TROUBLE IN MIND Reviews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 8:04pm

You know what to do, folks.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:00pm

Wall Street Journal is a rave.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trouble-in-mind-alice-childress-roundabout-theater-company-lachanze-chuck-cooper-diana-princess-of-wales-david-bryan-joe-di-pietr-jeanne-de-waal-11637272134

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:01pm

David Cote - ‘Trouble in Mind’ Makes a Triumphant Broadway Debut
https://observer.com/2021/11/trouble-in-mind-makes-a-triumphant-broadway-debut/

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:07pm

Frank Scheck gives it 3 out of 5 stars.
http://nystagereview.com/2021/11/18/trouble-in-mind-better-as-theatrical-history-lesson-than-drama/

Elysa Gardner gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
http://nystagereview.com/2021/11/18/trouble-in-mind-a-delayed-debut-still-fresh-and-troubling/

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:10pm

Adam Feldman gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/trouble-in-mind-broadway-review-lachanze-alice-childress

Jesse Green gives it a Critics' Pick.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/18/theater/trouble-in-mind-review.html

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:19pm

Bloomberg News likes it.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-19/review-trouble-in-mind-makes-its-broadway-debut-finally

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:21pm

Happy it’s getting some great reviews. I saw it for a third time last night and was just as impressed with the play and the performances as i was the first time. It’s a real shame they’re not selling tickets but it’s a hard sell right now. 
 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:21pm

Wow. I'm absolutely thrilled to see such positive notices for this show. Don't miss it people.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:22pm

So Best Actress Tony LaChanze? 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 9:25pm

SouthernCakes said: "So Best Actress Tony LaChanze?"

I'd say she's a lock for at least a Lead Actress in a Play nomination next year.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 10:13pm

I saw this last night, I went in knowing nothing about it. I was so taken with it, it’s well crafted, and the cast is uniformly great- especially LaChanze, but I struggle to find a weak link in any of them. I keep thinking about it even today. It is truly timely and probably when written was ahead of it’s time. It’s not preachy, but packs a punch with it’s message. I definitely think this is a must see. 

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 10:17pm

Jordan Levinson said: "SouthernCakes said: "So Best Actress Tony LaChanze?"

I'd say she's a lock for at least a Lead Actress in a Play nomination next year."

While she certainly wouldn't be undeserving, I'd say it's a little early to call her a lock when we still have performances from Phylicia Rashad, Ruth Negga, Mary-Louise Parker, Debra Messing, Sarah Jessica Parker, and more coming in the Spring. If some of those performances aren't well received, her chances of getting nominated go way up. But let's not forgot she's in a show that's closing early in the season.

[swoboda]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 9:42am

Broadway News' Charles Isherwood wrote a positive review that struck a chord with me in that I agreed with his assessments of the actors. LaChanze is the glue and everything revolves around her bravura performance. Really, an acting and singing tour de force.

[kwoc91]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 11:38am

So happy the show is getting great reviews! Extremely well-deserved. 

[forgetmenotnyc]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 2:06pm

Overrated!

I was deeply disappointed since I believe in the relevance of the subject matter, but just found it an amateurish stinker.

The staging & set are boring & confusing, the story weak & unfocused, the direction banal. Why would an actress playing a domestic scene at home ironing be rehearing all decked out in finery & in high heels? Michael Zegen, the actor playing the stage dir,  is way too young & cliched.

I'm truly sorry that this couldn't have been better - but glad others are finding richness in it that I just couldn't find. 

[swoboda]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 4:18pm

     The play within the play takes place on the first and 4th day of rehearsals. I forget which act the "ironing" business occurred. Actors would still be wearing their normal clothes that early in rehearsals. 

    The costumes were beautiful. The characters were all pretty sharp dressers except for the white male actor who looked kinda disheveled.

Updated On: 11/20/21 at 04:18 PM

[rg7759]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 7:09pm

forgetmenotnyc said: "Overrated!

I was deeply disappointed since I believe in the relevance of the subject matter, but just found it an amateurish stinker.

The staging & set are boring & confusing, the story weak & unfocused, the direction banal. Why would an actress playing a domestic scene at home ironing be rehearing all decked out in finery & in high heels? Michael Zegen, the actor playing the stage dir, is way too young & cliched.

I'm truly sorry that this couldn't have been better - but glad others are finding richness in it that I just couldn't find."

I don't disagree with you. But I left more wondering why I didn't seem to love it like some did. What happens at the end has all the subtleness that would have been acceptable on broadway back then had it happened. Think band's visit. Plenty left disappointed it wasn't bigger, plenty loved the subtleness. Maybe the play isn't for me; it doesn't care, but I'm still glad it exists 

[A Director]

Posted: 11/21/21 at 3:07am

rg7759 said:
I don't disagree with you. But I left more wondering why I didn't seem to love it like some did. What happens at the end has all the subtleness that would have been acceptable on broadway back then had it happened. Think band's visit. Plenty left disappointed it wasn't bigger, plenty loved the subtleness. Maybe the play isn't for me; it doesn't care, but I'm still glad it exists"

How do you know what would have acceptable on Broadway in 1955 or 1956 or 1957? The white producer(s) felt the ending was not acceptable for Broadway audiences. The ending is not happy and we  don't know what is going to happen the next day. Wiletta appears to know and perhaps she is right. Perhaps the producer(s) wanted the black characters to go along with Manners and everyone would hug at the end. That way, the white audience could leave the theatre believing the issues brought up in the play could be solved with a big old, all is forgiven hug.

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 12/22/21 at 7:43am

I am glad that Childress did not sell out and change the ending of her play.  Also glad I got to see this as the cast is superb especially LaChanze. I don’t think I’m going to get another chance to see this before it closes on January 9th but I will try. I hope she stiil gets a Tony nom even though it is closing early in the season.

Here is a gift article from NY Times on LaChanze and her Westchester home.

Updated On: 12/22/21 at 07:43 AM

[adotburr]

Posted: 12/24/21 at 9:25am

I’ll be seeing this right before it closes in January. Looking forward to it!!