FISH IN THE DARK Reviews (Official)

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 11:06am

Greetings and Salutations!

Today is Thursday, March 5, celebrating the OPENING NIGHT of Larry David's Broadway playwriting (and acting) debut, FISH IN THE DARK.

Post 'em here, kids!

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:14pm

amNY is positive with 3 out of 4 stars!

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/fish-in-the-dark-review-larry-david-s-show-is-prett-ay-prett-ay-prett-ay-good-1.10019819

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:17pm

Time is mixed, calling it "hardly devoid of laughs" but also "mediocre" considering the heights of Larry David's talents:

http://time.com/3732099/larry-david-fish-in-the-dark-broadway-review/

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:25pm

Reviews will be like a fly on an elephants ass. They will not matter in the slightest.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:26pm

NBC New York is mostly negative, stating what we've all expected, i.e. hardcore fans of Larry David will be thrilled, but the average theatergoer will be underwhelmed:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/the-scene/larry-david-fish-dark-review-295167591.html

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 8:33pm

Time Out New York is positive giving it 4 out of 5 stars and a Critics Pick, calling it a night of "huge, rolling laughs":

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/fish-in-the-dark

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 9:04pm

The Hollywood Reporter is positive calling it a "spirited throwback" to old Broadway and Neil Simon-era comedies:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/larry-davids-fish-dark-theater-779483?utm_source=twitter

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 9:07pm

Newsday is mixed calling it "a Broadway throwback, brightened by Larry David," saying that everyone around him seemed to love the show while he wished he was in on the joke:

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/theater/fish-in-the-dark-review-larry-david-s-toilet-jokes-1.10011559


Updated On: 3/5/15 at 09:07 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 9:13pm

Deadline is mostly positive, calling it "Very funny. Occasionally very, very funny. Four-star funny," praising much of the cast (like Rita Wilson, who is giving her "best stage performance"), but also noting that David's schtick can grow wearying:

http://deadline.com/2015/03/larry-david-fish-in-the-dark-review-broadway-1201386962/

Updated On: 3/5/15 at 09:13 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 9:25pm

L.A. Times is negative saying that the play "thinks too small screen," and is mostly cliché, but acknowledges that there are "laughs to be sure":

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-larry-david-fish-in-the-dark-review-20150306-column.html

Updated On: 3/5/15 at 09:25 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 9:41pm

Huffington Post is positive, calling it "an absurdistly daffy laff fest":

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-suskin/aisle-view-whose-fish-is_b_6813108.html

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:05pm

The New York Times is negative, with Brantley giving us another one of his gems:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/theater/review-fish-in-the-dark-larry-davids-antic-broadway-debut.html?_r=0

[atuomala]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:07pm

As if the reviews even matter for this show. The run is already completely sold out.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:08pm

The Guardian is positive giving the show 4 out to 5 stars:

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/mar/05/fish-in-the-dark-review-larry-david-broadway-death-etiquette

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:09pm

USA Today is positive with three out of four stars:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/theater/2015/03/05/fish-in-the-dark-broadway-review/24323929/

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:12pm

Variety is positive, especially praising the strength of the ensemble of "outrageously funny Larry David-ish characters":

http://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/fish-in-the-dark-review-larry-david-broadway-1201446406/

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:14pm

The Washington Post is mixed, calling it "middling," and saying, like many others, that fans of Larry will love the show, but others may not be so enthralled:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/all-the-standard-larry-david-neuroses-now-on-broadway/2015/03/05/89628566-c360-11e4-a188-8e4971d37a8d_story.html

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:14pm

The New York Daily News is positive, giving it 4 out of 5 stars:

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/theater-arts/fish-dark-review-larry-david-hooks-fun-comedy-article-1.2137659 Updated On: 3/5/15 at 10:14 PM

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:16pm

The New York Post is mixed, giving the show 2.5 out of 4 stars, and saying David is the only reason to see the play:

http://nypost.com/2015/03/05/larry-david-delivers-larry-david-ness-in-broadway-debut-fish-in-the-dark/

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:17pm

Vulture is mixed-to-positive, saying the show is "well built, occasionally thoughtful, and consistently very funny if not transcendently so":

http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/theater-review-fish-in-the-dark.html

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:19pm

TheaterMania is mixed-to-positive, here's the review in a nutshell:

But is Fish in the Dark a good play? The story is all over the place, and the second act doesn't continue the narrative as much as tell an entirely new one. And it would probably benefit from a shorter run time filled with more straight laughs than its current two hours of amusing peaks and dry valleys. For a Seinfeld and Curb diehard, though, it's impossible to discount the amount of joy that comes from watching David's antics in the flesh. In that respect, Fish in the Dark is more than pretty good, it's pretty great.

http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/fish-in-the-dark_71969.html

Updated On: 3/5/15 at 10:19 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:23pm

"As if the reviews even matter for this show. The run is already completely sold out."

True, but one still has to wonder if it'll even end up being a player come Awards Season...

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:28pm

"As if the reviews even matter for this show. The run is already completely sold out."

True, but one still has to wonder if it'll even end up being a player come Awards Season...

I think the genre of the show - comedy, pure and simple - hurts it more than anything else: Even the recent winner Vanya, Sonia, Masha, and Spike, which was by-and-large a comedy, had some dramatic heft and the nods to dramatic giant Chekov. The reviews for Fish in the Dark have been mostly positive, regardless, so I don't think this affects it's chances.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/5/15 at 10:52pm

The Times is negative and reads more like Brantley desperately trying to explain he has a sense of humor.

"Yeah, I know. You probably have to be there — except in this case you probably don’t."


Review: Fish in the Dark

Updated On: 3/5/15 at 10:52 PM

Posted: 3/6/15 at 12:01am

The Wall Street Journal is negative:

"Imagine a Neil Simon play without a plot—or three bottom-drawer episodes of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' hastily knocked together into a two-hour script -- and you'll get the idea."

"Todd Rosenthal's sets cost a lot of money."



'Fish in the Dark' Review: Enthusiasm, Curbed