SYLVIA Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 4:48am

The always entertaining Annaleigh Ashford gets on all fours to play man's best friend in this comedy that celebrates its opening night performance tonight! Post 'em here, kids!

[mar6411]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 6:57pm

I have nothing to add - just wanted to bump this up to the top of the board.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 7:02pm

Here's the reviews so far...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Review-Roundup-SYLVIA-Opens-on-Broadway-Updating-LIVE-20151027

[Up In One]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 7:55pm

 

The AP review is great.'Sylvia' on Broadway Is a Treat.You might even call it fetching.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/review-raise-ruff-sylvia-broadway-treat-34778243

[Up In One]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 8:04pm

AM New York

This truly is one of those must-see performances that will stick with you for some time.

Ashford gives an absolutely wonderful performance and Broderick has terrific chemistry with Ashford. In their hands, "Sylvia" is a most unusual, quite touching love story.

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/sylvia-review-matthew-broderick-annaleigh-ashford-in-one-good-dog-1.11017652

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 10:12pm

Just got back from the opening and and I feel it has become a good play at this point.  The trimming has helped quite a bit and I didn't feel it dragged as it did in early previews.  The performances have become even better, crisper and I felt that the relationship between Broderick and Julie white was more believable and explored.  

Great crowd as expected with an opening night and they laughed hard throughout.  All in all, a great night..

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 11:31pm

Isherwood's piece is unusually much more negative than literally every other review of the show. 

Updated On: 10/27/15 at 11:31 PM

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/27/15 at 11:46pm

I didn't read it as harshly negative...I would say mixed on that one, but mostly positive on the other ones..

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/28/15 at 1:19am

The Post and the Times were both very negative. 

[mc1227]

Posted: 10/28/15 at 1:30am

The Post is not even a review of the play.  It just focuses on Broderick's past roles and bashes him. Just an opportunity for a typical Post tabloid but certainly not a review of the play.  

[Patash]

Posted: 10/28/15 at 8:01am

I'm glad that a number of the critics chose to point out that Broderick's usual low energy performance works well here -- pointed out several times by several different critics in similar ways.  I couldn't agree more -- just what I'd been saying on the Sylvia preview thread.  But I realize there are those who simply dislike anything Broderick does, whether it fits the particular role or not.

I found Isherwood's dislike of the vulgar actions of the dog kind of interesting.   Yes, it's pretty pointed that dogs have none of the embarrassment that humans have about such vulgar things as having sex out in the public, or rubbing their wormy behind on the rug.  Too bad, Isherwood didn't seem to understand that very clear point. 

 

[Caitiecait92]

Posted: 11/2/15 at 1:17pm

I'm curious, and I apologize in advance for any spoilers. I had heard in the second act the show gets a little "dirty" and a younger audience should not attend this show. I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on that?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 11/2/15 at 1:19pm

Caitiecait92 said: "I'm curious, and I apologize in advance for any spoilers. I had heard in the second act the show gets a little "dirty" and a younger audience should not attend this show. I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on that?"

 

There is foul language throughout but in the second act is when Sylvia gets fvcked by another dog and there is a lengthy discussion about it.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 11/3/15 at 11:00am

Running time is listed as 90 minutes, no intermission, but I've been told that is not accurate.  Does anyone recall the running time post-opening?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 11/3/15 at 11:17am

mamaleh said: "Running time is listed as 90 minutes, no intermission, but I've been told that is not accurate.  Does anyone recall the running time post-opening?"

 

I went the night before opening and it was nearly 2.5 hours with intermission. I don't see how it could have changed that much in a day.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 11/3/15 at 1:36pm

Thanks very much for the update.  That's more in line with what I've heard anecdotally.

 

 

[mc1227]

Posted: 11/3/15 at 5:30pm

I went on opening night and I believe the running time was 2:20 with an intermission.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 11/3/15 at 10:09pm

Tonight it was 2:15 including a short BC/EFA curtain speech by Robert Sella, who was very funny, if at times a bit over the top, in a variety of roles.  Annaleigh Ashford's drama queen dog Sylvia is not to be missed; she is that good.  Julie White is in fine form, too.  Broderick is, well, Broderick, but his flat delivery and deadpan manner fit the character well. Daniel Sullivan's direction is top-notch.  I'd seen an OK production a few years ago at George St. but this one is definitely superior.  

Updated On: 11/4/15 at 10:09 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/4/15 at 9:01am

Saw it last night. Agree with mc re running time

 

Ashford's performance is not to be missed. Never saw Sella before and he was great in his roles especially Leslie. This is the best of those Gurney plays I have seen.

[Petralicious]

Posted: 11/4/15 at 9:09am

i hope to see this next. I love AA, she was so funny and stole You Can't Take It With You. Hope I can go when Matthew Broderick is out

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/4/15 at 9:12am

The role is perfect for him. It is low key compared to Ashford's over the top role. They compliment each other. Seeing someone else in it would not make much difference. This is a role perfect for his acting style.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/4/15 at 10:36pm

The biggest issue in the play was Matthew Broderick. Though he did have his moments, for the most part he seemed to be playing the part as Leo Bloom and refused to make choices to really connect to the character. Outside of the production, the biggest problem was the play itself. To me, it was just dated and not particularly remarkable. I am a dog lover. I have had dogs in my life for almost my entire life. This was fine. Nothing really spoke to me as a dog owner though Annaleigh was cute. It's a physical, showy role but without better material it ultimately felt kind of hollow to me. Julie White did the best with what she was given.

 

The sound was not good in the back of the orchestra. There were times when I wished that they had mics.

 

I did think the set was very beautiful. It reminded me a bit of the If/Then artwork. I could have watched the transition from morning to sunset to twilight to night a few more times.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 3:46pm

I revisited the show from the front mezzanine. The sound was much better. The actors were stumbling over some lines and I sensed there were times when one actor prompted another actor for their line. And yet, the overall energy of the show was up and it seemed to be working much better as a cohesive whole. Annaleigh didn't seem as imbalanced as the biggest role. I thought Sella was brilliant and Julie White and especially Matthew Broderick seemed to be having more fun. Broderick still wasn't giving a great performance but he seemed more engaged.

[bfreak]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 5:15pm

I got last minute comped tickets to see this tonight. Will share my thoughts later on. :)

[bfreak]

Posted: 11/13/15 at 8:54am

     I saw this last night and was so pleasantly surprised. The production itself was so well done, and the play itself was extremely enjoyable and funny and poignant. 

        Annaleigh Ashford gave a phenomenal performance. Her physicality and personification of a dog was so spot on and I was able to really connect to Sylvia. Robert Sella was the other standout for me. He is so hilarious throughout all of his three parts and he had the audience in an uproar. Julie White was terrific and played the character so well that I was able to sympathize with her character in what could be considered a thankless role. And the shock of the night was Matthew Broderick. He did not sleep walk at all and gave a compassionate and humorous performance that was really compelling. He seemed like he was having a great time up there.

      I would really recommend this play to people, as I feel bad it's not really getting a large audience. I think it just falls from bad marketing and little buzz. By the way, if anyone's interested all actors stage doored last night and signed and took pictures. They were all so nice, except Broderick didn't really seem to have much of a personality (that's just good ole' Matt for ya' but was still nice to everyone nonetheless.

Updated On: 11/13/15 at 08:54 AM