The Dudleys! NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (35)
See it if You explore complex familial relationships as they develop over time and appreciate novel, ingenious staging and competent execution.
Don't see it if You have a short attention span, cannot devote two hours to watch a show, or do not enjoy musicals or understand Nintendo or video games.
See it if You want to catch a uniquely presented show-a mesmerizing family inside a video game! Wonderfully imaginative. Lots of fun- yet poignant~
Don't see it if You dislike video games or are looking for a standard show-this plays with all levels (!) of a family-bringing a game to believable life-
See it if You like clever usage of projections and animation. You like seemingly biographical pieces exploring family and grief.
Don't see it if You're frustrated when you can't hear lyrics or don't have any familiarity with video games.
See it if You appreciate fine acting in a fresh and innovative show.
Don't see it if You are looking for a traditional story told in a linear fashion.
See it if You want a unique take on the classic family drama. You want an emotional experience. You like technology used for storytelling.
Don't see it if You want a compact, spare story: the show could've been edited better. You don't like technology mixed w/storytelling.
See it if You enjoy video games and shows that incorporate technology into them. You can handle heavy subject matter handled in a unique way.
Don't see it if You don't like or understand the concept of video games. Are triggered by death and health issues or family issues in shows.
See it if you want a visually explosive, thought provoking journey into video gaming land with a game cast, excellent design & capable direction
Don't see it if you don't care for video games or have no knowledge of their worlds, 1/2 the joy of this piece is recognizing the references
See it if You always wondered how your life as a video game would play out. It was original and fun, the positives outweigh the hiccups.
Don't see it if If you're not nostalgic for those early consoles, or hate video games in general. While the staging was creative, the sound needs work.
Critic Reviews (5)
"Visually, the production offers plenty of diversion...But the wobbly plot doesn’t really go anywhere; it’s more a series of disconnected scenes, featuring characters who aren’t really much more realistically textured than the figures in video games...All the actors have fun with their roles under the direction of Jacob Titus and Mr. Stevens...The play itself, strenuously madcap but with minimal emotional underpinning, didn’t score many points with me."
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"With amazing design but unfocused storytelling, 'The Dudleys!' is a flawed show built on a great premise...The show is at its best when it is featuring the imaginative animated scenes and offering opportunities for the actors to interact with textures and ideas in creative, clever ways...The story is all over the place...Narrative moments appear, as well as more flattened archetypal character threads, but unfortunately, they never really come together to form any coherent whole."
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"'The Dudleys' is unique in execution but lacks a strong, cohesive story to carry the audience on a two-hour journey...The draw of this play is the unique visuals created by the skilled creative team...It was a daring production to say the least. Perhaps it was the lack of connection to the material that caused the audience to not get on board for the ride. When the audience is unsure of whether to clap or not at the intermission break, it’s a warning sign that something isn’t working."
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"There was a disconnect between the gestalt of the show, and the story it was telling, a disconnect that, as impressed as I was by the direction, design, and performances, left me wanting a little bit more...The design of this play, it must be stressed, is quite amazing...It was just a play, albeit one with great projections. And as a play, the script doesn’t live up to the creators' attempt to put an immersive world on stage. "
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"The acting, music, and plot all stood their ground next to the primary-colored landscape, and somewhere gelled perfectly...The play is not perfect. The first act should be 20 minutes shorter. My companion felt that the ending was almost too perfect. But I ate it up like a horse being given a jewel-tone sugar cube...The whole family and ensemble were lovely and engaging in their own ways but the two brothers at the center of the story were the winners of the night for me."
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