The Pink Unicorn (Out of the Box Theatrics)
The Pink Unicorn (Out of the Box Theatrics)
83

The Pink Unicorn (Out of the Box Theatrics) NYC Reviews and Tickets

83%
(34 Reviews)
Positive
94%
Mixed
6%
Negative
0%
Members say
Great acting, Relevant, Absorbing, Thought-provoking, Great writing

About the Show

In this solo show, Trisha Lee, a Christian widow in a small conservative Texas town, is faced with a whole new set of personal challenges when her 14-year-old daughter comes out as gender queer.

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Member Reviews (34)

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1085 Reviews | 265 Followers
75
Slow, Relevant, Intelligent, Great acting

See it if Ripley does a great job acting in this show. A show as bout a young person coming out. Pretty even paced show.

Don't see it if A show about coming out. Can be a little slow at times but well done.

913 Reviews | 929 Followers
89
Thought-provoking, Powerful, Relevant, Great writing, Great acting

See it if Powerful relevant writing supported by a wonderful performer. Moving, engaging, never slow. Beautiful. Ripley is amazing.

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy one-person shows.

888 Reviews | 1017 Followers
88
Important, Relevant, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if Masterfully acted by Ripley. Felt fully absorbed into the emotional story. Extremely well written, touching, and thought provoking.

Don't see it if You dislike 1-person shows.

982 Reviews | 343 Followers
79
Slow, Great acting, Relevant, Thought-provoking, Absorbing

See it if you'd like an intellig script presented by a talented actor in an intimate setting. If gender neutral lang annoys you, rethink your stance.

Don't see it if you want a compact script; TPU drags a bit. Ripley is charming, but her char is inconsistent (uses gr vocab, but is an uneducated cleaner).

MJK
677 Reviews | 190 Followers
65
Woke, Drawn-out, Overrated, Good acting, Slow

See it if u want to see a Tony winner in a modest space; u want to hear a laudable coming out story about acceptance & overcoming ignorance/prejudice.

Don't see it if u expect to hear Ripley sing; u expect a fresh, nuanced, multi-layered character study; ur not interested in a genderqueer tale.

649 Reviews | 242 Followers
77
Overrated, Slow, Resonant, Relevant, Great acting

See it if You’d like to see a lovely, non-singing performance by Alice Ripley in an extremely intimate setting.

Don't see it if You dislike slight, overly long, generally forgettable solo shows. The play is just above average.

470 Reviews | 113 Followers
70
Great acting, Slow

See it if Very well acted story told in an intimate environment by excellent actress.

Don't see it if Many scenes go on far too long (especially the church scenes) & my mind wandered. A 7pm show didn't get out until 8:40pm; way too long.

435 Reviews | 61 Followers
90
Must see, Riveting, Relevant, Great acting, Great writing

See it if Want one of those funny but highly educational plays that is perfect for these Trumpian days of August!! Don’t miss it!

Don't see it if There is no reason not to see it unless you’re oa trump acolyte, and then you really should see it.

Critic Reviews (15)

The New York Times
May 19th, 2019
For a previous production

"The real treat for fans of Ms. Ripley...is seeing her in such intimate confines...Trisha and — even more so — Jo feel generic. They are described in quick broad strokes that don’t get much deeper than quirky anecdotes and folksy turns of phrase. The other characters popping in and out make even less of an impression...Of course, it’s impossible not to root for Trisha. But while good intentions go a long way in real life, they are not enough to sustain this undernourished play."
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New Yorker
May 17th, 2019
For a previous production

“The performance space...is a cozy attic...an aptly intimate setting...for this one-person show about a Presbyterian widow...Directed by Amy Jones...Elise Forier Edie’s script scans a bit more like a first-person short story than like a monologue to be performed. But Ripley fully inhabits the role, employing a profound command of inflection and mannerism that makes her character engrossingly genuine and conversational; she finds humor in the most unexpected little places."
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Lighting & Sound America
May 16th, 2019
For a previous production

"Ripley nails the Texas accent and captures Trisha's slightly hesitant manner...At least at the performance I attended, this lack of assurance laid bare a certain weakness in the script...You should also know that this is a bare-bones production...Still, 'The Pink Unicorn' has crowd-pleaser potential and I wouldn't be surprised if it is already in much better shape. And Trisha's journey toward inclusion is a perfect one for the venue."
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New York Stage Review
May 15th, 2019
For a previous production

“Edie has a transgender child, and her goal is a virtuous one: to show us that even the most apparently unsophisticated folks can harbor open hearts and minds...If the abundance of clichés in ‘Pink Unicorn’ threatens to overshadow fact-based elements, it’s hard not to be at least intermittently moved by the sense of urgency and compassion in Edie’s writing...Ripley deserves praise for bringing obvious commitment and contagious affection to her character."
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TheaterScene.net
May 18th, 2019
For a previous production

"Alice Ripley (Best Actress Tony Award winner for 'Next to Normal') is, in a word, astounding. Her Trisha is brimming with curiosity, honesty, humor and grace; she is inspiring to watch and simply amazing. Edie's characterization of Trisha is delicate and poignant, funny and sincere; her illuminating script is sheer writing perfection."
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Theatre is Easy
May 15th, 2019
For a previous production

"It’s a heartwarming story with a relatively happy ending, but the tight, thoughtful script mixes humor and pathos to successfully touch upon our propensity to judge others and reflexively resist change before we really know what's at stake...Alice Ripley is simultaneously radiant and real. Her struggle to accept her child without necessarily understanding her is beautifully rendered. It also feels honest."
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Front Mezz Junkies
May 15th, 2019
For a previous production

"This is exactly what it means to be a true actor; to have the ability to weave a story, solo and strong, regardless of the size and shape of the site specific space. Utilizing every little natural gesture and pause, 'plain as you please,' she rings a captivating tale so true and digs so deep...Directed with a subtle edge by Amy E. Jones, the tale feels authentic but needs a sharper eye and a more focused edit to be the powerhouse it sits on the edge of being."
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T
May 21st, 2019
For a previous production

“Although the playwright has attempted to update the script, its present incarnation...falls short of reflecting the rich complexities of gender identity and gender expression, choosing instead a barrage of stereotypes and sometimes offensive diction. This despite an impressive performance by Ripley...One needs to accept ‘The Pink Unicorn’ for what it is: the beginning of conversation and not the conclusion of the quest.”
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