The Girl Who Jumped Off The Hollywood Sign

See it if you like tales of old Hollywood. Interesting details about studios during WWII. Less successful story of down-on-her-luck wannabee.

Don't see it if broad acting bothers you. JH plays most scenes at full-throttle emotion. And I wasn't a fan of her (harsh, nasal) voice, altho others were.

Also I went to TGWJOTHS with high expectations. The minimal set is effective, as is the simple costume. Since the script is about a fictitious character (a real actress jumped in 1932), I'm not sure why so many hardships had to be piled on Evie. My biggest issue was with JH's performance. I found the level of emotion too high too often. And I didn't enjoy her singing. Still, for a 70 minute commitment, you get to cover a lot of ground!... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be immersed in the world of 40s Hollywood & captivated by the experience of one tragic, guileless actress in search of her dream

Don't see it if you have no interest in old-world Hollywood & the timeworn story of the dewy-eyed midwest actress in search of silver-screen stardom.

Also Whether or not you have any interest in the topic or period, to miss this one-woman show (performed by the playwright herself) is to miss a truly beguiling performance.

Who would've through that I would see back-to-back one-person shows and the one on Broadway starring a Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated actor (John Lithgow) would be dwarfed by the one in a tiny, cold theatre in the East Village starring an unknown Australian actress (Joanne Hartstone -- remember her name!) in her NY debut.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in the golden age of Hollywood, & how the studio system treated women of modest talent.

Don't see it if for you a play is only a play if it has more than 1 character. Most of the time this 1-woman show is in direct address to the audience.

Also I found the material & performance affecting. And while the show makes clear that "Evie Edwards," the only character in this one-woman play, is not a blazing talent, by the time of her final number, George Gershwin's standard "But Not for Me," I was very moved by how the story-line, the character & the actress had all converged in a fully believable, bittersweet evocation of just how hard show business can be on the people -- particularly the women -- how aspire to it.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a play w/music about old Hollywood that feels contemporary. You want a well written & edited solo show.

Don't see it if You prefer plays w/modern settings. You don't like plays w/music. You dislike solo shows.

See it if Goes thru Hollywood dreams and falls, the pain of not making a star on Hollywood Blvd, with some true facts

Don't see it if It's slow at points, and not a happy play.

See it if You enjoy strong female performers in solo shows with a touch of music. Great singing voice and interesting story.

Don't see it if You don't like solo shows. You don't like your stories to meander a little bit.

See it if You like strong female performers with a good story to tell. She draws you in and one can relate to what it takes for success in this world

Don't see it if If you want to see a flashy Show with full sets and costumes. This is simple and direct. And works

See it if you appreciate Hollywood and Greatest Generation era nostalgia mixed with their ugly truth, and music with melody and intelligent lyrics.

Don't see it if you dislike Hollywood nostalgia genre, a solo woman show with minimal set and a capella, or LES, or cannot sit 90 minutes without interval.

See it if you are a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood and enjoy songs from that era, adequately performed.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy plays with music or are looking for a serious drama.

See it if you enjoy stories referring to actors and singers from an era gone by perfomed in a one-woman show

Don't see it if you don't like stories about the early Hollywood age, you expect songs you'll recognize.

Also The performer did a fine job, the story was interesting, but it was a bit weak. The singing was very good, but the songs selected could have been better/more recognizable.... Read more Read less

See it if you like one-woman shows and/or old Hollywood

Don't see it if you like big shows with high production values or prefer shows that are very upbeat

Also The smoke effects are strangling in such a small theater. It was really distracting.... Read more Read less

See it if you like stories about Hollywood told by a would be starlet who is contemplating suicide by jumping from the Hollywood sign.

Don't see it if useless stage smoke annoys your bronchial tubes. You don't like well acted well written one woman shows with a story to tell.

See it if you enjoy one-person show about the history of Hollywood

Don't see it if You expect a more stimulating exploration of this topic

Also I found my mind wandering as the subject matter just seemed rather trivial and banal. The access was engaging and gave herself wholeheartedly to the project but the material was pretty weak.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a one-woman show with heart. The actress puts 110% effort into her performance.

Don't see it if You need a flashy show with no rough edges. This show is the kind of out-of-the-way offering for which New York is known.

See it if like solo shows with great story telling. Interesting facts of the golden age hollywood. The drive of ambition & the lengths to get noticed

Don't see it if don't like solo shows or don't like to see despair of talented people with big dreams who can't get noticed.

See it if You would enjoy a one woman show with singing reflecting on the Golden Years of Hollywood

Don't see it if You dislike one woman shows, musicals, expect a fancy set with props, or have no interest in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

See it if The sparkle in her eyes as she sings you her dream of becoming noticeable is hauntingly honest and mesmerizing.

Don't see it if Lots of references near the times of the roaring and the depression years. Essentially one-woman-show telling truths of abuse in Hollywood

Also You feel for her pure naivety and bubbliness. Quite lovely even with total lack of staging props. Joanne shines the stage, literally, with such emotions.... Read more Read less

See it if You like one woman shows with some history and songs

Don't see it if You want to be uplifted....sad...

See it if your ready for an evening of bad acting and singing, together with an insipid, dated story by a writer who failed script writing 101!

Don't see it if you dread the thought of listening to a woman attempting to sing like Judy Garland, but unfortunately, sounds more like Al Jolsen!

See it if You really like Hollywood stories and one person shows.

Don't see it if You want a fast paced compelling night at the theatre.

See it if You live for the Golden Era of Hollywood. You support Fringe type , low budget "one person shows" for its creativity and ingenuity .

Don't see it if musically you expect to be wowed and storytelling is not enough to satisfy you. If you do not enjoy golden era tales.

Also I felt it could have been better . For the admission price, it's worth it. I love to see and support interesting performances and the story telling part of the show I loved . She was engaging and captivating at times, yet, I was disappointed in the musical parts. I felt they were flat and it needed so much more emotion to go with the story. On opening night the speaker cracked , over and over again .... not acceptable , it hurt the performance . I hope that gets fixed. For $20 it's definitely worth seeing it . A night out of the cold ,seeing something entertaining .... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy stories about the women of the golden age in Hollywood and their music, enjoy one-woman shows, like story telling type of plays.

Don't see it if You dont care for the music/characters from the Hollywood golden age, dont like one woman shows, are looking for a highly visual production

Also I enjoyed the story very much- a woman's perspective from that point in time, i found it particularly captivating considering the current movement we are seeing in Hollywood today.
Her performance is very good, she keeps your attention throughout the show which is sometimes hard for one-actor plays. That being said, i think the set itself can be improved a bit, i know it's a small theater and maybe that's what they were going for but personally I thought the story gave way for a lot more visually stimulating elements around the actress.... Read more Read less

See it if You love the golden age of Hollywood, you enjoy one woman shows and shows that illuminate the challenges faced by women.

Don't see it if You are hoping for a lighthearted show or a musical

See it if You want to see a different show about Old Hollywood, like period pieces and/or one-person shows.

Don't see it if You're deeply rooted in today or have no interest in hearing a wonderfully told story about someone trying to be star.

Also This show is a gem. I was deeply interested throughout the entire performance. It's different and very well done.... Read more Read less

See it if It is a great acting play about being an actress in the 40’s in a very minimal set-up. I don’t think it still easier today.

Don't see it if You don’t appreciate in an Off-Off Broadway setting.