IS THIS A ROOM - Reviews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 6:27pm

Another opnin another show, this time one of the two in repertory at the Lyceum! Tonight its IS THIS A ROOM. Post reviews here.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 9:58pm

Critics have chimed in. It appears to be a ‘must-see’.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-IS-THIS-A-ROOM-Opens-On-Broadway-20211011

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 9:59pm

NY Times is a rave.

"...a 65-minute verbatim transcript has now become the basis for one of the thrillingest thrillers ever to hit Broadway."

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/11/theater/is-this-a-room-review.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nyttheater

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:11pm

Vulture: "Is This a Room Asks Questions America Can’t Answer"

https://www.vulture.com/2021/10/theater-review-is-this-a-room-on-broadway.html

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:13pm

Variety: Formally Daring Docudrama Comes to Broadway

https://variety.com/2021/legit/reviews/is-this-a-room-review-broadway-1235086194/

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:14pm

Deadline: The Unnerving Interrogation Of Reality Winner As Impeccable Drama

https://deadline.com/2021/10/is-this-a-room-broadway-review-reality-winner-interrogation-1234853556/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:17pm

AMNY: ....positive?

https://www.amny.com/entertainment/broadway/review-fbi-transcript-inspires-broadway-drama-is-this-a-room/

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:18pm

TimeOut: 4 stars

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/is-this-a-room-broadway-review-reality-winner

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 10:44pm

Now I need to see this.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/11/21 at 11:52pm

ctorres23 said: "NYTimes is a rave.

"...a 65-minute verbatim transcript has now become the basis for one of the thrillingest thrillers ever to hit Broadway."

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/11/theater/is-this-a-room-review.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nyttheater"

 

Interesting how this shows lead producer went on about how Chicken & Biscuits wasn't reviewed by people of color, but when the same white critic who reviewed that show gives his a rave, no longer an issue about critical representation

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 8:58am

@BoringBored

An hour before you posted that, Ayanna Prescod wrote on Twitter “I’m only reading reviews written by underrepresented voices this season.” So no, this is not just an issue of one show, and nobody was saying it was. And she Tweeted that as the reviews for “Is This a Room” were coming out.

Even if she hadn’t Tweeted that though, I’m a little perplexed by your logic. If she hadn’t made that larger statement, my first assumption would’ve been: she already brought up the issue just a few days ago with C&B, where it was more immediately relevant. And one can easily assume that she was speaking to an ongoing issue about representation, not just one show, so it wouldn’t have been 100% necessary to bring it up again a couple days later specifically about “Is This a Room.” Her point stood either way. It’s not like she expected all the publications to hire more Black critics within those 2 days.

Also, she’s not a lead producer, she’s an associate producer. Which is neither here nor there, just a correction. Although I guess it does grant her a little bit more flexibility if she chooses not to read all the reviews as she says.

https://twitter.com/AyannaPrescod/status/1447748990473232388?s=20

[kwoc91]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 10:10am

Will definitely try to snag a rush ticket for this soon.

Interesting note in the Vulture review regarding the transition to a much larger space/audience:

I have adored it everywhere I’ve seen it, but the huge box of the Lyceum does change the dynamics of Satter’s extraordinary staging, making it seem both more gorgeous and more severe. Even at a distance, the translucent Davis grips the audience, but you should sit close to get the full impact of her microscopically observed performance: the way her eyelids shake, how fear crawls up the muscles in her throat. A Broadway theater is not just a different stage-space, though. It’s not just about scale. The people in that room will have different preoccupations and expectations from those audiences who greeted it rapturously downtown. I’m curious, and a little fearful, about how that will go.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 10:23am

was supposed to tomorrow's matinee via TDF but was just emailed that the show was canceled. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 10:26am

Ugh....I'd forgotten about this somehow!  Wasn't planning to return to the city before Feb....but that might just have to change!

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 12:32pm

JBroadway said: "@BoringBored

An hour before you posted that, Ayanna Prescod wrote on Twitter “I’m only reading reviews written by underrepresented voices this season.” So no, this is not just an issue of one show, and nobody was saying it was. And she Tweeted that as the reviews for “Is This a Room” were coming out.

Even if she hadn’t Tweeted that though, I’m a little perplexed by your logic. If she hadn’t made that larger statement, my first assumption would’ve been: she already brought up the issue just a few days ago with C&B, where it was more immediately relevant. And one can easily assume that she was speaking to an ongoing issue about representation, not just one show, so it wouldn’t have been 100% necessary to bring it up again a couple days later specifically about “Is This a Room.” Her point stood either way. It’s not like she expected all the publications to hire more Black critics within those 2 days.

Also, she’s not a lead producer, she’s an associate producer. Which is neither here nor there, just a correction. Although I guess it does grant her a little bit more flexibility if she chooses not to read all the reviews as she says.

https://twitter.com/AyannaPrescod/status/1447748990473232388?s=20"

I was referring to Matt Ross not her, but thanks for playing

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/12/21 at 1:38pm

Well, foot is firmly in the mouth on that one - my apologies. In the other thread We’ve been discussing to death Prescod and her ties to Is This a Room, as it relates to her role as a critic. So I assumed this was a response to that. I stand corrected. 

However, I stand by the part of my post quoted below, because it still applies to Matt Ross (pronouns excepted)

JBroadway said: "she already brought up the issue just a few days ago with C&B, where it was more immediately relevant. And one can easily assume that she was speaking to an ongoing issue about representation, not just one show, so it wouldn’t have been 100% necessary to bring it up again a couple days later specifically about “Is This a Room.” Her point stood either way. It’s not like she expected all the publications to hire more Black critics within those 2 days.” 

And an addendum to refer to Matt Ross’s comments: it’s not that he’s suggesting he should disregard any and all opinions from white critics, so his pride over the Times review doesn’t feel out of place time. Again, it’s just about adding more representation to garner a wider range of perspectives, particularly on shows that weren’t meant for the dominating demographics in criticism. 

Updated On: 10/12/21 at 01:38 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 10/16/21 at 11:22pm

Thrilled to report that the orchestra appeared to be full for tonight’s performance! There were a few latecomers which was frustrating, but otherwise I was completely transfixed by the show. Wow!