TERRA FIRMA

See it if u'd like an unconventional comedy (think Beckett/Ionesco/Monty Python/Gilligan's Island mashup) about isolationism, nationalism & autocracy.

Don't see it if u haven't enjoyed the works of Bedlam, from which The COOP has largely been formed; u prefer ur politics unequivocal, not allegorical.

Also Terra Firma is astonishingly based (loosely, I presume!) on a real story. I highly encourage you do a to search, as I did, for the "Principality of Sealand" after seeing this production.... Read more Read less

See it if Production values & edgy acting - all top-notch - save this existential drama from calling an SOS A four star production for a two star play

Don't see it if This doomsday allegory starts out strong - Beckett overtones mixed w/a gallows humor But it attains its ideas quickly & then stalls at sea

See it if innovative, imaginative ensemble work excites you. The performers are magical together.

Don't see it if your willing suspension of disbelief isn't fully engaged. Not a lot of back story given.

See it if You enjoy Gilligan's Island. You want to see a powerhouse cast of theater veterans (including Broadway) try to survive & build a new land.

Don't see it if You don't have earplugs, as there are several loud booms (which are explained later) that will startle; fireworks are very loud too. 1hr45.

Also Found this way more fun and involving than a Beckett play. Folding chairs were padded and I was comfortable throughout.... Read more Read less

See it if You know someone in the cast or want to see some interesting staging. Sometimes funny.

Don't see it if You want a story that makes sense. I had no idea what any character wanted. It was confusing and exhausting

See it if For the program notes. The true story is interesting. Explosions are very effective.

Don't see it if Not truly absurd for absurdism, not compelling at all for a drama, not funny enough for a comedy.

Also I feel like the playwright so wanted to write about this topic but couldn't really find a footing to hang it on. Also, this play had about three endings. At one point, the squirming audience was about to applaud when the lights came back up and there was another natural ending, then another. Couldn't wait to get off this sinking ship.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see another dystopian allegorical play about the politics of today.

Don't see it if You don't care about politics or if you are startled by loud noises (of which there are many).

See it if Fantastic imagining of a true story, with a fabulous set and good acting, the parallel to the Tempest interesting but the actual play boring

Don't see it if Nothing happens in a very long shipwrecked family saga --time expands and never ends

Also Based on the true story of the Principality of Sealand, a crazy almost mythologically bizarre story. Read the Narratively essay instead. The set is fabulous, but the plot circular and the pointlessness exceeds the dreams.... Read more Read less

See it if you have patience for muddled story-telling, you like doomsday theater, you like absurdist theater

Don't see it if you want actors who can project their voices, you want a developed storyline

Also The characters were unrelatable, but the worst part was that the actors often faced the rear of the stage or spoke when in awkward positions. I would probably have liked it more if they had enunciated the lines better. The physicality was good enough to get the gist but lots of details were missed.... Read more Read less

See it if Drew me in, kept me interested, made me guess how it would end.

Don't see it if One has to care about what is happening

See it if you are interested in interesting thoughts about what makes up - a nation, - a constitution, a citizen? Utopian but based on a true incident

Don't see it if you can not sit still for ~100 mins without an intermission. The play is a bit repetitious and could probably be shortened by 10 - 15 mins.

See it if Like nodding at name checks of "human condition" and "topical" metaphors. To see Andrus Nichols get paid.

Don't see it if Looking for deeper engagement with themes, clear narrative plot, resolution. Want development and coherence on top of great characterization

See it if You like good acting and writing and are not bothered by absurdity. The show does a lot within the limitations of the narrative.

Don't see it if You seek resolutions or don’t care for existential themes.

See it if you want to support an ambitious new work by a brand new theater company. Very good acting.

Don't see it if You are not interested in a quirky show

See it if you like a theatre of ideas with characters who are based on dialecticals, mostly men onstage, dystopian themes & some violence & absurdity.

Don't see it if you want character-based family drama or Naturalism - this is not that. I expected more Beckett/Absurdity, but this doesn't quite manage it.

See it if You follow the work by the people who produced "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice". This was a huge disappointment. Just bad.

Don't see it if You don't want to sit for an hour and forty five minutes ruing there is no intermission forcing you to be subjected to terrible writing.

See it if you want to try to figure out the point they are getting across you like to see nice acting at Baruch college

Don't see it if you want to see something with some excitement.. this just dragged for us

Also we felt that they did not do a good job at getting their point across -- whatever they were trying to convey.... it just .. missed... Read more Read less

See it if Cutting edge theatre, so beautifully acted, however the play itself doesn’t quite bring it home with the allegory it seems to want to make

Don't see it if Absurdist or new plays

See it if like plays with absurdist elements that present challenging themes.

Don't see it if you like straightforward realistic comedies and dramas.

See it if ...you want to support a wonderful new theatre company who is doing engaging and stimulating work!

Don't see it if ...you don't want to be reminded of the political climate we live in and face the reality out there!

See it if You like surreal shows that deal in metaphors for life.

Don't see it if You were looking for a story drawn from real life.

See it if You want a jumping off point to learn about sea land which is actually super interesting.

Don't see it if This piece encapsulates everything that’s wrong with theatre. No plot. Characters not grounded in reality. Way too long.

Also The actors really gave it their all and while I admire that, I gotta say this- the moment Nicols came on stage with the raised hand gesture thing I slumped into my chair was was like ‘oh Jesus Christ this ones gonna be a peach’. And by peach I mean train wreck disaster. Sorry if that hurts feelings. I just have to be honest cause when I fly in from Chicago to see some shows I get pissed when they suck.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Beckett, Albee and/or Ionesco.

Don't see it if You have a hard time sitting for longer than 90 minutes (the show is about 100 minutes long with no intermission).

See it if you'd like a metaphysical depiction of civilization and its problems

Don't see it if Despite the fact that this is based on a true situation, the production never achieves any degree of believability.

Also The playwright doesn't lay the groundwork of the situation and consequently the actors and director have no base on which to build a reality. It all seems very self-indulgent and arbitrary.... Read more Read less

See it if you love a new, exciting theatre company.

Don't see it if You don't love a Beckett Play.