The Fre NYC Reviews and Tickets

79%

(23 Ratings)

Positive

91%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Clever, Entertaining, Funny, Quirky, Ambitious

About the Show

In this queer love story from Taylor Mac, audiences will jump into the mud with the Fre to hash out the current cultural divide. The play is set in a giant ball pit with audience seating inside and out.

From the show:

MacArthur Genius Grant Recipient and Tony Award® nominee Taylor Mac returns home to The Flea for the world premiere of The Fre. The Flea’s Artistic Director and frequent Taylor Mac collaborator, Niegel Smith (Hir, 24 Decade History of Popular Music and Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce) will direct.

In the land of two bridges The Fre, a rambunctious group of fun loving anti-intellectuals spend their days cavorting in the mud. Into their midst descends Hero, a dandy aesthete, who longs to cut the bridge and finally escape the mud pit. But first he must convince the leader Frankie Fre and the other fatuous inhabitants that there is a better life outside of the swamp. In this queer love story, audiences will literally and figuratively jump into the mud with the Fre to hash out the current cultural divide. The play is set in a giant ball pit with audience seating inside and out.

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Show-Score Member Reviews (23)

During previews

Clever, Funny, Enchanting, Delightful, Ambitious

See it if You have the patience for a show that takes time getting going, is often juvenile, but nails an emotional, truthful, lovely ending.

Don't see it if You’re not open to some poop jokes or (very light) audience participation. You’re not willing to give a piece time to find it’s rhythm. Read more

During previews

Quirky, Relevant, Profound, Great staging, Clever

See it if You like outside the box...WAY OUTSIDE THE BOX!!! This is a smart, I’d say brilliant statement on where we are politically and socially now.

Don't see it if You’re not ready to take that stick out of your butt and completely let go. This is so dumb it’s profound. Be prepared to look inside. Read more

During previews

Brilliant and mind-blowingly playful, Relevant, Entertaining, Clever

See it if creative and political is what you are looking for

Don't see it if conventional is what works for you

During previews

Thought-provoking, Great staging, Great acting, Edgy, Delightful

See it if you like intense design and plays with a message.

Don't see it if you are easily shocked/offended.

During previews

Clever, Entertaining

See it if You like immersive experiences where 1/4 the audience is in a huge ball pit. Throw balls, sink down to your chin & play. Take a selfie too!

Don't see it if You don't like seeing 2 characters smear mud all over themselves. Or throw balls at the characters. Or play in the ball pit after the show.

During previews

Quirky, Great writing, Delightful, Clever, Ambitious

See it if You relish the unexpected in theater and you know And appreciate Taylor Mac’s iconoclasm.

Don't see it if If antic shows are not your thing or you are conflicted about homosexual desire.

During previews

Poli-socio-comic-turgy, Mud will be flung, Hybrid, Tya agitprop, Something completely different

See it if Taylor Mac intrigues U, return 2 disregarding your disbelief, immersion is your thing, participation is up your alley, silly fun & verse R U

Don't see it if cannot let go, find potty humor sophomoric, need an "easy" chair, find participation anathema, fear the unknown, hate verse & kids theatre

During previews

Uneven execution, Important task, Brilliant set-up, Brilliant set

See it if you'd like to experience a thrilling set & set-up that try bridging the gap between blue state sophisticates & red state un-sophisticates.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a kitchen sink drama about how denizens of the red states live. Read more

Trailer

Creative team