In this new adaptation of Shaw’s play, it’s the first days of the London Blitz. With the performance interrupted, the cast and audience have joined together to seek shelter in the theatre’s basement. More…
To entertain the crowd, the cast performs Shaw’s most vital paean to resistance and perseverance against tyranny, 'Heartbreak House.' Inspired by actual events as lived by Hermione Gingold during the WWII’s darkest days, this new approach strives to make Shaw’s masterpiece more timely than ever. 'Heartbreak House' brings a wildly disparate group of people together in the English countryside over a September weekend to make major decisions about their future. No stone is left unturned as each character is forced to come to terms with his or her past while finding a way to move forward in the face of the coming crisis.
See it if Great acting all around, though the 3 women steal the show. :-) First 2 hours are fun, funny, smart and fast-paced.
Don't see it if The last 40 min (3rd act?) did stretch it too long and was very slow.
Also At 2hr 45min the show takes a turn in the third half. Almost no actio... Read more Read less
See it if You want to see some great performances by an amazing cast. Great female characters.
Don't see it if You aren't in the mood for a 2hr45min show. It's too long and ends up meandering in the last 30-40min.
See it if You’re a fan of Shaw. These are some top notch actors-you don’t get the opportunity to see a play like this very often. Great direction.
Don't see it if You don’t like madcap metaphorical adventures down the rabbit hole of politics and human rights and just about every other hot topic.
See it if Long rambling satire of British gentlemen & women frittering their time while the threat of war approaches. Humorous character acting.
Don't see it if Dated main theme of young woman deciding whether to marry old guy for money. Silly characters drawn out for 2 1/2 hrs. Not much substance.
See it if Strong ensemble led by Ziemba, Hewett & Thompson hone Shaw's message of capitalistic nihilism to a fine edge despite unfocused direction
Don't see it if Staller's framing devise seems clever but ultimately proves obtrusive Cluttered set hinders movement yet Shaw's prose still shines radiantly
See it if you're a fan of Shaw, like great ensemble action, enjoy an unusual but legitimate setting, like intelligent comedies
Don't see it if you're not a fan of Shaw's, don't like Shaw abridged or set in an unexpected location, don't need reminders of the Blitz or World War I
See it if Shavian political serio-comedy. Very talented cast especially Fraser,(like a Glynis Johns), relish their dialogue.
Don't see it if Slow political 2.5hr. Shaw in cramped Lion theatre with very little staging requires commitment from audience. But, gee, that ensemble.
See it if Prescient Shaw warns world of complacency regarding economic and political corruption, exploitation, fraud and consequences of inaction.
Don't see it if You don’t like Shaw’s wordy, idea-filled plays that drag on with soapbox monologues.
See it if you enjoy G. B. Shaw's humor and well acted, relevant theater.
Don't see it if you find long, wordy plays tedious even though the content is entertaining and intelligent.
See it if See a well-acted version of Shaw up-close.
Don't see it if The framing concept didn't really do much. First act drags but it does pickup in the second act
See it if Intriguing wartime drama with great actors appeals
Don't see it if You only like Bway musicals
See it if you like Shaw, even one of his least popular shows. Acting is great, though as a morality play, it is hard to find anyone to admire.
Don't see it if You don't want to spend 2 hours and 45 minutes wondering what the play is really about.
See it if you enjoy Shaw- both his comedy and his wordiness. Actors were individually great but hasn't gelled as a company when I saw it in previews.
Don't see it if You prefer minimalist scripts and acting. The set and costumes were gorgeous and elaborate, just like the play.
See it if You're a big Shaw fan and want to see a cool new take on one of his plays.
Don't see it if You're bothered by really shoddy acting and a slow story. I don't know whether the shitty acting was a choice or not, but it didn't work.
See it if you enjoy a slow WWII silly comedy with an audience sing-a-long
Don't see it if you expect a show with some depth, want something more serious.
See it if you enjoy light comedies and integration of audience sing alongs
Don't see it if you don’t like plays in British accents (or inconsistencies of it), British humor, or can’t sit through long plays (2 hrs 40 mins)
Also I found the first act (1 hr) to be entertaining and humorous and looke... Read more Read less
See it if Don’t let the title scare you! More heart -lift than heart-ache. Teriffic cast of real pros put on one of Shaw’s funniest plays during the
Don't see it if Play runs well over two hours with one ten-minute intermission. British accents.
Also London blitz. A wildly eccentric but extremely charming group of chara... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy seeing a bit of a twist on a classic play by GB Shaw. Lovely acting.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy long shows (a bit more trimming in the second act would have been welcome). Want your classic theater without twists.
See it if you'd like a novel "play-within-a-play" by an early (unrecognizable) Shaw. Sets & acting r great but too long & plays' themes don't meet.
Don't see it if You don't like very talky long shows. Also, in the spirit of the times, it is Acted with a capital A. There is humor. Oh - and singalongs.
See it if You love Shaw. You like long plays with lots of characters.
Don't see it if You want a coherent plot. This was very silly. Good acting, though.
See it if you are a fan of George Bernard Shaw or if you enjoy watching actors portray a zany assortment of characters.
Don't see it if you want a faster paced production.
See it if you like British plays with lovely costumes, flirtations, clever lines, or you relish Shaw's timeless morality
Don't see it if you can't sit in your seat for 3 hours, or if you need acting/tone to be really consistent
Also Picked this up on the spur of the moment walking around the Theatre Di... Read more Read less
See it if you love Shaw and are happy to seek out alternative presentations of even his lesser-known (less perfect) plays
Don't see it if you cannot see past wavering accents and occasional soapboxing to a sprawling larger theme: we're made whole by our joyful imperfections
Also This is not Shaw's most trenchant or laser-focused play, but it's vint... Read more Read less