The Siege NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (8)
See it if you want to learn a little about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Don't see it if you're looking to be deeply moved or get a new perspective from Palestinians
See it if you're interested in a better understand of political, historical events affected by deep rooted conflicts. Play humanizes the situation.
Don't see it if you're turned off by biased political discourses or need a lot of action
See it if you want to see a realistic and recent portrayal of what living and fighting through war is like.
Don't see it if you're not into theatre in another language about hot-button political topics.
See it if You like historical dramas based on true events.
Don't see it if You don’t like to read. The entire show is in subtitles. Read more
See it if You are interested in the unknown story behind a well-known event.
Don't see it if You feel uncomfortable about blood, gunshots, wars, violent and death. Read more
See it if you want intense drama about a lesser-known event in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Strong acting in taut (albeit repetitive) play.
Don't see it if you're not prepared for intense rage, violence, and despair among those under siege -- or a play in Arabic with English supertitles. Read more
See it if you like one dimensional characters who spout cliches while having to read subtitles that don't keep up with the script.
Don't see it if you want a dramatic play with characters of depth, understanding their motivations beyond superficial declarations.
See it if you want to see a totally fresh take on a familiar political standoff -- from a different point of view.
Don't see it if you are not prepared to shed stereotypes and change your western tunnel vision about the middle east.
Critic Reviews (12)
"This study of soldiers waiting out the standoff with diminishing supplies and stamina takes a naturalistic and overtly didactic approach...Dialogue that emphasizes exposition and theme over individual character...Despite the intrinsic suspense of the setup and the likability of the performers, ‘The Siege’ often registers as sincere but static, like an animated chapter from a partisan history book.”
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"'The Siege' is muddled, as both agitprop and drama. That may be a good thing, for as a work of human interest on a canvas of exposed nerves, the play has its compelling moments...The script and the direction are diffuse and undifferentiated, the personalities of each character not so much ill-defined as interchangeable...The play feels seriously underpopulated...I left feeling neither outraged nor radicalized, but only deeply dispirited. I think that’s as it should be."
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"The power of 'The Siege' is that it is told not with rage or rancor, not to punish or vindicate – but to remind us...A riveting 90-minute drama...Between scenes, video footage is projected on the upstage wall depicting the actual events of the siege. The effect is spellbinding and deeply moving...We feel the complexity and agony of the larger, seemingly endless conflict...This gripping, unforgettable story is being told by those who have earned the privilege to tell it."
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"The focus is on the emotions of the six men in the church, which makes it more important that the characters be fleshed out. But there are only a few tantalizing moments when their individuality emerges...The competent stagecraft goes only so far in driving the play forward; the few vivid attempts at specific characterization suggest how much deeper a drama 'The Siege' could have been."
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“You need not agree with that version of events to appreciate the work’s raw theatrical power. For ‘The Siege’ is indeed a skillful piece of agitprop that entertains no doubts about the rightness of its cause. It is also a gripping portrayal of the chaos, terror and tedium of battle...The combatants all remain a little too selfless and indomitable throughout...Stirring up such debates is exactly what political theatre is for. On that count, 'The Siege' succeeds hands down."
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"The text is neither radical enough to rouse us from our political apathy nor compelling enough to succeed dramatically."
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"“A gutsy play...There are moments between cultures which are truly poignant and thought provoking. Yet for all the humanity at stake, it is challenging to follow the narrative...It would have been helpful to offer more background and context within the production itself...On technical levels, 'The Siege' surpasses many Broadway quality shows...In spite of the shortcomings, one must admire the audacious spirit that inspires these artists and this company.”
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"The Freedom Theatre floods the imagination of their audience with a eulogy to resistance...Though not devoid of political agenda, this is an attempt to redress...the misrepresentation of the nature of Palestinian resistance...The six actors capture the subtle sense of their struggle’s futility in the face of an occupying force...This is not a clarion call to arms; it is an invitation to think, to learn, to share in the experience of the untold story."
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