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Mankind at Playwrights Horizons

Mankind at Playwrights Horizons

Alfie6
#1Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/17/17 at 12:13am

I am mixed to negative on this one, the premise was fascinating but a lot just didn't click and it felt unnessarily long. Basically, it is 100 years in the future and women have become extinct, men can (and do) get pregnant becoming victims to all the laws limiting reproductive rights from the bygone days when women were a thing and those laws were enacted. In this new world abortion is not just limited it is full on classified as first degree murder. As a side note, Hamilton the Musical is also really popular in this new world since one of the characters has a massive poster from the show on his bedroom wall. I guess in the future half the species is gone but hey Broadway is still around so that's exciting. The first half of the show is a real slow burn, at intermission I didn't see where it was going since there wasn't much conflict. This play tries to tackle so much but whatever it's point was just got lost on me. The show ran 2 hours and 15 mins with one 15 min intermission. 

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macnyc
#2Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/17/17 at 12:51am

Thanks for your report! Was the play funny?

Alfie6
#3Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/17/17 at 9:47am

I did not find it funny overall- the first scene is the only one I would personally would consider funny, not because there's any really smart or witty dialogue more just because of the total absurdity of these two "dudes" talking about being pregnant but this premise gets old fast in the long run time. The show is very repetitive and the first scene happens again  probably another two times at least. One woman behind me was laughing loudly throughout the night so I guess she found it hysterical. 

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macnyc
#4Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/17/17 at 11:02am

I think O'Hara shouldn't be directing his own works. I thought Boortycandy was brilliant and hilarious, but it definitely needed someone to trim out the dead spots. Maybe I'll skip Mankind. Thanks for your comments!

nmlhats
#5Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/18/17 at 9:30am

"One woman behind me was laughing loudly throughout the night so I guess she found it hysterical."

The comment above makes me wonder if women would find it funnier than men? People who have seen it, if you don't mind, please let us know if you're male or female. I apologize if this idea offends anyone. I have two trips to NYC during its run, and one is with girlfriends, so I am wondering if the eye of the beholder might make any difference in enjoyment.

mamaleh
#6Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/18/17 at 10:41am

I saw the first preview.  While the premise was interesting, the execution was anything but.  I was bored out of my wits at this excruciatingly overlong play.  The players try hard, but it's no use. 

VintageSnarker
#7Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/19/17 at 6:37am

I'm a little iffy on a premise that seems to... support women's issues (I'm intentionally being vague as the marketing has been so far) that manages to have the same problem of excusing another all-male cast.

theateraddiction
#8Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/24/17 at 3:21pm

Today's 2:30pm performance was cancelled, due to an automation issue with the turntable on which the play takes place.

josiahjosiah
#9Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/29/17 at 12:20pm

Any more recent reports on this? I have tickets for next week, but I am really sitting on the fence as to whether this will be a good use of my very limited theatre time. Would love to here some more opinions from any viewers. Thanks!

Theater3232
#10Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 12/29/17 at 2:10pm

Very disappointing.  Take a pass.

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little_sally
#11Mankind at Playwrights Horizons
Posted: 1/12/18 at 10:41am

I actually really liked it. I found it fun and funny, and had a really good time. It's much better than the last few things I've seen at PH (The Treasurer, For Peter Pan..., Bella). I agree that the second half doesn't quite live up to the promise of the first act, and I wish O'Hara had fleshed his world out a bit more but this is definitely one of the better things I've seen lately. Loved the set and cast as well.


A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.


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