TAKE ME OUT Reviews

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:21pm

Second Stage's Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out officially opens at the Hayes Theater April 4. Directed by Scott Ellis, the production began previews March 10 and is currently scheduled to continue through May 29.

Jesse Williams stars as baseball star Darren Lemming, center fielder for the Empires, who comes out of the closet, revealing a tradition of long-held unspoken prejudices off the field. As the Empires struggle to rally toward a championship season, the players and their fans begin to question the old ways, their loyalties, and the price of victory.

Co-starring with Williams are Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Patrick J. Adams, Julian Cihi, Hiram Delgado, Brandon J. Dirden, Carl Lundstedt, Ken Marks, Michael Oberholtzer, Eduardo Ramos, and Tyler Lansing Weaks. The company is rounded out by understudies Ryan Broussard, Michael Castillejos, Lance Takeshi, Stephen Wattrus, and Tim Wright.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 4:48pm

I have no idea what to expect of these reviews. It's a nice production and a strong cast, but some critics may take issue with the play and how it resonates today, not unlike Jesse Green's reaction to Plaza Suite.

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 5:06pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I have no idea what to expect of these reviews. It's a nice production and a strong cast, but some critics may take issue with the play and how it resonates today, not unlike Jesse Green's reaction to Plaza Suite."

If the critics review compare this in any way or form to the tepid snoozefest that was Plaza Suite, I’ll riot.

While it may not be 100% in sync with the times, it’s nowhere near as out of touch as Plaza Suite

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:17pm

Variety is positive:

‘Take Me Out’ Review: Jesse Williams’ Broadway Revival of Baseball Play Is a Solid Hit Despite a Few Errors

https://variety.com/2022/legit/reviews/take-me-out-review-broadway-jesse-williams-1235224000/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:18pm

Hollywood Reporter is positive:

Jesse Williams and Jesse Tyler Ferguson in ‘Take Me Out’: Theater Review

Richard Greenberg’s 2004 Tony-winning play about the fallout when a Major League baseballer goes public with his sexuality gets a first-rate Broadway revival.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/take-me-out-broadway-review-1235124442/

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:18pm

David Cote: 'A Twenty-Year Old Play About Coming Out in Baseball is the Story We Need Now'
https://medium.com/@DavidCote_14245/a-twenty-year-old-play-about-coming-out-in-baseball-is-the-story-we-need-now-31b27926dc5a

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:20pm

Observer is positive:

Review: So Little Has Changed in Baseball That It Is Unquestionably the Right Time for ‘Take Me Out’

https://observer.com/2022/04/review-so-little-has-changed-in-baseball-that-it-is-unquestionably-the-right-time-for-take-me-out/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 9:33pm

Time Out is positive; 4 stars:

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams lead a winning team in a revival of Richard Greenberg's hit baseball drama.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/take-me-out-broadway-review-revivalbaseball-jesse-tyler-ferguson-jesse-williams

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:01pm

The Wrap is a rave:

‘Take Me Out’ Broadway Review: Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams Hit It Out of the Ballpark Terrific performances make Richard Greenberg’s play worth a second look

https://www.thewrap.com/take-me-out-broadway-review-jesse-tyler-ferguson-jesse-williams/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:02pm

Deadline is a rave:

‘Take Me Out’ Broadway Review: Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Patrick J. Adams Pitch A Perfect Game

https://deadline.com/2022/04/take-me-out-broadway-review-jesse-tyler-fergoson-jesse-williams-patrick-j-adams-1234993541/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:03pm

NYT is a critics' pick:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/04/theater/take-me-out-review.html

"“Take Me Out” gives meaty roles to a team of actors, led in this Second Stage Theater production by Jesse Williams as Lemming and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as his fanboy business manager.

True, dropping a few flies along the way and throwing some wild pitches — forgive the baseball metaphors, which the play indulges with the zeal of a convert — makes “Take Me Out” a bit baffling in parts. It’s not the kind of work that benefits much from postgame analysis, which reveals flaws in construction and logic. But in performance, now no less than in 2002, when it had its New York debut at the Public Theater, it is mostly delightful and provocative."

 

Updated On: 4/4/22 at 10:03 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:08pm

NY Daily News is mostly positive (with a lot of discussion of the nudity before getting to the, um, meat of the review):

https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/broadway/ny-broadway-take-me-out-review-20220405-wd6onmshbncp7pdnch76ube464-story.html

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:09pm

AMNY is a rave:

Review | ‘Take Me Out’ hits a home run

https://www.amny.com/entertainment/theater/review-take-me-out-hits-a-home-run/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:12pm

BroadwayNews turns in the first negative review:

Review: ‘Take Me Out’ is playing in the wrong ballpark

https://broadwaynews.com/2022/04/04/review-take-me-out-is-playing-in-the-wrong-ballpark/

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:13pm

Pleasantly surprised by these reviews!

I thought Michael Oberholtzer was the real standout of the cast.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:15pm

The Daily Beast is positive, singles out Ferguson and Oberholtzer as the standouts in the cast.

‘Take Me Out’ Returns to Bring Baseball, Masculinity, and Nudity Center Stage on Broadway

https://www.thedailybeast.com/take-me-out-returns-to-bring-baseball-masculinity-and-nudity-center-stage-on-broadway

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:21pm

 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:31pm

Washington Post is positive:

‘Take Me Out’ loads the Broadway bases with wit and incisive drama

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jesse Williams star in a top-notch revival of Richard Greenberg’s winning baseball play

https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2022/04/04/take-me-out-jesse-tyler-ferguson/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:33pm

NY Post is positive:

Broadway’s ‘Take Me Out’ is an explosive, funny baseball play

https://nypost.com/2022/04/04/broadways-take-me-out-is-an-explosive-funny-baseball-play/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:36pm

Seriously, if these reviews don't sell tickets, nothing will.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 10:53pm

DTLI Consensus: A grand slam. 

13 positive (including a NYT Critic's Pick designation), 2 negative.

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/take-me-out-2/

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:00pm

Interestingly, one of the two negative reviews is from Did They Like It themselves (...so, no, they did not like it).

I haven't clicked on the review. The blurb is more than sufficient.

"Imagine a world where a superstar baseball player on par with Derek Jeter decides to disclose that he is gay. In 2003, Richard Greenberg did precisely that with Take Me Out and received the Tony Award for Best Play for his regressive efforts. Almost two decades later, his ableist and gay-caricature-laden affair has returned to Broadway, complete with its dated humor and obsession with the white gaze."

https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/take-me-out-2/in-take-me-out-white-agency-and-ableism-have-a-ball/

[stlrod]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:03pm

MemorableUserName said: "Seriously, if these reviews don't sell tickets, nothing will."

Made me buy a couple.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 4/4/22 at 11:06pm

Vulture is...mixed, I think? At the very least it doesn't seem to answer the question posed in the title.

Does Take Me Out Still Hit the Strike Zone?

https://www.vulture.com/2022/04/theater-review-take-me-out-jesse-tyler-ferguson.html

(Shaw singles out Dirden for the most praise.)

[UWS10023]

Posted: 4/5/22 at 12:01am

What great reviews. Congrats to all!