Tender Napalm
Closed 1h 15m
Tender Napalm
69

Tender Napalm NYC Reviews and Tickets

69%
(25 Reviews)
Positive
60%
Mixed
32%
Negative
8%
Members say
Confusing, Absorbing, Edgy, Great acting, Ambitious

About the Show

An intimate, explosive, and poetic exploration of love in the face of catastrophe, English writer Philip Ridley’s provocative play comes back to New York in a reimagined, African-American production.

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Member Reviews (25)

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891 Reviews | 259 Followers
70
Confusing, Intelligent, Great acting, Quirky, Intense

See it if you would enjoy two actors pouring out their energy to portray two characters in the push and pull of a relationship in an ambitious script.

Don't see it if you want a linear play - this jumps and you must listen closely to the constant dialogue or you will be lost. You must envision all-bare set

754 Reviews | 124 Followers
73
Intense, Edgy, Dizzying, Great performance, Absorbing

See it if wildly imaginative game playing between two talented actor dancers exploring the rough edges of their sexuality would keep your attention

Don't see it if you expect a clear plot. There are lots of suggestions of what might or might not be happening but nothing is ever quite what it seems.

466 Reviews | 237 Followers
74
Refreshing, Intelligent, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if Strong strong performances in this poetic experimental play.

Don't see it if If you are a fan of experimental pkays

459 Reviews | 117 Followers
73
Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Edgy, Ambitious, Entertaining

See it if you want to see a short play about a dysfunctional relationship, well-acted an well directed

Don't see it if you want to see a play that keeps to its title topic (brilliant when it does), but goes on too 20 min. long beause it tries to "explain". Read more

426 Reviews | 99 Followers
78
At times beautifully spoken, Intelligent, Edgy, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if You like word pictures spun out to you by each character taking on the same words. Lyrical yet violent. Beauty and implied tragedy.

Don't see it if You want straight narrative. You dont want to have to do the work, you have to listen. Uncomfortable word pictures which seem violent but? Read more

285 Reviews | 32 Followers
71
Edgy, Raunchy, Quirky, Ambitious

See it if you are able to follow long monologues about a relationship and don't mind graphic language

Don't see it if you need flashy sets, costumes, etc or tsunamis are a trigger for you

243 Reviews | 59 Followers
69
Indulgent script, Strong performance, Sparse staging, Blurred line between fantasy and reality

See it if You enjoy heady & fantastical dialogue, and can enjoy movement rather than standard staging, if you enjoy seeing strong young actors

Don't see it if You want a light evening or production values. Or If you would be irritated by a wandering symbolic story requiring alot of interpretation

226 Reviews | 12 Followers
72
Absorbing, Great acting, Confusing, Dizzying, Sexy

See it if You don’t mind non linear love stories that can be a bit confusing at times. Great actors and good dialogue. A bit sexy at times.

Don't see it if You prefer straight forward plays.

Critic Reviews (2)

TheaterScene.net
July 26th, 2019

“The power and majesty of the theater are affirmed by this ravishing production of the acclaimed English playwright Philip Ridley's beguiling fantasia. A shipwrecked young couple engage with monkeys, aliens and serpents as memories and sometimes violent erotic feelings are expressed.”
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Theater Pizzazz
July 22nd, 2019

“The truth is: I saw ‘Tender Napalm’because it had a great title. Finding the delicacy of the language is half the battle, and Philip Ridley's script, originally presented in London in 2011, is challenging. In some aspect of this dreamlike, imaginary place, there's plenty to do, in the mind of the audience, to create a narrative that's built on the presence of this Man and Woman, who persist, always dancing, tempting the larger explosion.”
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