State of the Union NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (44)
See it if You’re ready for an OMG moment...!... this show is frighteningly relevant to today’s politics even though it was written so long ago.
Don't see it if If you have no interest in politics or if you think that what the crusty orange jock strap in the Oval Office is doing right now is great. Read more
See it if you enjoy the political process of yesteryear. this is set in an intimate theater which makes it that much more interesting and entertaining
Don't see it if you do not like a play of substance with great characters.
See it if you're interested in what people were seeing on stage post-WW II and in particular Lindsay&Crouse. You should know there era to get it.
Don't see it if You don't like politics on stage, don't care about the post-war era, and the names Reuther, Pearson and Wilkie are unknown to you. Read more
See it if you enjoy classic American political plays of the 20th Century well presented with style and wit.
Don't see it if you are only interested in fast moving contemporary plays
See it if You want to see an amazing cast perform in a small space with excellent staging and great costumes. You want to see a good political drama
Don't see it if Political dramas are not your thing. You want to miss out a great performance. You don't want to laugh. Read more
See it if Like serious play about politic and politics with a hint of humor, talented actors, who look natural in suites and gowns.
Don't see it if Long play (even very interesting) is not for you (2h 40 min), you are awaiting more mentioning of modern politic. Do not like small theatre. Read more
See it if This show is relevant to today even though it was written in the 1940s
Don't see it if you don't like political plays. Read more
See it if Fne performances (esp Durkin, Sell and Kuriloff), expert, fast paced direction,smart,witty dialogue.Sets & costumes excellent. Feminist bent
Don't see it if Like many older plays, this 3 act is long. Especially long first half drags a bit. And it's pretty much all politics with a touch of humor. Read more
Critic Reviews (9)
"It doesn't take very long to understand that what at first appears to be a wisecracking political comedy has a heart of purest mush. This sentimentality is so nakedly apparent possibly because much of its humor has the quality of yellowed newsprint...A play like ‘State of the Union’ can, arguably, work if it gets the right care and feeding, but in this case...Livingston, hasn't succeeded in assembling a cast well-enough versed in slick high-comedy style."
Read more
“Invariably, the play evokes comparisons with the current political environment...The script may periodically show its age, but kudos once again to the marvelous Metropolitan Playhouse for mounting a revival of a rarely produced play...Livingston has drawn fine performances...If the government could work as efficiently and cohesively as this small company, the state of the union would be in excellent shape indeed.”
Read more
“Lindsay and Crouse (known today for The Sound of Music) have written an entertaining and witty look at backroom politics which suddenly seems contemporary all over again. Laura Livingston's high-powered production of State of the Union, which raised eyebrows when it won the Pulitzer Prize in 1946, proves to be an entertaining and sleekly well-oiled machine that has much to say to us today when divisive politics and politicians lacking in honesty and integrity are the name of the game.”
Read more
"Is the play dated? Yes, but entertainingly so...As good as the drama is, it needs an able cast to breathe life into the script. Fortunately, the 19 actors assembled here are up to the task...The production values come without razzamatazz here, but that's fine...Directed by Laura Livingston, this no-frills production enjoys good timing. 'State of the Union' isn't a hard-headed expose of a presidential campaign. But it sure gives you a taste of the hustle and bustle of American politics."
Read more
“Music recordings from the era are delightful and add much to set the scenes. This production promotes robust democratic republic discussion and is as relevant today as it was in 1945...Grab your favorite Republican, Democrat, or Independent and head over to see the 'State of the Union' for some political satire, human nature, American politics and comedy...Get out and see this production.”
Read more
"The play, even with the sting taken out of its tail by its lack of topical tang, and given a necessarily low-budget, less-than-sterling revival, remains interesting…On paper, much of the humor shows promise, but, in…Livingston's lively but comically flat production, the laughs come few and far between…The acting ranges from sprightly to serviceable to mediocre to better luck next time…Hard to endorse for any but political junkies and cognoscenti in search of lost Broadway treasures."
Read more
"Consistent with other Broadway comedies of its era, 'State of the Union' has an enormous amount of exposition before things really get going. The exposition’s interesting enough, the initial action is engaging, and the dialogue is sprightly throughout...What a boon that the Metropolitan Playhouse has figured out how to stage this almost-forgotten comedy on a shoestring."
Read more
"Uncannily fresh, 'State of the Union' is filled with crisp dialogue, witty banter, slithering irony and thoughtful perspectives before detonating in a delectably enjoyable third act...'State of the Union' is a long three act play which requires a little patience as it simmers until its grand payoff...This selection is particularly inspired and should become a play revived at least by regional theaters everywhere."
Read more