Chris Gethard: Career Suicide NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (120)
See it if just see it, it's an incredible whirlwind of emotion
Don't see it if you can't possibly get to the theater before January 8th
See it if I've seen this show 3 times. Twice when it was at Union Hall. Love Chris! This show is better than therapy. Truly a joy!
Don't see it if you are judgmental of mental illness issues.
See it if You like solo shows that are deep and insightful.
Don't see it if If you want a classic stage play with all the trimmings
See it if Raw, honest. So important! Everyone should see it. Not about being entertained... and self and truth.
Don't see it if You want a traditional show or are expecting guffaw comedy.
See it if you want to see a great example of engaging and honest storytelling
Don't see it if the topics are too personal or resonant for you
See it if You enjoy deeply personal performances told with honesty and humor. What a privilege to see this show!
Don't see it if If you are uncomfortable with depression, then you definitely must see this show to remove those fears. Everyone should see this show.
See it if you can handle a very funny , brave young man tell of his struggles while delivering a Tour de force performance .
Don't see it if you don't want to see a show based on a man's learning to live with depression and suicidal thoughts
See it if you like a well-written one man show that combines comedy with compassion.
Don't see it if You don't like solo performances, you have no sympathy or interest in mental problems.
Critic Reviews (22)
"While solo shows about tough times and garden-variety depression are not exactly rare flora on the theater scene, Mr. Gethard, who confesses he’s been depressive since he was a preteen, confronts with a bruising and sometimes hilarious frankness his longstanding urge to pull the plug on himself...Mr. Gethard’s delivery often belies — thank goodness — the dark waters he swims through...He definitely qualifies as significantly funny."
Read more
"Depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and graphic descriptions of the horrific side effects of psychotropic medications are not normally the stuff of which comedy shows are made...Fortunately for both him and us, he does it so entertainingly that the show's title, 'Chris Gethard: Career Suicide,' is unlikely to prove prophetic...That he manages to be simultaneously funny and moving while doing so is the key to the success of the show, sensitively directed by Kimberly Senior."
Read more
"Gethard is part stand-up comic and part poignant storyteller, moving seamlessly between self-deprecating jokes and heart-wrenching moments...While suicide attempts, alcoholic blackouts, and graphic stories about pharmaceutical side effects don't seem like fodder for comedy, Gethard skillfully makes them funny without ever losing sight of the seriousness of his subject matter. He pulls this off partly because he's talking about his own life, but also because he is unflinchingly honest."
Read more
"The short, bespectacled, seemingly serene Gethard proves to be an expert guide to his own personal Via Dolorosa, never playing his suffering for an easy laugh, yet never losing sight of the absurdity of his situation...It's a high-wire balancing act, and his director, Kimberly Senior, must share the credit for seeing that he never puts a foot wrong...'Career Suicide' becomes surprisingly moving as Gethard finally begins to find an equilibrium that allows him to flourish professionally."
Read more
"Gethard comes across as incredibly genuine and sincere, in his desire both to tell his story and to provide comfort to others who have gone through what he has and continue to fight the good fight every day. Although not everyone will relate to references to medications and their side effects, Gethard does a service by opening up...He shows the pitfalls of remaining silent about one's struggles, and also how much better it can be through humor and hope."
Read more
"This show packs comedy with pathos and tragedy with laughter in a masterful mixture...Gethard has a vibrant ear for telling description...This narrator is someone you grow quite fond of as the show proceeds...He’s ready for anything, in the moment, in control of the room...This show manages to be a sad, funny, full-throttle, honest, life-giving journey...Timing is everything, and Gethard is a master."
Read more
"Gethard simply tells us the real absurd truth about himself, his longtime companion, Clinical Depression, and the rather unconventional, often scary dark, sometimes slightly scandalous, truly silly trip they have taken together...Director Kimberly Senior employs a raw method of storytelling that is without overly theatric distractions. Nothing feels contrived...Gethard is an excellent host who will make sure you have a good time."
Read more
"It is a delight to spend any amount of time in his thrall. Yet I can’t help but marvel at how closely 'Career Suicide' hews to every stereotype of one-man shows, right down to Gethard reenacting conversations by taking a step to the side and turning his head. He’s an incredibly skilled improvisor, a thoughtful conversationalist and a wholly fearless dismantler of form...For all of 'Career Suicide’s' soul-plumbing honesty, there’s still a tangible barrier between performer and audience."
Read more