Everything Will Be Different: A Brief History of Helen of Troy

See it if you appreciate intensely emotional character and relationship development re loss from perspective of imaginative adolescent girl/her dad

Don't see it if you prefer comedy, light drama, or musicals, or cannot sit through 2 hours of uncomfortable subject matter without interval

Also Only the slighty excessive length prevented perfection. Ready for Broadway. Bravo!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to discover an absolutely brilliant young actress, Allison Wick. Her performance is an absolute must-see. Brilliant story too.

Don't see it if You don't appreciate great acting or innovative writing. You're so prudish you can't handle strong language and themes.

Also We found this show absolutely excellent. Very highly recommend. The lead actress is so brilliant that it's worth seeing just for that. Her supporting actors were very strong too. The story is powerful, well written and leaves you truly impacted. This is the kind of theater that makes me love living in New York.... Read more Read less

See it if You like an intimate setting and intense dark storylines by dedicated , passionate acting

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with abuse , gay situations and want a fairytale happy ending .

Also My only complaint is the use of the R word three times . As a special education advocate , it pains my heart every time I hear it . I would be thrilled and I’m certain others would too if you found another word to use in the script . Please . Please . Please .... Read more Read less

See it if You appreciate great acting in a dark and disturbing but intensely thought provoking play. You will never forget the girl playing the lead.

Don't see it if You find material dealing with sexual obsession and physical violence too disturbing. This one is very strong and in your face..

See it if you like tense, explicit, uncomfortable dramas and are interested in how cultural values cause teen girls to be sexualized at an early age.

Don't see it if you can't handle a play that keeps you on edge for two hours with very few laughs to ease the tension.

Also When a fifteen-year-old girl loses her mother and has no one else to provide support and guidance, she goes looking for love (and power and value) in all the wrong places---mostly, by offering her sexuality while completely out of touch with any desires she might have. Although I would have liked to know more about where Charlotte is getting this information from (peers? Internet porn?), the societal messages seem accurate, and I think this kind of conditioning occurs even earlier (by age 13). The production keeps you on your toes, going from reality to fantasy with no signal such as a lighting change. Acting is strong throughout, and actors are believably cast. I especially liked James Goodnight in a quirky supporting role as a guidance counselor. See it while you have the chance. Tip: Buy your tickets online in advance, since purchasing at the door is time-consuming.... Read more Read less

See it if you can commit to a long, convoluted, often painful story which fails to provide resolution.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to discussions/depictions of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse/manipulation.

See it if You are interested in hard edge drama with a socio-sexual theme, want to see actors do brave, honest work

Don't see it if if you are not up for disturbing material played out in a small space, definitely not for kids

See it if You're up for a dark coming of age tale as a young girl tries to deal with death/loss/sex/insecurity/self-worth & despair with mixed results

Don't see it if Teenage angst and troubles, or melodrama, hold no interest. Despite some good moments, it's a long way to go for a flat, pat ending.

Also Mark Schultz has a terrific ear for teen dialogue, and Allison Wick is pitch-perfect as the troubled Charlotte, whose infatuation with Helen of Troy as a model of beauty allows her to explore and fantasize about her darker impulses as a means of teenage escape.

It's an impressive performance and an interesting premise, but the direct connection is muddled, and the director's notes lead one to think that Genet might have been the better role model. Length is an issue as well; 3 parts instead of 4 might have helped tighten plot and focus, as would some explanation of the father's apparent sudden epiphany at the end.

As written and as played by Ken Schatz, the father is unfortunately riddled with cliché. It’s a difficult role and a good try, but not helped by Schatz’s voice, ranging from inaudible to thunderous.

The rest of the cast is committed and believable; lights and sound effective and direction smooth. In all an interesting if unrealized premise with a terrific lead actress.... Read more Read less

See it if You don't mind excessive and prolonged screaming profanities.

Don't see it if You like straightforward pieces.

See it if You want to sit for 2hours without a break watching a bad play about nothing. Too much screaming in parts.

Don't see it if You want a plot based play.

See it if You want a searing, dark coming of age story. You want a commentary on beauty, love & sex as seen through a teen lens.

Don't see it if You're uncomfortable w/frank discussions about sex. You like a strong through-line:rough transition btwn scenes & often didn't quite connect

See it if you like complex characters, unreliable narrators, minimalist aethetics, family drama.

Don't see it if you can't sit through a two-hour show with no intermission or don't like repetitive dialogue.

See it if emotional, honest, funny and tragic,great script-- a young girl's struggle with insecurity, sex and death.

Don't see it if you don't love true-to-life perfectly captured teen dialogue , though a consideration for young children some profane words

Also All of the actors were perfectly cast and delivered powerful performances especially Alison Wick, as Charlotte, the young woman exploring reality and fantasy world of friends, sex, and death. Must see.... Read more Read less