Butler NYC Reviews and Tickets

89%
(68 Ratings)
Positive
96%
Mixed
3%
Negative
1%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Clever, Intelligent, Funny

About the Show

Based on true events, Richard Strand's dramedy explores a Northern Civil War Major General's ethical dilemma about slavery.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (68)

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140 Reviews | 33 Followers
100
Absorbing, Clever, Funny, Great acting, Intense

See it if You are interested in less widely known history about real persons during the Civil War; you love great acting and great dialogue.

Don't see it if You are bored by history or historical fiction; you are not delighted by the mastery of language.

80 Reviews | 51 Followers
100
Absorbing, Must see, Masterful, Great writing, Great acting

See it if Want to see a quality show. History brilliant. Wonderful acting. I can easily se Butler in bright lights on Broadway!

Don't see it if If you want a great show w/ wonderful actors, writing, story!

200 Reviews | 24 Followers
100
Great acting, Great writing, Intelligent, Riveting, Thought-provoking

See it if Want to be totally entertained with great acting, writing, and a thought provoking topic.

Don't see it if Just see it. It's great!!!

257 Reviews | 26 Followers
100
Riveting, Must see, Absorbing, Astounding

See it if You want to see a marvelous dramatization of an actual piece of history that's funny and absorbing.

Don't see it if You don't like excellent theater if it has to do with Civil War history.

83 Reviews | 118 Followers
95
Absorbing, Clever, Great writing, Great acting, Must see

See it if you enjoy incredibly well written and acted plays about complicated and controversial issues, and have a sense of humor.

Don't see it if you struggle to understand very rapid dialogue, are easily offended by issues of race, or do not enjoy period pieces.

106 Reviews | 75 Followers
95
Absorbing, Entertaining, Must see, Relevant

See it if you love GREAT acting and need a history lesson not often talked about. Funny and so heart breaking at the same time. Go see it!

Don't see it if you only like flashy productions that say absolutely nothing. don't want to be reminded of a part of history that we should be ashamed of.

536 Reviews | 279 Followers
95
Absorbing, Clever, Delightful, Entertaining, Great acting, writing, and directing

See it if you enjoy historical plays with a dash of humor! It is very relevant to today's world.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy historical plays.

62 Reviews | 30 Followers
95
Absorbing, Entertaining, Funny, Intelligent, Clever

See it if A jewel of a play. This play about a civil war event is intelligent, well staged and acted and very funny. Run don't walk to see it.

Don't see it if You only like musicals.

Critic Reviews (30)

NY1
July 29th, 2016

"As delightfully engaging as it is astonishingly true…Its charm comes from playwright Richard Strand’s amusingly nuanced characterizations…The excellent cast are period perfect. Best of all, Ames Adamson's irascible Butler and John G.Williams scrappy Mallory emerge quite convincingly as kindred spirits. Directed by Discher with an eye for comedy and drama, 'Butler' is quite a marvelous feat - a boffo character study and suspense yarn spun from little more than a loophole in the law."
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Theatermania
July 27th, 2016

"Richard Strand's 'Butler' might just be the funniest play ever written about Civil War-era slavery...'Butler' tackles a serious subject in a way that is simultaneously thought-provoking and sidesplitting...In his own humorous and very watchable way, Strand hits at a larger truth: specifically, that the arc of the moral universe is often bent toward justice by the sophistry of prickly, stubborn individuals."
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BroadwayWorld
July 28th, 2016

“With an extraordinary, artful script by Richard Strand, meticulous direction by Joseph Discher and four excellent actors, the show is a wonderfully staged, unforgettable story of humanity...More than an entertaining show, it is a significant piece of theater and a timeless exploration of social conscience and individual responsibility. In the current climate of political discord, it is a refreshing look at how men of very different backgrounds find a sense of commonality.”
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Lighting & Sound America
July 28th, 2016

“The director can't do much with the interminable early scenes, but, under the limitations imposed here, his handling of the second act is fairly solid...Throughout, there's a nagging question of taste: Is this racially fraught moment really the right time for a reassuring comic fairy tale about the ugliest mass crime in American history? I will add that the audience at my performance-which was 99% white-ate it all up with a spoon. I suspect that a black audience wouldn't be nearly as amused.”
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Talkin' Broadway
July 27th, 2016

"The playwright has accomplished two fairly remarkable things. First, he has taken an actual historic event and characters and turned it into an engrossing, non-pedantic play…More surprising, the play is delightfully funny, packed with wit, farce, and slapstick…Each of the characters is splendidly realized, and the production is first-rate all around...All told, this is a terrific show for history buffs and for anyone who can appreciate the savvy mixture of a serious topic with a comic touch."
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CurtainUp
July 27th, 2016

"Though 'Butler' is indeed talky, it's never a dry history lesson. The talk between Butler and Mallory is both amusing and witty…It was the playwright's challenge to put his own spin on the people involved so that they would be compelling characters rather than documentary style talking heads. In meeting that challenge, Strand has created a play that will have a solid life."
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TheaterScene.net
August 1st, 2016

“‘Butler’ is a tale of conscience, courage and transcendence. As Major General Benjamin Butler, Ames Adamson has risen to power but is faced with a decision that could change the game for slavery in America. Many of the themes surrounding a nation divided such as injustice, prejudice and lack of understanding remain extremely relevant today. Instead of ignoring the issues or using power as the only weapon, ‘Butler’ uses empathy and understanding as a means to connect.”
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Theatre is Easy
July 29th, 2016

"'Butler's' amazingly talented writer Richard Strand makes great use of such spectacular attention to the detailed specificity of language. Every word is included for a reason…Adamson, Sterling, Williams, and Sitler all are masters at their craft...Each component of the production works seamlessly together, from the clever script and these wonderful actors, to director Joseph Discher, who displays their gifts in the best possible light."
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