"In its score, the creators of this sung-through show, Sharp and Carbonara, have made something beautiful and delicate. They’re billing this piece as a musical, though, and I wouldn’t call it that…The story — ostensibly concerning a theater on in 1910, as motion pictures begin to threaten live performance — is a murk of confusion that only grows…The band is excellent, the sound is full and the show is fast and fluid. But 'Evening' is more a song cycle than a piece of theater."
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"Director Randy Sharp and music director Paul Carbonara have put together a magnificent and poetic musical score...However, with almost 40 songs all evoking the same soft 1900s folk melody, the story tends to get lost and boring, no matter what the lyrics speak...The cast shines together though, moving in a patiently practiced dance choreographed by Lynn Mancinelli that is aesthetically mesmerizing, like watching old photographs move."
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"'Evening' has some of the most exquisitely crafted music to be heard on the New York stage right now...The show's fuzzy story line too often makes us feel like we're leafing through an album of unfocused photos...This is a bit frustrating in a production whose gorgeous songs deserve more...Despite its snapshot of a tale, 'Evening — 1910' has much to recommend it. It is certainly a musical journey into the past that's worth taking."
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“The experience of ‘Evening 1910’ is rather like sifting through old sepia photographs, now faded, trying to discern what they looked like when new. There is some exceptionally lovely music to be heard here, but if this piece is to have a further life, it needs stronger characters and action, as well as a substantial rethink of its design...There is work of much quality here, but the creators currently don't have the right frame in which to present it.”
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"My initial reaction was 'pretty and pretty boring'...But this show is not one you easily see without letting your thoughts and feelings simmer...It’s a great credit that its team has made me think more about the show since leaving the theatre. Sharp and Carbonara have put together a truly beautiful and poetic score, one of the best currently in the city even...That said, it unfortunately suffers from same-melody syndrome...It’s still best coined as a song cycle."
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“'Evening-1910' poetically intertwines moments of New York history with softly drawn portraits of characters...Although there is a slight narrative, ‘Evening’ is more of a tone poem...Mr. Carbonara’s score possesses an ethereal sound, one of longing and broken hearts...The cast are all exquisite singers, and as an ensemble their sound is gorgeous...Watching ‘Evening’ is like peering through a kinetoscope and being touched by the solitary sadness of each character’s flickering image.”
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“'Evening-1910' is sung-through. That’s how Sharp and Carbonara tell their enchanting tale, which, to be truthful, is ever so slightly vague...The team’s approach here is to keep everything from stopping to settle on one aspect...The result is beautiful to watch, simultaneously lulling and stimulating...I highly recommend you go. If you do, I might see you there, because I’m certainly returning to be mesmerized by it once again."
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"Paired with wonderful music and lyrics, the show was promised to be a success. And yet it left very mixed feelings. The director Randy Sharp, perhaps, decided to compensate for the virtually nonexistent set with busy choreography...Even though the busy choreography was over-the-top, I would take it any day of the week over theatrical clichés, especially with the delightful cast of young and talented actors."
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