Trifles

See it if you are a theater buff: this is a good production of an important, infrequently performed play by America’s 1st important woman playwright.

Don't see it if you don’t much care for 1-acts, or for semi-obscure plays rooted in another era.

Also This program by Hunger & Thirst Theatre pairs Susan Glaspell’s historic 1-act play “Trifles” (1916) with a new work written by a woman inspired by Glaspell. It will intrigue theater buffs & anyone interested in the rapidly shifting position of women in US society about the time they secured the right to vote. “Trifles”, a signature play by America’s 1st important woman playwright, feels proto-feminist. An absent woman is at its core. And it shows in the bold strokes of its spare plot how severely contemporary social norms could restrict a woman, but also how women, understanding each other’s plight, could work to help each other. How appropriate that the menfolk run around & discover little about a crime that has been committed, while the women, probing domestic trifles, crack the case but keep mum! The night I attended, Patricia Lynn’s fine, quiet, sharply observed, structurally sound, short play, “The Turtle Dove,” gave flesh to a couple much spoken of in “Trifles” but never seen.... Read more Read less

See it if Men investigating a murder get nowhere while women solve the crime by examining trifles.

Don't see it if You aren’t interested in a small production of a classic.

See it if you like shorts. 3 new Glaspell-inspired works follow Trifles. They are less pioneering but more entertaining.

Don't see it if Even though this story’s regularly revived on Law & Order and PBS Masterpiece Mysteries, this production highlights the play's datedness.

Also 3 playlets were presented after intermission. Trifles itself seemed slightly ridiculous (it would take a much more experienced cast to make this play not seem antiquated and off the mark), but the new works end the evening on a higher note. “The Cruise” by Victoroff was actually the highlight of the night.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in resuscitating a little-know woman playwright and enjoy nuanced scripts and acting.

Don't see it if An abrupt ending that leaves you wanting more will bother you.

Also Makes me want to know what else she wrote. A feminist at work.

See it if Great opportunity to see a classic short play by a very talented female writer.

Don't see it if You want a full length play. The evening is filled out with a contemporary mini play which was very good the night I went.

See it if You want to see an insightful play about women's solidarity & experiences. Susan Glaspell's work is underproduced given their importance.

Don't see it if You would get irritated by somewhat cliched male characters

Also This was fine but low cost production - the female actors were quite good.... Read more Read less

See it if An earnest production, but mostly of historical interest. Does not hold up for characters, insights, plot.

Don't see it if Seemed more like a snippet than a fully developed one-act play.

See it if you enjoy beautiful nuggets of writing with well-acted characters.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy one acts and need everything stated out in the open.

See it if If you enjoy short plays that are thought-provoking and deceptively simple with some great acting and writing!

Don't see it if You like only main-stream theatre that is commercial as this is in a lovely theatre in a church uptown and intimate.

See it if You like rural, historical mysteries that intersect with gender politics

Don't see it if you are looking for a substantial play. It was very short and bare bones

See it if u like under appreciated female voices in American theater history. Mixed bag in terms of acting performance, but female leads were great.

Don't see it if You're expecting a full-length evening of work. It's a one act. Left us wanting more.

See it if you enjoy murder mysteries and are interested in seeing shows that are set in the early 20th century.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of one act plays or of shows that take place in the past.

See it if You want to see a rarely performed early work

Don't see it if If you have no exposure to the show and won't know what you've missed.

Also I guess now is the time I should mention I love this play, and have since I read the short story in high school.

While earnestly performed, I think this production missed some of the heart of the actual drama and therefore what makes this play interesting. Instead, it seemed to be performed as a slice of life, which makes for less drama and a slow 40 minutes. Moments of subtext were rushed or skipped entirely, which left some of the important conversations that the show is about lost.... Read more Read less

See it if Want to see the work of an early feminist writer

Don't see it if Want a lengthy play

Also The speaker afterwards was boring and read directly from her notes and did not really engage the audience.... Read more Read less

See it if You like mysterious, intense dramas in intimate settings

Don't see it if You do not like dramas

See it if you want proper staging ang great blocking with great acting.

Don't see it if you don’t want to spend time and trouble going uptown for just a short as in short production.

See it if See it if you want to see a period piece with relevance today, based on true events that will stay with you.

Don't see it if Don't see it if you want a longer play for your money.

Also The play is based on an event that the playwright covered as a journalist in the early 20th century. Smart, pithy, with some very good acting. Shows how few choices women at that time had.... Read more Read less

See it if You’d like a unique opportunity to see a well written and acted play by a long forgotten excellent playwright

Don't see it if You do not enjoy shows from another era or need a more lengthy show

See it if you binge-watched The Handmaid's Tale. Even though the play was written almost a century ago, it still feels relevant today.

Don't see it if you need spectacle. It's a very simple production.