safeword.
74

safeword. NYC Reviews and Tickets

74%
(131 Reviews)
Positive
74%
Mixed
20%
Negative
6%
Members say
Great staging, Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Great acting, Edgy

About the Show

This new work explores power dynamics through BDSM and food and reveals how the people closest to us often have the most to hide.

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Member Reviews (131)

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546 Reviews | 1879 Followers
75
Intelligent, Interesting, Absorbing

See it if You want to see a smart show about lies, secrets, communication and relationships set in a world of BDSM. Well done and not too explicit.

Don't see it if BDSM makes you uncomfortable.

715 Reviews | 108 Followers
75
Thought-provoking, Great staging, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if you like a well written drama about S & M with good character development. No nudity and any action was part of the story and not gratuitous

Don't see it if you don't like any story about S & M or plots involving gay or gender bending characters. Read more

MJK
677 Reviews | 190 Followers
51
Torturous, Talky, Ambitious, Unerotic, Slow

See it if you really liked Afterglow & want to see a fairly frank (if mostly chaste & clinical) look at BDSM, fidelity, identity & sexual boundaries.

Don't see it if u expect to satisfy ur prurient, voyeuristic curiosity via onstage titillation; u want more than clichéd characters in an awkward talkfest. Read more

567 Reviews | 147 Followers
70
Thought-provoking, Intense, Great staging, Edgy, Absorbing

See it if Normalising attempt (gay v. straight juxtaposition) fifty shadings of the ties-that-bind outlier topic. Unexpected dungeon in the attic set.

Don't see it if Titilations of "Afterglow" not to be found here. And the final word is "Done," as in done and dumber. Read more

520 Reviews | 107 Followers
69
Frustrating

See it if You want to see a show that deals with an interesting fetish that many people are probably not aware of or at least do not understand

Don't see it if You are expecting a lot of nudity like the last play by this author Read more

414 Reviews | 59 Followers
78
Ambitious, Quirky, Great staging, Funny, Entertaining

See it if you want to understand the motivations behind BDSM. Since the lead is a nurse, I would rename this show Fifty Shades of Gray's Anatomy.

Don't see it if seeing variant lifestyles depicted on stage makes you uncomfortable. Read more

408 Reviews | 56 Followers
78
Interesting, Edgy, Well develop characters, Fine acting, Thought-provoking

See it if you are interested in sadomasochistic affairs, psychological difficulties of marital & non-traditional friendship relationships & good plot.

Don't see it if you dislike phychological exploration of "deviant," often sexual, behavior, it's effects on relationships & possible origins.

394 Reviews | 70 Followers
50
Promised one thing and delivered something different and unwanted, Ambitious

See it if you enjoyed being teased by the idea of a GAY S &M story only to find out later that there's a major heterosexual twist. Huh!

Don't see it if if you don't enjoy being teased with the promise of and S & M story and then are presented with a sprinkle of S & M. YUK!!! Read more

Critic Reviews (8)

The New York Times
May 8th, 2019

“Gelman’s second play, ‘Safeword’, is hoping to do for bondage what ‘Afterglow’ did for open marriage. But here, the characters are unfinished, and overall the play promises more than it can deliver...Gelman, who also directs, seems more concerned with disproving myths and setting up perfect tableaus than he does in creating characters we want to spend time with. We’re never privy to what makes these people tick; they’re all painted in broad, generic strokes."
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Theatermania
April 25th, 2019

"Does 'safeword.' hold together as a gripping, well-written, original play that provokes meaningful discussion about BDSM — or, if not, at least provides some titillation? The answer is No...Few will be surprised by the ending of this story, which is curiously banal for such an intriguing setup...Despite the plot's triteness, the actors do their best to breathe life into Gelman's dreary dialogue."
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TheaterScene.net
April 26th, 2019

"Asher here continues to mine the subject of human sexuality, but lightning has not struck twice. That is chiefly due to Asher’s misguidedly grandiose direction emphasizing stylish spectacle at the expense of the clunky plot...We’re physically distant from the characters which adds detachment from them as well. The main problem is the flawed writing...Though 'safeword.’'s promising premise is frustratingly realized it does impart pertinent facts."
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Front Mezz Junkies
May 17th, 2019

“It’s an honest attempt to unmask the preconceived notions of this world, but unfortunately...the whole thing whips back and forth from pleasing to awkward, even when it’s not intended...The actors work their damnedest to keep it together...working hard to make the play feel real and important...For a show that wants to titillate and excite, ‘safeword.’ falters, finding a way to be overly instructional and explanatory, and not as progressive, exciting, or interesting as intended.”
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Broadway Blog
April 26th, 2019

"'safeword.' attempts to introduce audiences to bondage, domination, and sadomasochism, but mostly, it’s a lukewarm drama with whips and chains...The scenarios often seem too contrived...The major problem with this play is in the approach. Gelman wins major accolades for highlighting difficult topics. Yet here, it translates into the stuff of corporate training videos...Consequently, it doesn’t give the cast enough material to savor. Pacing is also problematic."
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T
April 25th, 2019

"There's a promising premise here for a comedy-drama about secrets and lies, hypocrisy, identity, friendship, love, marriage, power, and sexual boundary crossing. But the tortuous, if not torturous plot, and the two-dimensional characters and dialogue remain bogged down in insufficiently witty, soap-opera clichés…The actors lack the charisma, energy, and charm to make us care one way or the other…Gelman's dull pacing drags the piece down well before it's over."
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Off Off Online
April 26th, 2019

"Gelman’s plot feels more contrived, and its effect isn’t as strong...Gelman has respect for his subject, but at times the dialogue sounds more suited to an educational video about BDSM...But there are serious problems both regarding Micah’s willingness and logical plot points...Once the characters’ credibility falters, so does the story’s impact. Nonetheless, the actors are fine."
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Manhattan Digest
April 25th, 2019

"Might call to mind some steamy, sexy, gay bondage tale, but 'safeword.' is about so much more...'safeword.' thoughtfully and carefully uncovers these themes through excellent writing and the appreciable talents of its cast...More perfect actors could not have been found to portray these complicated but sincere people, and under Gelman’s splendid direction this play makes for a moving and thought-provoking evening of theater."
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