Mary V NYC Reviews and Tickets

55%

(11 Reviews)

Positive

73%

Mixed

Negative

18%

Members say

Ambitious, Clever, Thought-provoking, Relevant, Disappointing

About the Show

After a workshop run at the 2016 Dream Up Festival, Theater for the New City brings back 'Mary V,' a Pirandellian, feminist appropriation of Shakespeare's historical play.

What happens when an all-female production of 'Henry V' goes up against a concurrent traditional staging? An ensemble of female actors arrives at the theater to begin rehearsing Shakespeare's 'Henry V.' But to their surprise they discover that a male-dominant production of the same play is already in intense rehearsals in the space. The men cannot come to terms with the fact that the ladies want to run the show, and a thespian battle of the sexes ensues.

Member Reviews (11)

Confusing, Disappointing

See it if you want to see a young cast perform some stage combat choreo.

Don't see it if you like Shakespeare, or continuity, or logic.

Disappointing, Excruciating, Dislikeable female cast, Too much violence & profanity! waste of funding!

See it if U r curious of a show about all female cast taking back a stage from a male cast.U r not offended by excessive violence & profanity

Don't see it if U expect more traditional Henry V Play within this play. U value your time because for me, this play did not make sense & felt torturous! Read more

100

Absorbing, Clever, Ambitious, Edgy, Great acting

See it if You are fed up with the fuck that is going on in the world right now and are OVER mansplainers and toxic masculinity. This show is so NEEDED

Don't see it if Soft of heart. Don't believe in feminism. Are uptight about Shakespeare or are incapable of understanding what theatre is all about.

Ambitious, Profound, Intense, Thought-provoking, Relevant

See it if You're tired of toxic masculinity hurting both genders, you like swordfights on a grand scale, you like grey morality

Don't see it if You're a sexist, pretentious Shakespeare purist, or think the real world has easy solutions Read more

100

Clever, Ambitious, Great acting, Epic, Intense

See it if Craving something raw, something fiery and BADASS on stage. Excellent stage combat!

Don't see it if You are a stuck up traditionalist! This ain't your grandma's idea of Shakespeare. Read more

Ambitious, Confusing, Disappointing, Quirky, Thought-provoking

See it if You want to see a gender switching battle (literally) of the sexes, loosely based Henry (Mary) V. Women take over a men's production-& world

Don't see it if 2 1/2 hrs of an idea which had some great points but needed much focus would put you off. "A" for effort & for stage fighting. Trite ending!

Ambitious, Indulgent, Great staging, Energetic

See it if you appreciate a female view of the world, which, though revealing, bordered on silly. Some stage fighting well done. Intense leading lady.

Don't see it if you want an ending. This slipped into awkward sentimentality after what was a fairly serious, dramatic piece. You should like Shakespeare.

Intelligent, Thought-provoking, Relevant

See it if If you're interested in relationships between men and women in the theatre

Don't see it if If you're a Shakespeare enthusiast

Critic Reviews (2)

"'Mary V' is a bloody, complicated struggle for the soul of modern feminism...Director Charlotte Murray uses Theatre for the New City's largest performance space extraordinarily well. The large ensemble fills the whole space, and engages the audience throughout...The talent and total investment of the large cast, the thoughtful concept, and the excellent design all combine to create a piece of theatre that is enjoyable, critical, and essentially feminist."
Read more

"Only worth seeing as a cautionary tale. For students of the theater, you can often learn more from something that doesn’t work than from something that is seamless...Carrow has made the overachiever’s mistake of trying to multitask on her maiden voyage. Not only has she written the play, but she’s starring in it too...Trying to meld Shakespeare, Pirandello and Nietzsche into one cohesive exploration of gender and feminism as a first foray into a play is a Herculean task."
Read more