Reparations

See it if Nervy #metoo play w/twists. Racial & sexual abuse themes. Shifting power dynamics. Funny moments amidst the pain. Excellent acting/staging.

Don't see it if After the thrilling fireworks of the first 3/4 of the play, the last 1/4 felt like an extended denouement. A bit contrived in spots.

See it if you love good theater with a dynamic plot and great characters. The acting is terrific. Some very funny and unexpected material.

Don't see it if you have issues with May December relationships or cannot empathize with characters acknowledging difficult life positions.

See it if You like dramas that deal with important but very touchy subjects that a lot of people are afraid to explore

Don't see it if You are hoping for something light. This is definitely a play that will strike a nerve and get some emotion out of you

Also I loved this. I really like when I’m watching a play and I’m starting to get annoyed because I am confident that the playwright is going to go in a direction that is politically correct or that I know I won’t agree with. I was feeling that here because I thought the younger male character was selfish and greedy by the way he handled the situation and I’m really glad that the older widow woman did not allow him to succeed in his plan of blackmail.
I am of the belief that in every circumstance when someone does something inappropriate to you you need to speak up immediately because if you don’t the monster is going to continue to hurt people. It’s also never too late to speak up. If the monster is dead you can still bring it up because it may scare other living monsters not to do what they’re doing inappropriately.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a very well written play performed by some amazing actors in a wonderful theater space in Brooklyn about relevant issues.

Don't see it if You want to see something light and fluffy . You don't want to see some amazing performers. You want to miss out on a great performance.

See it if Suspenseful, thought provoking idea of how society's now treating sexual assault, but what about racism, how do we heal from racism?

Don't see it if Race talks (Black/white institutional racism) or sexual assault are triggering / not your thing. Don't like going to deeper Brooklyn.

Also Diversity: half of the 4-person cast is Black. Black male (American) and Black female (Nigerian) character are both survivors of sexual assault.
2 hour 15 minutes with a 15 minute intermission .
Ticket from Show Score for $5. General seating.... Read more Read less

See it if Great acting, sets and story that doesn’t shy away from developing complicated characters and situations in an honest and intelligent way

Don't see it if You want an easy light night out. With a frivolous theme at over 2 hrs the pace seemed fast and fascinating. Nice theater too

See it if you like plays that explore the intersectionality of the many issues -race, justice, gender, and equity using deeply personal perspectives.

Don't see it if you want to feel comfortable with the choices that the characters make. Also, beware of the mass transit system to Brooklyn - lots of delays

See it if You enjoy plays about conflict, memory, and what lies beneath the human psyche which drives all that we are and do.

Don't see it if All of the above is too heavy to ponder and absorb.

Also This was my first time at the Billie Holiday Theatre, an absolute jewel of a venue in Brooklyn, New York. The theatre itself is spacious yet feels very intimate. The vast reception area also doubles as a gallery venue currently displaying a must-see exhibition by Luba Lukova, on view until 12/31/19.

I enjoyed this play very much. I felt invited by the beautiful set design and slowly got pulled into a young man's mission to save himself by hatching a plan to get 'reparations' for a terrible crime he suffered twenty years before.

The four actors' ensemble are exquisite and fun to watch, doing justice to the story. It is a universal story they act out. The hurt child inside all of us responds emotionally to the shocking confessions and accusations made. There is no magic wand to make them go away, and as the story unfolds, we see different ways of coping and surviving childhood trauma. This play is very much worth making the journey to Brooklyn to see it. I promise you won't regret it.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy seeing a complicated surprising plot. Great acting, great writing. Also, love intro to a venue new to me.

Don't see it if Has some triggers

See it if you want to see a play which puts a spin on the idea of "reparations". The twist is intriguing and makes you think.

Don't see it if If you have no idea what is reparations and/or dont think it necessary.

See it if You want to see a show that makes you think. You want an extremely well acted performance. You enjoy great staging and storytelling.

Don't see it if You have a trigger to Sexual Violence or Political Issues. You are looking for a straight comedy. You want a fluffy musical.

Also This is probably one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. The acting was superb. You could really tell that the director and the actors put so much heart and soul into telling this story that 100% needed to be told.

The first act really takes you in a whirlwind of emotions and just when you think you know what’s happening, you get thrown for a loop. Then in the second act, the climax of the show reaches great heights and then sails gracefully to the conclusion which leaves you satisfied yet still wanting to know what happens next.

If you get a chance to travel down Brooklyn....GO SEE IT!... Read more Read less

See it if you like very serious drama on difficult issues, with complicated solutions, performed by magnificent actors -- all four of them.

Don't see it if you only like musical comedy and prefer not to think much.

See it if you want a well written & acted tale of racism, sexual abuse & power dynamics that makes you think. Many unexpected plot twists and turns.

Don't see it if racism, sexual abuse or power dynamics are triggering for you or serious dramas don’t appeal.

Also Don’t want to give anything away (although, unfortunately, other reviewers here have), so all I will say is go see this play. It’s well worth your time and effort. If you need further convincing, you might be interested to know that, impressively, “Reparations” is the first show in the 47-year history of the Billie Holiday Theater written by someone of non-African descent.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to spend a fantastic night out seeing a powerful well acted play.This production is top notch.You will be moved by seeing this.

Don't see it if There is no reason not to see this!!

See it if You're interested in intelligent writing and issues. Excellent cast explore personal secrets, inter-personal conflicts & paths to resolution

Don't see it if You're not interested to face challenges and expectations in life, or examine topical issues, our histories and our closest relationships.

See it if See it if...you're interested in people and culture; a subject critical to how we view each other and how cultural stigmas shape us today.

Don't see it if Don't see it if you're not open minded and if you're hypothetically traditional.

See it if If want to see good acting with intense subject matter that address sexual abuse. Good writing with good banter between the actors.

Don't see it if If sexual abuse, interracial, June/Dec relationships make you feel uncomfortable.

See it if you want to see strong writing, great performances and like a twist in plot that leads you down a new path.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a show that takes on issues such as sexual abuse to minors.

See it if you want to see excellent acting and introspective on culture, politics, and sex, and not presented in fluff

Don't see it if Sexual violence is too close to you, you don’t like intense plays

See it if It's not what you think. The twist will make want to scream WOW! It will make you think about your past & are you entitled to Reparations

Don't see it if No reason not to see it. All perspectives were represented.

See it if you want a great exploration of the issues of racism and sexual abuse. Wonderfully woven story that takes you in multiple directions.

Don't see it if you are not open to understanding how the mind works for different people, how secrets & pettiness hurt or your trigger is sexual abuse.

See it if you desire excellent plot development, writing, acting, directing, production values, character development & thematic elements.

Don't see it if you favor light humorous plays that don't tackle serious themes of racism, sex deviancy & people suffering psychological hurt.

See it if Well-written plot told by an excellent cast. Bravo to this production which should be on Broadway!

Don't see it if The play addresses teenage rape & will not be suitable for all.

See it if fraught dialogues and silences around sexual abuse, trauma, racial politics & elitism appeal. Fine acting efforts. An attractive set.

Don't see it if audience members audibly reacting to cast throughout the performance irritates you. It may irreparably deflate the drama & your experience.

Also I saw Dael Orlander Smith's terrific Yellowman at this venue last year, but I won't return.... Read more Read less

See it if If you want to see a timely, well written and acted drama.

Don't see it if you don’t like serious dramas.

Also I’ve seen 3 productions at the Billie Holiday Theatre. Each one has been excellent.... Read more Read less