Three Tall Women question

[Nycat63]

Posted: 5/6/18 at 11:11pm

Hi all,

Would love your thoughts on whether a 16 year old girl would enjoy Three Tall Women.  We come to NYC quite a bit for theater trips - she is more sophisticated in her theater-going and tastes than perhaps your standard teenage girl, but she's still a teenage girl.  Prefers musicals to plays, but can enjoy a play as long as there is enough to keep her engaged, whether it's humor, the topic or the cast.  I had my doubts that she'd like a Dolls House Part 2, but she did, and really liked Laurie Metcalfe, but there was enough humor in that to hold her attention.  Candidly, I'm not terribly familiar with Three Tall Women (I, too, am much more of a musical fan and am far less knowledgable about plays), but I'm considering it because of the great reviews and Laurie, even more so than Glenda Jackson.  

We have a jam-packed show schedule already (Band's Visit, HP, Boys in the Band, MFL, Mean Girls, OOTI and ugh I've agreed to Spongebob), so we don't have to add another, but if we do, this would be the one.  Appreciate any opinions - I can live without if she's going to be bored, and if we don't go I have an alternative in mind that's not Broadway-related that I would enjoy.  Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/6/18 at 11:30pm

Three Tall Women is truly riveting, and I say that as somebody who much prefers musicals to plays. If she enjoyed DHP2 with Metcalf, I think she'll enjoy this (and I think it's a great addition to your schedule as it is!).

[daredevil]

Posted: 5/7/18 at 1:05pm

While I respect and understand the opinion of the last poster, I am not sure that Three Tall Women would be right for your daughter.  There is no real plot, the second act kind of explodes the first act---the language can be ugly and graphic particularly in Act I. I think it is a very "heady" play, its points are made through language, not plot. It is, I think, really about reflecting on one's life. I remember all this from having seen the original production, when it was at the Vineyard theater; I have heard the performances in this production are brilliant, but the content is kind of dream like---I don't know if that is what your daughter would enjoy

[Steve C.]

Posted: 5/7/18 at 1:33pm

If you're already seeing "Boys" "Band's" "MFL" and (please don't UGH "SpongeBob" I would run to get tix for "TTW"! Just to see this cast in an Albee play is something a 16 year old may cherish for many years to come. I would be thrilled to be this young woman with a NY visit like this!  

[Nycat63]

Posted: 5/7/18 at 2:00pm

Steve C. said: "If you're already seeing "Boys" "Band's" "MFL" and (please don't UGH "SpongeBob" I would run to get tix for "TTW"! Just to see this cast in an Albee play is something a 16 year old maycherish for many years to come. Iwould be thrilled to be this young woman with a NY visit like this!"

Oh this kid is beyond lucky...if I listed all the shows she's seen with me in the past 3-4 years (and we don't live in or near NYC), you might think I have a bit of a "problem."  Sadly, in the course of it, someone also got very spoiled/entitled, but ah...teenagers. Wish this trip could include Angels, but she was highly opposed - in large part because of the length and the fact that it would take 2 slots from other shows she wanted to see - and I don't want to incur her wrath if she's not fully entertained for 7.5 hours (one regular length show she doesn't like is barely tolerable, hence my question about TTW). Luckily I caught the live stream from the National Theater so at least I've seen it on a screen.

But back to TTW, I had a feeling the responses might be mixed but really value the opinions on here. I'm going to err on the side of seeing it, if nothing else, for myself. I'm not real worried about vulgar language or graphic descriptions - she's going to be 17 this summer and a senior in HS and she's heard it all (I'm also fairly liberal that way). My bigger concern is that as noted above, it's so dialogue-driven and nothing "happens" - which probably resonates more with an adult than a teenager. However, so was Dolls House Part 2 and The Humans, both of which she enjoyed, though perhaps they both had some more relatable content/moments.

And ok, ok, I'm coming around on Spongebob