The Good Soul of Setzuan NYC Reviews and Tickets

70%

(21 Ratings)

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.

Show-Score Member Reviews (21)

Great acting, Ambitious, Clever

See it if (Already closed) You want something different and more serious than theusual community theater stuff (theater was in Brooklyn).

Don't see it if You like plays that have resolutions. You like more traditional theater Read more

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

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

Slow, Funny, Entertaining

See it if It's funny. It's a little long. The cast are all having a blast, and that's infectious. There are video elements that enhance the experience

Don't see it if rather than detracting from it. It's worth your time, but it's probably not going to be the best play you see this year.

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

Quirky, Dragged on, Slow, Entertaining, Ambitious

See it if You want to see a group of good actors attempt to translate and interpret a complex piece to make it More relevant. It is great at times.

Don't see it if If you don’t want to sit the ough a long show. It is choppy and doesn’t work well all if the time. It takes some effort but some is great!

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.

Quirky, Profound, Intelligent, Cliched

See it if You would enjoy a modern retelling of the classic yet relevant theme of being good to fellow mankind.

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy reinterpreted versions of classic productions. Read more

Trailer

Creative team