Holy Ghosts

See it if you are interested in the human condition. Such an interesting, surprisingly moving and excellently executed thought provoking piece.

Don't see it if you're not the least interested in what drives human beings to believe in a higher power.

See it if you like psychological dramas and are interested in the intersection of psychology and spirituality

Don't see it if you have short attention span and need a short play with lots of visual effects

Also Great screenplay and great acting. Even though it's set in the 1960s or so it's not a dated period piece but highly relevant. Very thought provoking. When does a healing community end and a sect start? What's the psychological value of the thrill of putting one's life in danger? Can faith transform you?... Read more Read less

See it if You are interesting to learn how people different from yourself react to and have he need for religious connection

Don't see it if If you are closed minded and snobbish

See it if You enjoy well-cast plays w/ 15 committed actors. A solid script and production that provokes thoughts on religion, community, & marriage.

Don't see it if Lots of yelling, but appropriate for the story.

See it if You want to see a well performed, well directed and well acted play showing the need for community.

Don't see it if you dislike plays about religion.

Also The play was excellent, but could have been somewhat shorter.

See it if You needn't be religious to be riveted by this play--in fact it's better if you aren't. I didn't think I'd like it but it blew me away.

Don't see it if You have zero curiosity about the ways lonely damaged people find one another and make a community nor any interest in their accomplishments

See it if you appreciate complex characters in a unique setting: a Pentecostal snake-handling church! Characters are not caricatured or stereotyped.*

Don't see it if You are triggered by depictions of domestic violence; you don't like plays about religion; you like big shows with a lot of set changes

Also *As the church members' stories unfold, esp. in Act II, their reasons for being in this church become understandable, and stereotypes set up in Act I are dissolved. The play is neither pro- nor anti-religion, but rather leaves the question of religion (even in an extreme form) more open. The characters experience both danger and redemption in unexpected ways throughout the play.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to feel like you're at church, enjoy some great music, singing and acting. You want to see what can happen in religious settings.

Don't see it if You are offended (you shouldn't be) by a performance about the Pentecostal faith. You don't want to feel like you are in church.

Also I was totally entertained at this performance. I enjoyed the singing and I felt like I attended church at this performance. The performers did a great job. The singing was very good. This play was very believable and well done. There were some twists and turns along the way which I did not expect. This was a great way to spend a few hours. You don't have to be a religious person to enjoy this play. I don't think it matters what your religion is but this play will make you think about how people can behave in a religious setting.... Read more Read less

See it if You like absorbing southern drama, dramatic story telling, great ensemble work, surprises and colorful characters

Don't see it if You don’t like southern, religious genre pieces, slow evolution of storyline or emotional, personal revelations

See it if you’d like to take a clear-eyed but sympathetic look at a slice of rural, religious America that doesn’t often make it to the NYC stage.

Don't see it if the thought of sitting through big chunks of a Pentecostal service makes you queasy.

Also The script to the acclaimed playwright Romulus Linney’s early (ca 1971) effort, “Holy Ghosts,” has flaws. The central couple, strongly drawn, start out yelling at level 10, so it’s hard to crank it up from there, & we never quite feel that they ever were in love. For a stretch of the play many attendees at a Pentecostal service that occupies most of the playing time tell their stories in turn, which starts to feel formulaic. But what a thrill it is to experience a stage full of shouting, singing, flawed but passionate people! Linney at the same time empathizes with his characters & x-rays the potentially abusive power dynamic among a group of rural poor & the man who would lead them to salvation. All the players distinguish themselves, but Oliver Palmer’s meltdown is heartrending, & Alston Slatten is so angelic in his NYC debut that I would love to see him play a louse. Thanks to Theatre East for taking this sympathetic look at a class of people that theater often forgets.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a story that you rarely ever see get told, thoughtful and detailed directing, brave actors

Don't see it if you are judgmental about religion or Southerners, you are looking for something light hearted

Also Went into this play not knowing I would like it so much. What an unusual but captivating play and really quite beautiful. Strong ensemble of actors who are deeply committed to the outcasts of this world.... Read more Read less

See it if You like large ensemble pieces that start out seeming like one thing but eventually reveal some truths that are real eye openers/plot twist.

Don't see it if You’re not willing to open your mind to some pretty out there ideas as rational and as reasonable ways of coping.

See it if you want to experience a slice of life in which religion and real-life situations provide comfort and conflict in a diverse rural population

Don't see it if you do not want to be subjected to a specific religious view that includes bible interpretations, a long service, including hymns and prayer

See it if If you’re a Romulus Linney fan. This is a really great small production with a great cast.

Don't see it if You’re looking for something light or a musical.

See it if you like plays that explore humans using religion to help cope with their interrelationships, emotional states and psychological health.

Don't see it if dislike struggling with how to interpret themes relating to people's attitudes toward atypical religion in rural America.

See it if you want to see a large cast show, which is rare in such a small space. Nicely acted, well staged, quite absorbing and atmospheric. It works

Don't see it if you are bothered by religious subjects, you don't care about southern rural culture, you don't like rather slow-moving and developing shows.

See it if you enjoy a character driven plot with dramatic twists. Well presented with some lovely monologues.

Don't see it if old fashioned well made plays are boring for you. This one is a bit longer than it needs to be.

See it if you want to understand more about snake handlers and what draws people to do this. Strong performances and insightful characters.

Don't see it if you hate Christian music or religious themes.

See it if You are interested in plays concerning religion and interactions between attendees in a church service.

Don't see it if You do not have patience to sit through a longer than necessary play, and do not like violence and references of death.

Also The actors gave outstanding performances. However, I felt that there was unnecessary dialog in this play.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in why people turn to fundamentalist religions, you like interesting staging and writing

Don't see it if you're protective of your religion, you need a concrete ending

See it if If you like well-cast ensembles doing exquisitely detailed acting.

Don't see it if You don't like hymns or slightly overlong plays.

See it if you are interested in what drives people to turn to extreme religious groups for comfort; you enjoy a well acted and written drama

Don't see it if you only like musicals; or need a big splashy production or big name actors in a drama; you have an extreme fear of snakes (real or not)

See it if you're interested in a moving play about an unusual Pentecostal sect filled with offbeat characters. A blend of comedy and drama.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a play about a strange Pentecostal sect

See it if an ensemble drama set in present day & immersed in a congregation's effort to ease one another's pains intrigues, or you're a fan of Linney.

Don't see it if you shy away from topics relating to religious fervor & practices, or to domestic abuse; you'd prefer light, comic fare & more linear story.

See it if you want to experience the emotion & theatricality of a revival service of rural Southern Pentecostal snake handlers in search of redemption

Don't see it if you're turned off by shouting & histrionics; you hope for a denunciation of religious extremists [The religiosity is depicted with respect].

Also Although there's a narrative at the center of Holy Ghosts (about a young couple having marital problems), the structure of the play suffers from the sometimes compelling & often tedious device of having every single character (in a fairly large cast) testify. But the play is well-cast, the performances are authentic & convincing, and the production is ultimately thoughtful & rewarding.... Read more Read less