Pike St.
About the show
Epic Theatre Ensemble presents Nilaja Sun's solo piece about a desperate family living in the Lower East Side. More…
In the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge on the Lower East Side, a struggling family prepares to ride out the next big storm. Unable to move her teenaged daughter Candace, whose mysterious aneurysm has rendered her unable to move or breathe on her own, Evelyn plans for more than just survival: as the storm approaches, she fights for healing and redemption.
'Pike St.' marks Nilaja Sun's first solo show since her international hit 'No Child...' It features her trademark humor and political incisiveness as she brings to life the entirety of the Lower East Side.
"'Pike St.' is a must-see and one of the best plays in New York City. I wish there was some snazzier way to put it but the story, character, and aesthetics are phenomenal. It's a heartbreaking and hilarious, filled with life but has the shroud of mortality hanging over it...I the could have watched another 3 hours of this performance. Each character was so effortless drawn up through Sun’s voice and body." Full Review
"It’s only Ms. Sun up there, switching voices with such nimbleness that she rarely relies on monologue. The show is made up almost entirely of scenes between two or more characters, and each blooms into life as naturally, and fully, as scenes in a traditional full-cast play...The production is so full of vivid life that the prospect of calamity seems incredible." Full Review
"Seeing Nilaja Sun perform solo is like watching a virtuosic musician. The masterful way she plays her instrument—her chameleonlike self—inspires awe as she conjures a vibrant community alone onstage...It tries to tackle a few too many big ideas, from the power of nontraditional medicine and the ineptitude of local government to classicism and racism, all tied up with an overwrought ending. But such flaws are pretty much eclipsed by Sun's brilliant performance." Full Review
"Hurricane Delores doesn't hit until 75 minutes in — and five minutes later, the evening is over. We see almost nothing of what Sun is seemingly promising throughout...The underlying artistry, however, is as good as it gets, thus making the whole endeavor as instructive as it is frustrating...If Sun can mold it into a work whose story and execution are as dazzling as she is, 'Pike St.' could well take all of New York by storm.'" Full Review
"Sun's ability to turn on a dime, flipping between characters in a few words or less, often gives one the feeling of three or four people on stage when in fact there is only one...The piece suffers from a lack of dramatic structure; having introduced everyone, Sun pretty much lets them natter on...During its lengthy buildup, however, 'Pike St.' often seems to wander in no discernible direction...'Pike St.' would benefit from more pauses and fewer paragraphs." Full Review
See it if You wish to be transported watching one woman act as the entire cast (at least 10 people) with such talent that it each character is unique.
Don't see it if You have no imagination.
See it if You like an interesting story done by one who has done great work before.
Don't see it if You are put off by overacting.
Cast & Creatives
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