TERRA FIRMA NYC Reviews and Tickets

72%

(91 Reviews)

Positive

64%

Mixed

28%

Negative

Members say

Ambitious, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Slow, Disappointing

About the Show

In a not-so-distant Beckettian future, years after The Big War, a tiny kingdom wrestles with the problems of running a nation, sparring with the concepts of what makes a citizen, a country, and a civilization.

From the show:

TERRA FIRMA is set in a not-so-distant Beckettian future–years after a conflict known as the Big War, in which a tiny kingdom wrestles with the problems of running a nation–and opposing notions of what makes a citizen, a country, and a civilization. The play is inspired by a real-life event and its aftermath: In 1960’s Britain, a retired WWII army major claimed an abandoned aircraft platform in international waters off the coast of Essex as his own sovereign nation, planted his flag, and coined a motto, E Mare Libertas! (From the Sea, Freedom!). TERRA FIRMA was originally a commission for the Royal Court Theatre, the premiere venue for new writing in the UK. This production is co-presented with Baruch Performing Arts Center.

Member Reviews (91)

Indulgent, Entertaining, Great ensemble work, Highly original, Quirky

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.

Thought-provoking, Quirky, Entertaining, Ambitious, Clever

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. Read more

Indulgent, Slow, Ambitious, Great acting, Disappointing

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

Resonant, Great staging, Great writing, Intelligent, Ambitious

See it if A fledgling UK isle nation of slab and concrete in a sea of chaos under watery attack, forges a constitution to serve both cog and citizen.

Don't see it if Blasts on a well-built stage. "A nation under attack has the right to go on/A nation's ideals are only as pure as the souls of its citizens" Read more

Clever, Great writing, Great staging, Great acting

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. Read more

Disappointing, Great staging, Excruciating, Enthusiastic acting, Confusing

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

Slow, Indulgent, Great staging, Ambitious

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 Read more

Indulgent, Long, A miss

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. Read more

Critic Reviews (6)

"In ‘Terra Firma,’ a Wee Wet Country on the Brink: This inaugural offering from the Coop squeezes whimsy, character comedy and ecological allegory into one crowded play."
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"The inaugural production of the COOP, of which Nichols is the artistic director, 'Terra Firma' achieves only some of the many things it wants to."
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"'Terra Firma' Imagines a Tiny Country Surviving the Rising Waters: Barbara Hammond's world-premiere play marks the dawning of the Coop, a new off-Broadway theater company."
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"Barbara Hammond's 'TERRA FIRMA' Takes It's Cue From A Quirky Bit of International Politics"
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2/5 Stars "'Sally Hammond's Comedy(?) Not on Firm Ground': The Coop's introductory production lacks substance, wastes the marvelous Andrus Nichols"
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"'Terra Firma' is Off-Broadway theater par excellence. A solid, well-written, well-acted theatrical piece that leaves you pleased, laughing and thinking about what you saw long after you've left the theater. The Coop's first shot across the bow is an absolute delight."
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