The Humans

Did anyone catch the first preview? I was there tonight and really enjoyed it. I loved Sons of the Prophet, and thought the direction in this production especially really shined. Joe Mantello keeps the two tiered set brimming with action. There are constantly scenes taking place simultaneously on both levels of the set.

I'd like to give a mention to Sarah Steele who is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. She was wonderful in The Country House, and her role on the last season of The Good Wife is one of my favorites of the season. She's in great form here, loved her delivery and humor. Jayne Houdyshell who is always great at chewing scenery is wonderfully restrained here. I thought she was believable and it was one of my favorite performances of hers. 

The play is very interesting. For the most part its a rather standard Thanksgiving dramedy, so and so has secrets, so and so is sick etc (I was reminded me of the film Pieces of April), but then there is a rather supernatural effect that sets it apart. There's some great humor here, but notably ,  there's an excellent use of sound, and the last scene is particularly interesting. Overall it might wind up being one of my favorite plays of the fall. Curios to hear other's thoughts on this one. 

Updated On: 9/30/15 at 10:53 PM

I was there tonight, surprisingly funny and yet super eerie, especially the last 5 or so minutes, Houdyshell is playing the role she was born to play, pretty tight for a first preview and i can only assume it will get even better before opening, was so cool sitting 2 seats away from Karam too, was neat watching him react the the audience reacting 

I'm looking forward to seeing this one

The play was extremely well-received in its world premiere in Chicago last year, directed by the (tragically) recently deceased PJ Paparelli. As a big fan of Karam's writing, and this play in particular, I am glad to hear your positive reactions. I love how Karam makes an essentially plotless story so compelling by weaving in a building sense of suspense into the proceedings. The characters he crafts are so believable, relatable, and lovable. I consider Karam to be among the very top tier of today's young playwrights. The family dynamic he crafts in The Humans is beautiful. I wish I could see this production in order to revisit the piece.

Started a few minutes after 7:30pm, out the door by 9:20pm?

Seeing it Saturday afternoon.

I saw this tonight and I have to echo the praise. I really enjoyed myself. I thought the direction was really great, and overall the performances were really captivating. I have to disagree on Steele as I thought she was the "fakest" of the bunch. Her character didn't feel real enough to me as the others ones did. Jayne, of course, along with Reed, are national treasures. They were just really amazing. And I thought Casey Beck was pretty darn fabulous. 

I would hesitate to call anything "supernatural," at least it didn't come off that way to me. 

I agree about that, but I wouldn't say that the last few minutes of the play are "supernatural." At least, I think that was more a directing choice than the writer's choice. And I'm still left a little "huh" in terms of what I was suppose to take away from those last few minutes. 

"Houdyshell resonated with me to an even greater level because I could swear I was watching my own mother in so many moments of her." 

YES YES YES. So true. It was kind of amazing. 

Totally. Nothing even remotely offensive. It's about a family gathering, and the parents are rather old school/religious, so nothing is said that is too out there. 

We thoroughly enjoyed it but differ re the supernatural aspect of it. We definitely thought there was.

Totally agree. 

I thought Houdyshell was giving an incredible performance. And I could have spent 5 more hours with that family. 

Probably true. Honestly I felt like the "central couple" -  the younger daughter and her boyfriend were rather boring/bland characters. But I love the parents  - primarily because they were essentially my parents. But I was curious to know more about them, which I think speaks to his writing. 

I'm just not totally sure I get what he was going for. I get that the title refers to the fact that maybe the paranormal or the aliens are afraid of "The Humans," but then the ending left me a little confused. 

I wish Roundabout had transferred Sons of Prophet to Broadway so I could have seen it. Wish they'd produce more new work on Broadway, but I get that that isn't their "mission." But it seems silly when they produce some new musicals that are awful. 

re: The Title

Richard (the boyfriend) explains that he's obsessed with a comic about monster aliens who sit around telling stories about "The Humans"

and yeah Roundabout has produced 3 excellent Karam plays off broadway why don't they have enough faith to give him his broadway debut, so frustrating.