Imperfect Love

See it if you enjoy plays that provide ample food for thought with spectacular sets and costumes.

Don't see it if you prefer musicals.

Also This heartfelt play should be lauded from the rooftops. A trenchant and witty exploration of the nuances of love, fidelity/trust, and whether someone or something is worth investing your heart into, it delivers its unique insights against a stunning backdrop. Well-directed and written, the actors were engaging and professional. Nothing in life is perfect, including love and theatrical productions, but this is as close as it comes. See it while you still can.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to be entertained and enjoy excellent acting by an extraordinary ensemble and enjoy moderate pacing in story telling.

Don't see it if You want a fast and one dimensional comedy experience.

Also This is not a story about Eleonora Duse. Not sure why that is mentioned on the playbill. With that said the cast and staging is extraordinary. All actors bring their own elegant style to the piece. And a truly beautiful set and costumes.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in play that look at the mechanics of putting on a play, or in late 19th century European culture.

Don't see it if you find plays that examine the business of playmaking too inbred to be of interest except to theater professionals

Also I love theater, & enjoyed “Imperfect Love,” a play about making theater. But here are a few things that kept a good play from greatness. The passion between a playwright & his lead actress drives the plot, but when I saw the play (in previews) that passion was on low flame. Characters in the play accuse the playwright of being wordy; I think “Imperfect Love” itself could use a trim. Two clowns function in the plot as more than clowns, but shouldn’t they be funny? A program note dedicates the production to the memory of Pirandello & Beckett, whose plays also examined the mechanics of theater. But those examinations challenged the form of the conventional play. “Imperfect Love” by contrast bends over backwards to secure for a fairly conventional play a happy ending, neutralizing too neatly all the rancor that’s been the stuff of act 2. (But kudos to the set designer. A model horse wheeled on in act one is pretty thrilling. And the whole set for Act 2 is totally spectacular.)... Read more Read less

See it if Love the time period, had entertaining parts, some of the actor were good, some were great. Very nice theater.

Don't see it if Did not see never connection between the lead actors. Little slow, but entertaining

See it if you enjoy a play about drama within a drama. The acting is very good except for the playwright/poet who doesn't enunciate. Very nice set.

Don't see it if you want a polished play. This needs some finishing touches and a better actor for the playwright.

Also I loved the sets especially the second act's which was very appropriate to the action. The actors and script for the clowns were hilarious. I looked forward to when they were onstage. The Duse actress was very good. Very nice theater for way off broadway.... Read more Read less

See it if You like stories about the old Time theater

Don't see it if You need a play to start well

Also The biggest issue I have with this play was the performance of the writer. The actor just didn’t fit for me. According to the playbill the playwright who worked on this play for 30 years and I still think there can be some major changes made. I feel like the first 15 minutes of this play or a complete waste. It does get better in the second act but still not worth your time... Read more Read less

See it if you love theater history. Italy's leading actress and playwright/lover pressured to improve the play, or producer will go with Ibsen instead

Don't see it if you have no interest in how theater is made. Script is talky but it suits the fine Irish actors. The set is a coup de theatre in itself.

See it if you want to learn more about the Duse so oft mentioned in theatre circles, and if you want to see a lovely theatre in the depths of the EV.

Don't see it if You need snappy dialogue or a story that doesn't seem endless.

Also I so much wanted to love this piece! This is a work in progress, and needs to be tightened up greatly. My biggest disappointment, given that it's a love story, was the lack of any passion between the main couple. That was needed, desperately. While I can excuse a few flubs on stage early in a run, basics like proper casting and a story that doesn't sound so repetitious are almost mandatory. The set was ambitious and lovely, as was the theatre itself. The two clowns provided a much-needed energy surge every now and then. That said, if you are interested in learning more about Duse and this time period of theatre development, this is your best chance to accomplish both.... Read more Read less

See it if I liked part 1. It was funny and quirky. Still a work a process but enjoyed the direction it was going in. The set up took a bit long though

Don't see it if You need a polished play with finished edges.

See it if you enjoy shows about theatre and like to laugh at "inside" jokes.

Don't see it if ensemble performances don't appeal to you.

See it if If you look for the potential and not the fault in productions Brandon Cole has not finished developing this idea - could be much stronger

Don't see it if One weak performance will ruin it for you Honestly I wonder if the male lead is intentionally botching it - to prove an argument in the plot

Also A program note from Brandon Cole explains that he redrafted in 2016 in advance of this production. Not enough ! He needs to give us a reason to believe that the lead characters have a deep history, care about and for each other and he needs to shave 20 min.

There are several very good performances and they almost rescue the production. Cristina Spina (Della Rosa) is fantastic - clearly someone to watch out for.

Ed Malone (Marco) and David O'Hara (Beppo) are great as well.

Aidan Redmond who is a regular in MINT productions puts in a solid turn & he is very funny at points which helps big time with the length of the play.

Unfortunately Rodrigo Lopresi as the male lead (Gabriele Torrisi) doesn't seem to be remotely engaged. Perhaps he is undertaking some kind of theater experiment and is intentionally giving a weak performance to illustrate a key plot element - that an actor - even one with a history of strong credits - is dependent on the playwright for compelling lines.... Read more Read less

See it if you like old-fashioned theater, highly energized actors, interesting history.

Don't see it if you expect a very comedic production, there are funny moments but it is not a comedy in spite of the clowns.

See it if you love the story and enjoy the ambiance of an Off Broadway production downtown

Don't see it if a production that generates no life or fever disappoints you, swallowed dialog frustrates your concentration

See it if You like period play within a play shows, and want to laugh

Don't see it if You have trouble following a lot of details

See it if Like period pieces, with a Shakespearean overtones. Performed in an off,off, Broadway production, was wonderfully done.

Don't see it if Don't like period pieces, don't like plays without a purpose.

See it if You enjoy theater history and historical characters, if you are interested in the period when modern theater was about to begin.

Don't see it if You are more interested in music and entertainment than in a more complex plot.

Also I enjoyed the play, the wonderful staging and and the beautiful little theater. Although the play is billed as a "serious comedy", I did not find it very humorous. There was quite a bit of laughter from the front of the audience in act 2, but most of those people seemed to be friends of the actors. Theater lovers will enjoy the desperation of traditional performers as the life they are used to is endangered by the influx of modernists, represented by Ibsen.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see great old glories come together to do a project.

Don't see it if You are looking for a fora direction that elevates the great writing moments. Or if you are looking to see soarkles veteeen the two leads.

See it if if you are most interested in the historical significance of this confusing mishmash of a "play within a play."

Don't see it if you want to see a play that is entertaining, engaging, or thought provoking.

See it if you like dramas with a little comedy here & there.

Don't see it if you are looking for a really funny comedy or a lively musical.

Also We liked it, but didn't love it. The acting was good, we really enjoyed the scenes with the clowns the most.
The main problem was that the theater was really hot.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a good twist, and are interested in the way real life directly affects the art we make

Don't see it if You're looking for something uproarious

See it if Very entertaining with good acting and drama

Don't see it if You don't like wordy plays

See it if You like show's about the behind the scenes of theatre

Don't see it if You don't like a plot that starts off strong then gets very dragged out and boring come the second act.

See it if You like period plays and know that all comedies are not funny.

Don't see it if Want an engrossing story line or witty repartee

See it if like great acting and don't mind long wordy plays. beautiful stage interesting costumes

Don't see it if looking for fun edgy comptemory plays its too drawn out. repetive lines that imo didn't add.

Also its listed as a comedy. except for occasional lines it wasn't funny the acting was fabulous. i am not sure if the theater was too hot , the play too long or i was just tired but i kept nodding off. the second act imo was better than the first. it took a long time to set up for act 2 at least it seemed that way. if they cut 1/2 hr of dialogue i would scored it 10-15 points higher. it was good not great.... Read more Read less

See it if You are curious about a beautiful old theatre space very far east on the lower east side.

Don't see it if You're interested in theatre that crackles with life, action, and characters with whom you can really connect.