Pericles: Born in a Tempest

See it if you want Pericles made accessible by significant trimming. Well-spoken WS, well-acted. Imaginative. clever direction. Hard-working cast.

Don't see it if you expect a highly polished piece. Broad portions (eg the suitors' battle) undermine the flow. Framing device takes up too much time/space.

Also I liked this production, but I found the framing device intrusive. I'm not sure why it was necessary (and the baby was distracting!) Because the action is sped up and actors play many roles, it would be helpful to read a plot synopsis before attending.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a streamlined, modern take on Shakespeare. You want to see a classical play performed by a well-trained cast.

Don't see it if You want to see the full, uncut, 5-act version of Pericles. You don't like intimate spaces & a small cast playing multiple roles.

See it if You like to see actors playing many different roles. The use of the prop playing the fake baby is the best I have seen

Don't see it if You’re like me and have never been able to understand anything this Shakespeare idiot has ever done. Why do people pretend they like this?

Also This is more of a negative review on me than the play. Apparently I am in the minority here. Every review on here is great which is why I decided to come to see this play tonight. I can tell you I didn’t understand one thing that happened on that stage tonight. And it’s not like this is the first play I have seen. I have seen over 120 players this year and this is by far the most confusing one I have seen. I’m not sure if people just pretend to like this Shakespeare guy because it’s the cool thing to do or if they actually understand his work. If you are one of the people who understand it I must say I am completely jealous of you because I just don’t get it. My friend was visiting from out of town and he was just as perplexed as me... Read more Read less

See it if you’ll watch a small troupe’s valiant, thoughtful effort at making Pericles engaging; you can wait until the very end to be drawn in.

Don't see it if you‘re hoping for “translated” Shakespeare. This is Shakespeare’s text and closer to Pericles than I expected—but abbreviated & rearranged.

Also I really want to give a higher score since the effort is so apparent and the message so positive in this show…but it just took too long for this play to come alive (it eventually does, quite successfully, but at the tail end). It’s not for lack of trying—there are hidden entrances, eye-catching projections, clever use of action figures…but the love stor(ies) and the brothel story lacked charm. I kept waiting to get hooked in. The production has a (thankfully) clear point of view/angle it’s approaching the source play from, and I believe the cuts/revisions were thoroughly considered. I think the directorial decisions made sense in theory but in practice it felt like listening to a shaggy dog story with a surprisingly impactful ending.

Will help a lot to brush up w/ a summary of the play before going in.... Read more Read less

See it if You’d like to see a distilled, energetic Tempest.

Don't see it if You like your Shakespeare pure.

Also Tender and raucous, church theater and clever staging, familiar and fresh. After a bit of a slow start, the play takes on the problems of the Tempest and weaves them together in endearing ways.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a modern adaptation of a play attributed in part to Shakespeare imbedded in contemporary plot, art video, creative staging/action

Don't see it if you prefer musicals, can't sit 90 min. or understand Elizabethan English even if articulated slowly, or you dislike adaptations of classics

See it if Staging is very imaginative & effective-projections, physicality, color coordinated costumes, etc.Some terrific performances(esp K.Metzger)

Don't see it if One very weak actor and one overblown scene by another kind of killed this play for me. +I didn't understand the device framing the play

Also Although part of this is set in contemporary times (not sure why) all dialogue is Shakespeare's so don't go if you can't handle Elizabethan English. BTW - I love this theater. It's my second time there. Great sight lines, comfortable seats, interesting angled black box theater. Don't let the entryway throw you off.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a revamped tale from Shakespeare. You want to see a story from a dead narrators perspective. Also great graphics.

Don't see it if You are a Shakespeare purist. Although traditional dialogue is used, the costumes are not.

See it if you want to see a mix of classic Shakespeare and contemporary theater

Don't see it if you are looking for pure Shakespeare or a straight-forward play

Also Jacques Roy's acting was superb, in all his roles. The other acting ranged from very good to uneven and unconvincing.

I found myself absorbed at times and confused at times. It rarely hit my funny bone - yet, many members of the audience were laughing out loud on several occasions.

Clever use of staging, from the lighting on the background walls, rain outdoors, and actors appearing in places not expected.

I saw this at the West End Theater on the Upper West Side on opening night, Nov 2017.... Read more Read less

See it if very good take on Shake's classic; funny, sad, well acted.

Don't see it if no reason; anyone would enjoy this even if you don't know the Shake's play

See it if you want an innovative take on Pericles, Prince of Tyre, well acted

Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare. Wear warm clothes: the theater was virtually unheated.

See it if You want to see a superb adaptation of Shakespeare's Pericles

Don't see it if you don't like excellent theatre

See it if you want to see an interesting interpretation of one of Shakespeare's lesser produced works

Don't see it if you only enjoy full productions of Shakespeare. This one is cut to 90 minutes with only five actors

Also The actors do a masterful job of playing multiple characters. The direction is outstanding... Read more Read less

See it if You’d like to see a more modern take on Pericles. The actors are excellent. I enjoyed the staging. Good production.

Don't see it if The original text will bother you.I found the device structuring play confusing.That needs lots of work. Theatre group needs a better venue.

See it if you want to see a brilliantly innovative production of PERICLES. The play-within-a-play concept is executed with delightful ingenuity.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of Shakespeare.

See it if Modern & energized adaptations of Shakespeare with original language. Superbly staged w exuberant tech & acting. Never dull. Want more!

Don't see it if mucking about with Shakespeare offends you. The story is non linear & choppy but this group pulls it together brilliantly. Go see them!

See it if you are able to delve into the characters's feeling down deep

Don't see it if if you expect to see a straight, no-nonsense drama

See it if You like well acted Shakespeare with a modern framing device

Don't see it if only like traditional Shakes. Or don't like Shakes at all.

See it if you like classic plays staged in classic ways yet with excellent innovations in said staging

Don't see it if you only want completely serious Shakespeare, without, say, a well-placed Batman cameo

Also I'm typically skeptical of tech in theatre, but this show did an excellent job with the projections onto the walls of the set. Really expanded the possibilities, most notably for the shipwrecks.

The 90-minute run time was an impressive cut, and the story was fully intact nonetheless.

The frame story placed around Pericles opened up a lot of staging possibilities, including a few of our favorite moments; and it brought this rather obscure text into relief as something emotionally relevant to modern life.

Finally, in contrast to the only other production of Pericles I've seen (which I also adored), this show did an excellent job of communicating how he ages over the span of the play. He seemed so young at the beginning, and really felt like an old, dying man at the end. His final conversation with Marina finally made perfect sense. Just one of many excellent staging/prop/costume choices in this great show.... Read more Read less

See it if You like small well crafted shows. You love Shakespeare but aren't wedded to the text and appreciate a cleverly redone rollicking tale.

Don't see it if You don't appreciate good acting, can't bear Shakespeare, 90 minute shows or small off beat venues.

See it if you've wanted a chance to see Pericles but don't want to see a 3 hour version

Don't see it if You want to bring your Complete Works and follow along

See it if you love Shakespeare's beautiful poetry. Want to be 'in the know' regarding a great, small indie show. This show surprised me.

Don't see it if you care about being in a nice new theater. This show is in a church on the UWS. Bathrooms in basement, box office is a table in the hall...

See it if You like projections. You enjoy a small company of actors working together to tell a giant story in a simple way.

Don't see it if You don't want to see off-off-broadway. Can't forgive a little messiness and silliness.

See it if big long Shakespeare plays scare you away.

Don't see it if you hate earnest shows with some silliness thrown in.

See it if you love Shakespeare and are up for something a little different.

Don't see it if you are looking for a big budget show with celebrities. need to be in a fancy theater.