OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 9:34am

Landmark, Obie-winning playwright Adrienne Kennedy makes her long-awaited Broadway debut as her Ohio State Murders officially opens at Broadway's recently renamed James Earl Jones Theatre December 8. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald stars in the limited run, which began November 11 and will continue through February 12, 2023.  

McDonald, who leads the cast as Suzanne Alexander, is joined by Bryce Pinkham as Robert Hampshire, Lizan Mitchell as Mrs. Tyler/Miss Dawson/Aunt Louise, Mister Fitzgerald as David Alexander/Val, and Abigail Stephenson as Iris Ann. Rounding out the company as understudies are Christian Pedersen, Gayle Samuels, Brett Diggs, and Brooke Gardner.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 10:37am

I can imagine this being polarizing in the vein of this being either “a triumphant undiscovered gem” or “the longest, bloodless 75 minutes of my life”. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:30am

I agree with the above, I anticipate reviews to be pretty split.

One the one hand, McDonald is great. Her final moment is particularly gutting. The set is very cool. And it's a story that absolutely deserves to be told and is quite harrowing (and it's a tale that I had never been aware of).

But...the style of the piece leaves little room for dramatic tension. So much of it is narration and I don't think Leon differentiates enough moments, so much of the piece coasts along at the same energy level. It could use more "peaks and valleys" to the script to make it truly exceptional theater.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 8:08pm

The embargo will be lifted at 10:30. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 9:24pm

https://variety.com/2022/legit/reviews/ohio-state-murders-review-audra-mcdonald-broadway-1235454379/

"‘Ohio State Murders’ Review: Audra McDonald Stuns in Adrienne Kennedy’s Long-Awaited Broadway Debut"

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/ohio-state-murders-broadway-review-audra-mcdonald

4 out 5 stars

Updated On: 12/8/22 at 09:24 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 9:43pm

If you don't want spoilers, don't read The Wrap review.

[sppunk]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 10:20pm

Will the NYT post a review while the guild is on strike? If so, don’t click on it. 

[chanel]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 10:42pm

Village Voice is mixed to positive.

https://www.villagevoice.com/2022/12/08/audra-mcdonald-takes-ohio-state-murders-to-its-limit/

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:05pm

Its a rave from Jesse Green, for the direction, for the playwright and for Audra of course.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:10pm

NYT's Critic's Pick....for those who didn't click.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:32pm

DTLI Consensus: Audra McDonald kills it in the long-awaited Broadway debut of playwright Adrienne Kennedy. 

10 positive (including the NYT), 3 mixed.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/ohio-state-murders/

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:33pm

uncageg said: "NYT's Critic's Pick....for those who didn't click."

Clearly him and I are NOT gonna see eye to eye this season on anything.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:34pm

wow what show were these critics watching

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 1:44am

Glad to see this show get well-deserved strong reviews. It's a haunting, difficult play, and exactly the kind of piece that critics should promote.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 5:23am

Very positive review from Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 8:55am

I'll be honest, in a mixture of Audra McDonald, the Broadway debut of Adrienne Kennedy, and the subject matter would only pull positive or mixed reviews. I never really doubted the aclaim the show would get. Earned or not.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:36pm

At the age of 52, given the rave reviews she received, I imagine that Audra will get her 10 Tony nomination, which would tie her with Julie Harris for the most acting nominations in To y History.  Given her record number of wins, I guess she is well on her way to being the Meryl Streep of Broadway, in terms of record books.  She seems to get nominated almost every time she appears (and she should have been nominated for Shuffle Along.

I have to admit that I would like to see her in a new musical next time.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 12:57pm

Interesting the mixed reviews from non-critics. Part of me wonders since the critics didn't pay for their tickets, would they have thought about "getting their money's worth" like regular folks might.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 1:10pm

I saw this at an early preview, and to say I was underwhelmed would be an understatement. Audra has no bigger fan than I; I've been glorying in her work since the days of CAROUSEL, and have cheered each and every performance since then. But  OSM never came to life that night, and the audience response was tepid at best, and perhaps Audra was still working her way through the play. Still, the opening night reviews were a shock, and I can only think that Leon's direction, which was flat and dull when I saw it, had improved dramatically over the course of a few weeks. Perhaps that is not surprising, but when a paying audience is present, they expect to see a somewhat finished product, and certainly when it's not a big splashy musical, where changes are constantly being made every night as they approach the opening. 

As I live out of town these days, I won't be returning to see OSM in what may be a triumph for Audra and Adrienne Kennedy, and I can only wish I had seen the play later.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 12/9/22 at 2:24pm

Mixed to positive review from The Guardian (3/5 stars)

"Ohio State Murders review – Audra McDonald soars in an unsteady mystery

The Broadway debut of 91-year-old playwright Adrienne Kennedy provides its captivating lead star with stellar moments but lacks insight"

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/10/22 at 1:29am

quizking101 said: "uncageg said: "NYT's Critic's Pick....for those who didn't click."

Clearly him and I are NOT gonna see eye to eye this season on anything."

 

Not everything is for everybody. 

I loved it and think it deserves all of the positive reviews it has gotten, including the critics pic. I am going to try to see it again.