it if you're a purist about Greek mythology--among other things,this play has Alexander kidnapping/seducing Helen of Troy

See it if You enjoy classical drama mixed with modern political message featuring some powerful soliloquys.

Don't see it if You want a more coherent political allegory that doesn't take liberties with Trojan War story.

See it if you enjoy Austin Pendleton's last sweet days onstage or you like plays set in ancient times. If you feel the women of Troy deserve to speak

Don't see it if you hate anti-war plays; if you dislike monologues. If you loved "The Iliad," then don't see this talky drama with no poetic quotable lines

Also Austin Pendleton fans -- beware. He is not at his best.

The more you remember Homer's "Iliad," and its vivid scenes -- especially as King Priam's sons are killed in battle and the Trojan kingdom is destroyed - - the less you will enjoy "Dress of Fire," with its contradictions, verbosity, and re-imagined history.

In order to say something positive, ok, the actresses delivered their monologues well.... Read more Read less

See it if The bright spot was getting to see Austin Pendleton. The actors did a wonderful job with a very boring and difficult script.

Don't see it if You want to be entertained

See it if Like a 80 minute show, where there is no singing, play on words.

Don't see it if Don't like actors stumbling over their parts,not being prepared.

See it if You enjoy shows that are basically monologues rather than interactive conversation. You are a fan of Austin Pendleton.

Don't see it if You are looking for a fast moving show with lots of interaction. You are a fan of Greek mythology and expect material to be familiar.

See it if The narrator was excellent , framing the otherwise fulsome staging with a light touch. You like reimagining classic tales.

Don't see it if Hmm. You prefer plays with multiple notes, non stagy direction and few monologues.

See it if You enjoy Greek tragedy from a modern perspective

Don't see it if You dislike plays where mythic times can only be suggested through the use of stilted language..

See it if you like Austin Pendleton and want to support new theater.

Don't see it if ancient Greek monologues bore you.. I don't think this show was successful in portraying the female side of war.