OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#1
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.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#2
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”.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#3
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.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#4
Posted: 12/8/22 at 8:08pm
The embargo will be lifted at 10:30.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#5
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
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#6
Posted: 12/8/22 at 9:43pm
If you don't want spoilers, don't read The Wrap review.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#7
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.
Broadway Star Joined: 1/28/04
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#8
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/
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#9
Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:05pm
Its a rave from Jesse Green, for the direction, for the playwright and for Audra of course.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#10
Posted: 12/8/22 at 11:10pm
NYT's Critic's Pick....for those who didn't click.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#11
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/
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#12
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#14
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#15
Posted: 12/9/22 at 5:23am
Very positive review from Chris Jones at the Chicago Tribune.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#16
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.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#17
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.
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#18
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.
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#19
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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#20
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"
OHIO STATE MURDERS Reviews#21
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.
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