The Good Soul of Setzuan NYC Reviews and Tickets

70%

(21 Reviews)

Positive

67%

Mixed

33%

Negative

Members say

Ambitious, Slow, Entertaining, Quirky, Confusing

About the Show

Irondale's production of Brecht's 1945 fable is reset in the playwright’s room, mirroring his practice when he was kept in exile in the United States during World War 2.

From the show:

In the comedic pessimism of The Good Soul of Setzuan, this 1945 fable about the brutalizing nature of poverty, still remains ominously apt, exploring the lengths to which one must go to keep clean in a dirty world. The parable follows Shen Tei, the kind-hearted, penniless prostitute, found by a trio of Gods to be the only good person in town. With her goodness impossibly tested by a world that rewards evil, she is forced to disguise herself as a savvy businessman male cousin, Shui Ta, to master the ruthlessness necessary to be a “good person.” For Brecht, and mirrored in the climate of today, doing good and surviving are not compatible and enlists the audience to help determine how the story should end.

Member Reviews (21)

Clever, Slow, Entertaining

See it if It is a show that needs attention paid. Brecht writing about Chinese culture.

Don't see it if Can be slow and confusing as well as sloppy at times.

Dizzying, Entertaining, Quirky, Thought-provoking, Great singing

See it if you like updated works that comment on the current ills in our society. Some good music and acting help to make one think about these issues

Don't see it if you aren't up for an uneven work that runs long with projections and lots of cast movement on a rather large stage with corny props/costumes Read more

Enervated, Unsure, Broadly comic

See it if you need to see one of Brecht’s truly great parable plays, even if it’s in an adaptation that squanders the original play’s power.

Don't see it if you are not a big fan of comedy that is so broad that it rarely lands a laugh. Read more

Relevant, Great acting, Slow, Disappointing, Ambitious

See it if You want to support this production including the cast who made a Valiant effort. The 2nd act was much better than the 1st act.

Don't see it if Because the script at times was poorly written. The direction often was amateurish. The play was too long & needed editing in the 1st act.

Fresh, enthusiastic ensemble, Quirky, Relevant, Entertaining, Ambitious

See it if You’re up for a fun approachable & bare-bones Brecht in a great space, the affable cast playing to & with the audience; fine band & vocals.

Don't see it if You dislike Brecht, allegorical plays or questions like can an honorable soul stay whole in a corrupt world—the answer may not be satisfying Read more

Great acting, Relevant, Funny, Absorbing

See it if Well acted,directed,@times slow dealing w/ a basic human issue:how to stay a good person in a money centered society. Themes of identity,*

Don't see it if Unfamiliar w/Brecht's play;u don't mind cuts of an hour to original script,nor mind that play leaves more quest than ans: typical of Brecht Read more

Cliched, Slow, Indulgent, Confusing, Ambitious

See it if You like Brecht. You like really long quirky plays.

Don't see it if It's really long. Also, Brecht probably has no business writing a play about Chinese culture.

Dizzying, Ambitious, Relevant, Quirky

See it if You enjoy Brecht and don’t mind some updates

Don't see it if You don’t like actors playing multiple roles or audience interaction

Trailer

Creative team