Ghost Quartet NYC Reviews and Tickets

88%
(55 Reviews)
Positive
96%
Mixed
0%
Negative
4%
Members say
Great singing, Absorbing, Quirky, Enchanting, Clever

About the Show

New York Theatre Workshop presents this surreal chamber musical from Dave Malloy ('Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812') in which murder ballads, doo-wop, jazz noise, and raucous campfire drinking songs collide.

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Member Reviews (55)

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754 Reviews | 124 Followers
90
Enchanting, Great singing, Masterful, Dreamy, Quirky

See it if The beautiful and mysterious in magical environment attracts you. Or you like whiskey with your theater.

Don't see it if You want a linear plot and predictable characters.

MJK
677 Reviews | 190 Followers
80
Quirky, Entertaining, Haunting, Intimate

See it if you want to see a sometimes whimsical, mostly eerie, but always gripping semi-staged spectral song cycle by the creator of The Great Comet.

Don't see it if you aren't a David Malloy fan (tho I found this more enjoyable than Comet) or you need distance between you & the performers to enjoy a show

512 Reviews | 79 Followers
98
Delightful, Great singing, Great staging, Quirky, Riveting

See it if you love theatre!This is another Dave Malloy gem.Funny.Beautifully written & performed.Intimate setting.Totally involving.LOVED it.

Don't see it if you are dead!This show is as good as it gets.The run is sold out for a very good reason.This is brilliant.It's the next great thing. GO!!!!!

402 Reviews | 86 Followers
85
Absorbing, Intimate, Great singing, Entertaining, Quirky

See it if you want an intimate musical experience with great singing and musicianship, enjoy quirky ghost stories and an eclectic, haunting score.

Don't see it if you don't like staged concerts, you're afraid of dark & possible audience participation (playing percussion instrument, passing out drinks)

349 Reviews | 58 Followers
90
Spellbinding, Intricate storytelling, Beautiful singing, Original

See it if Inventive weaving of several haunting stories told in song & music by wonderfully attuned cast. Blends of folk, soul, jazz music create...

Don't see it if ...sort of concept album of eerie old & new tales. No linear plot but it doesn't really matter if the stories confuse you. Super finish too!

350 Reviews | 42 Followers
88
Absorbing, Edgy

See it if Dave Malloy, Brittain Ashford and Gelsey Bell. Fanciful storytelling through song. Musicality of Great Comet deconstructed.

Don't see it if Expecting linear story telling. Scared of the dark.

216 Reviews | 910 Followers
86
Clever, Great singing, Great writing, Intelligent, Quirky

See it if You enjoy great storytelling and folk music; an intimate setting to take in a slightly confusing story

Don't see it if You can't get tickets; You want a big production or are afraid of the dark

305 Reviews | 96 Followers
76
Confusing, Not my cup of tea, Atmospheric

See it if You are a Dave Malloy fan and enjoyed Great Comet.

Don't see it if You're like me and don't really connect with Malloy's work. Read more

Critic Reviews (10)

The New York Times
October 11th, 2014
For a previous production

“A happily haunted song cycle…Directed with unobtrusive cunning by Tippe…On occasion the whimsy threatens to thicken to the clotting point. But the show never slows down enough to lose you, because Mr. Malloy is so infectiously in love with the dark arts of storytelling in all its forms…One of the most ingenious and affecting finales I’ve come across in years…Let’s just say that Mr. Malloy and company find new ways for guaranteeing that this exultant production’s melody lingers on.”
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Time Out New York
October 10th, 2014
For a previous production

“There’s not a linear story to follow, but the material coheres on a rich, intuitive level. Far less theatrical and character-based than Malloy’s ‘Great Comet of 1812’ this is an experiment in mood and evanescence, a chance to get inside the singer-songwriter’s head and savor the superb musicianship of his collaborators…They turn the Bushwick Starr into a cozy den of antique lamps and Persian rugs...Maybe like me, you’ll want to make it your regular haunt.”
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New York Post
October 13th, 2014
For a previous production

“Musically, Malloy reaches equally wide, his score an ingenious patchwork of folk, rock and jazz. But the best way to enjoy the show is to simply lose yourself in its otherworldly atmosphere, which easily goes from surreal to eerie, from touching to playful…Annie Tippe’s staging seems simple, but is actually ingenious…The finale is even better, one of the most wonderful staging coups of the season and too wonderful to be spoiled.”
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WhatsOnStage
August 8th, 2016
For a previous production

“‘Ghost Quartet’ is nothing if not complex. But in its tangled web lies deep, dark magic as many ghosts emerge into the light…The whole thing is almost literally entrancing, as you strain to catch meaning while simultaneously reveling in the sheer fertility of creation on offer. The performers are superb musicians and compelling performers. My only reservation was how much of the show took place in near darkness.”
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The Stage (UK)
August 16th, 2016
For a previous production

“It's an intoxicating blend of lyrics and sounds...There is a rich vein of dark humour both in the lyrical exchanges and in the use of unfamiliar instruments…While there is no strict narrative, the characters are luridly crafted...Principal vocalists Ashford and Bell have complementary yet contrasting styles, but it's Malloy's engrossing songwriting skills that are the focus here. Try to imagine a song cycle curated by Tim Burton and directed M Night Shyamalan.”
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British Theatre Guide
August 11th, 2016
For a previous production

“Anybody within reach of Edinburgh should not miss out on this delight. The show is impossible to categorize. Is it a concept album played live, a musical, a theatrical performance or a concert? It is all of these and none…An intoxicating 70 minutes…A remarkable finale…The atmosphere may be dark but it is always playful and tuneful, aided by the presence of four fine musicians…It may not be easy to categorize but 'Ghost Quartet' should be on everyone’s must see/hear list.”
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The Wee Review
August 22nd, 2016
For a previous production

“A thoroughly enjoyable musical theatre performance that captivates and entertains…The musicianship on display is magnificent and majestic…At times the story does get a little bit lost in all the music and buoyant disorder that is being played out on the stage…An inventive show that combines upbeat folk music and twisted storytelling with haunting and beautiful results. The story is enjoyable and the songs memorable.”
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Broadway Baby
August 17th, 2016
For a previous production

“A spellbinding song cycle-come-musical…The story feels summoned somewhere in the air between them, an electrifying presence, untethered to conventional blocking and choreography…As a narrative, however, it falls back on quite procedural motifs, and is difficult to piece together in the live setting, especially with so little staging. Whilst the whole is hard to assemble, 'Ghost Quartet' never loses its audience. Moment by moment, the vocals are full of mood and conviction.”
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