Reality and fantasy are interwoven in this two-hander from Tennessee Williams, as two actors on tour―brother and sister―find themselves deserted in a decrepit "state theatre in an unknown state." More…
From the show:
The ultimate brother-and-sister act, Clare and Felice, a pair of genetically matched hams who combine the narcissism, fearfulness, shabbiness and splendor of every actor who ever walked the boards. Tonight they must put on "The Two Character Play" no less than brilliantly, for it might mean the end of their tour. They are competitive and codependent in a fierce, scary way that is particularly associated with show people and siblings. Just put them on a stage, then step back and watch them burn, possibly to a pile of ashes.
See it if A well acted play. Good direction and lighting. Not one of Williams best plays,however.
Don't see it if Beginning and end better than the middle where Williams writes the 2 character play. Off stage was entertaining the play part was sloooow
See it if you’d like to see a late work of Tennessee Williams, a dip into Theater of the Absurd, not often performed.
Don't see it if you’re hoping that this late Tennessee Williams play is a simple update of earlier work.
Also I was glad to see this imperfect production of an imperfect but fascin... Read more Read less
See it if A Tennessee Williams fan "Must See. ." Written on his downward spiral.Semi auto biographical. 13th Street Rep.is a cozy intimate theater.
Don't see it if Not a FUN kind of show. Disturbing at times. Two performers.
See it if you want a complete understanding of all Tennessee Williams plays but know this is offbeat, biographical and goes a bit long for the subject
Don't see it if you do not relate to dysfunction between brother and sister actors forced to deal with each other on and off stage in a stationary plot.
See it if you are a Tennessee Williams fan and are interested in his thoughts on theater and performers.
Don't see it if you have high expectations. This performance lacks the finesse needed to bring across the delicate contradictions in the writing.
See it if Traumatised acting siblings rehearse and attempt to stay grounded to the reality of their lives and to the dialogue in their fictional play.
Don't see it if Line drawn between actor and character is slim, so concentration is of the import. The lighting cues seem to muddle the meta experiment.
See it if you would like to see a rarely performed play of TW. Interesting staging. Very unlike style of most of TW's plays.
Don't see it if you want to see only TW's best plays or like a larger venue.
Also It was sometimes confusing to tell whether the actors were acting on s... Read more Read less
See it if If you’re a true Williams fan and can endure the later works.
Don't see it if You’re not near a PhD in Williams’s works.
See it if you must see every work by Tennessee Williams staged in some way; enjoy intimate, quirky, 90-minute productions that make you think deeply.
Don't see it if you need your drama to wrap-up neatly and clearly; you need more spectacle and elaborate set-designs; you’re expecting traditional Williams.
Also The Two Character Play is an experimental Tennessee Williams work: a p... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a semi- autobiographical show by one of America's great playwrights. Great set, decent acting.
Don't see it if when writers become self-exploratory it usually result in something less than greatness and it becomes intolerable to you.
Also There are many families that live their lives engulfed by the mental i... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see all of TW's plays, especially this semi autobiographical story.
Don't see it if You're not ready for blurred lines between when they are "in the play" and out of the play. The lighting became more confusing than helpful.
See it if you are fascinated by Tennessee Williams’ obsession with mental illness and human weakness and the restorative transformative power of love.
Don't see it if you are irreconcilably morose from plays about mental illness and poverty, prefer shorter comedies, more than two actors, or scene changes
See it if ..to see an autobiographical play by Williams.It's a play within a play & it's hard at times to figure out which u'r watching.Good acting.
Don't see it if you prefer lighter fare; dislike plays w/o an easy resolution. Dislike being confused as to what is/is not "reality."
See it if You are a Tennessee Williams completionist. You like small, intimate productions.
Don't see it if You aren't into experimental theatre forms or have trouble following a complicated plot structure.
See it if You're up for a theatrical labor of love and a fine example of skill, imagination and talent trumping low budgets. Williams would be pleased
Don't see it if Your brain insists on sequential narrative or has calcified past wonder; truth most often lies between the cracks, so go with it or don't go
Also This is an amazingly rich, detailed and textured production—especially... Read more Read less
See it if you really love Williams and want to see him indulging in a new playwriting style that diverges from his naturalistic trademark style.
Don't see it if I think the contemporary reception of the play had it about right: it was a miss, but not a mess. Intelligent, irksome, interesting, obscure
See it if You like acting that is fairly good.
Don't see it if You don’t want to see a play that is a little slow and confusing.
See it if you like Williams' plays and don't need a well defined plot
Don't see it if you want a straight linear plot
Also Alot of the laugh lines are funnier if you work in theatre.
See it if You appreciate Tennessee Williams and the poetry of human feeling in his language, you'll see this good production of a lesser work.
Don't see it if You have no patience with ambiguity and confusion in an abstract work. If you hated "Godot" you won't like this.
See it if Tennessee Williams intrigues & enchants you; you like small companies & emerging artists (actors & director all fall in that category).
Don't see it if you dislike Williams or theater of the absurd.
Also Reportedly, Williams took 10 years to write this play, where he loosel... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see late TW in an experimental mood in a semi-autobiographical play based on his real life relationship with his mad sister
Don't see it if you want to see everything Williams wrote despite the failure of this piece to impress audiences or critics; well acted despite C- material
See it if you enjoy complex two character dialogues with lots of bending of roles and context that interweave to tell a basically sad story.
Don't see it if you mind some confusion and meta-theatrical dialogue. You mind that the play within a play is comic while the wrapper play is dark.
Also I think the play is very interesting. I can see it being confusing how... Read more Read less
See it if Beautiful language and fine acting in a nice space. It's not an amazing play, but it's a good one.
Don't see it if It's depressing. It (spoiler alert) breaks Chekov's rule. This is a seldom-produced for a reason play, but worth seeing once. Esp. here.
See it if Interesting depiction of the Tennessee Williams play by two wonderful actors. A little over-the-top at times
Don't see it if I did find myself losing interest the last 15 minutes or so. However made for a decent night out at the theater.
See it if You are a fan of TW. Fascinating play within a play structure. Heartbreaking characters and story. Fine acting; wonderfully intimate theater
Don't see it if You are looking for a light, uplifting play with uncomplicated characters