Initiative (The Public)

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 10:25pm

Surprised there isn't already a thread for this.

A world premiere five hour play from an emerging playwright might seem daunting, but boy did this hit the mark for me.

Set during the first W. Bush administartion the show follows seven teenagers between 2000-2004, most of them outcasts, some of whom form a Dungeons & Dragons group.

Too say more gives away the magic of the play very much in debt to Annie Baker but also in homage to the literary work of Salinger, Fitzgerald and Steinbeck with a dash of Tolken.

If not for Liberation this would be in first position for me regarding next years Puilitzer conversation, it is a painful and funny and aching rendering of young people at a time when it seemed the world was going to end.

I can not recommend it more highly.

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:21pm

I'm very much on the fence about seeing this. It looks interesting, but five hours is such a commitment. Will need to hear more word of mouth.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/16/25 at 11:30pm

it is actually closer to 4hr and 30min, 3 acts at 90 minute each with intermissions 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:28am

I've heard mixed things on this one.  It's a purposefully quick run for the Public.  It isn't selling well with it's young and green writer and director partners in work, and life. 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 5:12am

I really dug this when I saw it this weekend. It is a marathon but I’ve seen full one acts that feel longer than each act of this did. 

There’s some really beautiful character writing and moments. The D&D games are fun. Ensemble flows together nicely. 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The main thing holding it back for me is the final twist. It was obvious the one character was going to have a tragic end but I don’t know if the other needed to die as well. 

I’d also love to read the script/see this again in a future life. 

It was sold out online but not everyone showed. It did get that early extension though so I hope it finds an audience.

Saw Vincentelli there so she’s probably reviewing it for the Times - opens Thursday if I’m not mistaken. 

Updated On: 11/17/25 at 05:12 AM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 10:23am

theatergoer3 said: "I really dugthis when I saw it this weekend. It is a marathonbut I’ve seen full one acts that feel longer than each act of this did.

There’s some really beautiful character writing and moments. The D&D games are fun. Ensemble flows together nicely.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The main thing holding it back for me is the final twist. It was obvious the one character was going to have a tragic end but I don’t know if the other needed to die as well.

I’d also love to read the script/see this again in a future life.
It was sold out online but not everyone showed. It did get that early extension though so I hope it finds an audience.

Saw Vincentellithere so she’s probably reviewing it for the Times - opens Thursday if I’m not mistaken."

Responding to your spoiler box

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I think the way the play invokes The Great Gatsby and other turn or the prior century literary work, I wasn't surprised that both of those characters died, they represented two sides of the high school coin, the loner gay writer and the cocky jock who goes out of control, it also invokes so many stories you hear about "high schooler dies tragically right before graduation" does it hit some troope notes, yes but I think it is saved by the performances and how much time you spend with these people (4hr 40 minutes of stage time, four years of play timelin)

 

 Responding Toy Your Spoiler

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 12:44pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "theatergoer3 said: "I really dugthis when I saw it this weekend. It is a marathonbut I’ve seen full one acts that feel longer than each act of this did.

There’s some really beautiful character writing and moments. The D&D games are fun. Ensemble flows together nicely.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The main thing holding it back for me is the final twist. It was obvious the one character was going to have a tragic end but I don’t know if the other needed to die as well.

I’d also love to read the script/see this again in a future life.
It was sold out online but not everyone showed. It did get that early extension though so I hope it finds an audience.

Saw Vincentellithere so she’s probably reviewing it for the Times - opens Thursday if I’m not mistaken."

Responding to your spoiler box

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

I think the way the play invokes The Great Gatsby and other turn or the prior century literary work, I wasn't surprised that both of those characters died, they represented two sides of the high school coin, the loner gay writer and the cocky jock who goes out of control, it also invokes so many stories you hear about "high schooler dies tragically right before graduation" does it hit some troope notes, yes but I think it is saved by the performances and how much time you spend with these people (4hr 40 minutes of stage time, four years of play timelin)

 

Responding Toy Your Spoiler

"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

That’s a good catch and I didn’t think of it that way. The performances really do sell it. 

Maybe a bit on the nose but I liked having the audience be the graduation audience at the end. After that runtime, like you mentioned, it felt earned. 

 

[malcs98]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 2:45pm

I'm seeing it on Wednesday (technically I was invited by the Public) but i'm very curious it says in the content warning for the show it says it contains nudity? I'm just wondering how much is there?

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 2:53pm

malcs98 said: "I'm seeing it on Wednesday (technically I was invited by the Public) but i'm very curious it says in the content warning for the show it says it contains nudity? I'm just wondering how much is there?"

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

some male frontal nudity but it is down at the back of the stage and not explict in nature

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 11/17/25 at 2:54pm

malcs98 said: "I'm seeing it on Wednesday (technically I was invited by the Public) but i'm very curious it says in the content warning for the show it says it contains nudity? I'm just wondering how much is there?"

 

How does one get "technically invited" (as opposed to just plain old "invited")?

 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 11/18/25 at 12:08pm

Big feature in the Times - 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/theater/initiative-else-went-public-theater.html

[raddersons]

Posted: 11/21/25 at 11:17am

Absolutely stellar reviews. Very exciting. It’s on TDF for a bunch of dates. Grab them while you can. 

Holdren’s Vulture review: https://www.vulture.com/article/theater-review-initiative-else-went-public-theater.html

Updated On: 11/21/25 at 11:17 AM

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 11/21/25 at 12:34pm

raddersons said: "Absolutely stellar reviews. Very exciting.It’s on TDF for a bunch of dates. Grab them while you can.

Holdren’s Vulture review:https://www.vulture.com/article/theater-review-initiative-else-went-public-theater.html"

Holdren’s Vulture review is really nice and captured a lot of what I loved about this show.