The End of Eddy NYC Reviews and Tickets

78%

(7 Ratings)

Positive

86%

Mixed

14%

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Intelligent, Informative, Absorbing, Sanitized

About the Show

Based on the autobiographical novel, this gay coming-of-age story follows Édouard Louis as he is bullied relentlessly, growing up in poverty in working-class France.

From the show:

Édouard Louis was born into poverty in working-class France. He was bullied relentlessly for being gay. And he was utterly desperate to escape.

Written when he was just 21, Louis’ internationally acclaimed autobiographical novel The End of Eddy captures his deeply resonant coming-of-age story. Now, in this compelling and charismatic staging (introducing Oseloka Obi and James Russell-Morley), we bear witness to his affecting reflections on youth, sexuality, class, power, and freedom.

This is a story for anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in.

Show-Score Member Reviews (7)

Intense, Intelligent, Great acting, Thought-provoking, Absorbing

See it if You would enjoy an intellectual discussion of the intersection of class, gender and sexual identity.

Don't see it if You do not enjoy contemporary theater that has a lot of clever tricks. Read more

Relevant, Great acting, Quirky

See it if want to see two terrific actors in clever and entertaining vignettes about growing up gay.

Don't see it if you like a straight line play. Read more

Great acting, Great staging, Clever, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if enjoy the work of Edouard Louis, like gay coming of age stories, like use of video & film, youthful exuberant performances, escaping

Don't see it if don't like gay content, tales of bullying and loneliness, feels aimed at a younger (YA) audience, negative family stories

Sanitized, Adolescent, Informative, Creative

See it if to see an inventive (& oddly chipper) staging of Édouard Louis' hapless French working-class coming out story as told by his boyhood self(s)

Don't see it if u expect a stark, raw, unapologetic portrayal of Louis' formative years. [It feels at times like a "safe" version suitable for kids theater] Read more

Informative

See it if you’re invested in Edouard Leon.

Don't see it if you don’t like a break in theatrical conventions. Read more

Great acting, Disappointing, Lecturey, Uninventive, Patronizing

See it if You like stories that talk about sexuality and class no matter how poorly the adaptation is presented.

Don't see it if If you prefer theatre where you're shown and not told. This often felt like a lecture, not theatre.

Resonant, Intelligent, Entertaining, Great acting, Delightful

See it if you enjoy the book by Edouard Louis. Highly suggested for lgbtq youth, or anybody who feels they are an outsider. Enjoy a new point of view.

Don't see it if don't like minimal sets, a two person cast playing multiple characters, glbtq themes, or a story through different audio-visual mediums.

Critic Reviews (4)

"Fleeing Home, but Not Homophobia: Two plays based on the autobiographical novels of Édouard Louis put the problem of violence against gay men in a larger social context."
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"What Makes the Man: Édouard Louis’s 'History of Violence' and 'The End of Eddy'"
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"The repetitive use of this storytelling device becomes tiresome, much like the direct address style of the piece. The dark territory the book explores is merely hinted at, and the additions that Carter makes…feel unhelpful, even unnecessary, given the well-rounded source material."
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"Parts resemble a book report for school, but won't be mistaken for a story hour because of the inventive stagecraft and the rawness of the stories -- relentless bullying, deadened people in a dying factory town, his sad and funny efforts to 'be a man,' his sexual experimenting."
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Trailer

Creative team