Warning: Tricks the Devil Taught Me

I agree with everything Whizzer said. This piece of crap was one of the hardest things I've had to sit through in a long time. If I were the type of person who left a show at intermission, I certainly would have done it at this show. (I saw a few people leave DURING Act 1 actually)

I beg of you - even if you get comps, even if someone pays you to see it - DO NOT waste your time with this one. Words cannot describe how awful it was.

I agree with all the preceding posters regarding this play.

I would add that if you're a fan of so-ludicrous-it's- funny dialogue, you'll find plenty of it here, if you've got the stamina to sit through a three hour slog.

I know everyone has their opinions on this board, which is perfectly fine, but I wanted to respond with my feelings from seeing the show last night, because my reaction seems to be have been very different from those who saw the matinee. I read this board a lot, but I've never felt compelled to join in the discussion until now. My friend invited me yesterday to see Tricks because of the promotion they were running. He had a friend in the cast, so I admit that I have a small bias. However, I had to say that I and everyone around me was raving about the show. I really mean that. We were really thrilled.

Yes, it was too long. But when we stayed and talked to the cast (there were a LOT of people waiting to talk to Beth Grant and Mary Testa) they said how excited they were about the show and the great response, and they mentioned how they were cutting about half an hour from the show but that they hadn't been able to rehearse the cuts yet since it was their first weekend.

Last night's performance received a standing ovation. I'm not saying that the people who had a horrible experience at the matinee were wrong, I guess I'm just saying that I think we ought to be understanding of new shows when they have only been open for 2 days of previews. I have worked for three nonprofits here in NY, and new plays are always rough at first. And the heat wasn't a problem for me. Maybe the heat had a great deal to do with the discomfort of the audience at the matinee.

Like I said, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think we ought to stand back and look at the bigger picture before we start to say things are the worst show of the year. I mean, that clearly isn't actually true. Even if you didn't like it, it can't possibly be the worst show of the year. We enjoyed it so much, and thought the acting was amazing. That's just my opinion, though.

I'm there right now trying to fix the air conditioner!

"Like I said, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think we ought to stand back and look at the bigger picture before we start to say things are the worst show of the year. I mean, that clearly isn't actually true. Even if you didn't like it, it can't possibly be the worst show of the year."

snakeinmyboots, I get that you're allowed to have your opinion and like the show, but speaking for my friends and myself it was the worst thing we've seen in about a year. Can you name something worse that has played in the past year? The only thing that comes to mind that I was in equal pain was the revival of Vieux Carre by The Wooster Group, but this was worse.

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I'm sure they'll be sweating through it, AC or not.

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This is one of the worst plays I have seen in my entire life. I would have left at intermission had my friends not wanted to see how this mess of play would end.

It is a truly horrible piece of writing.

I love Beth Grant and Mary Testa. They are the reason I went to see the show. The cast is very good, but the show isn't.

Perhaps if the author weren't directing his own play, it might have potential, but it needs severe editing.

Reading the reactions of the majority of this board, I'd definitely stay clear. The honest gut reactions I've just read made me remember feeling the EXACT same way coming out of THOU SHALT NOT, lol. If only I had been warned!

Thanks regulars!

Without meaning start a riot among others who, like myself, are not regulars on this board, I'd just like to point out that the website dexter is talking about is clearly coming from someone with a vendetta. Who knows how much of that information is true. Since I know people working on the show, I also know that everyone adores the writer, and many of them worked with him during that mess in Texas. He is giving people jobs. He is producing work in NYC. I don't see why someone who chooses to take a risk should be shunned even before their show opens? And the actors are wonderful. They certainly can't be blamed for what may or may not have happened many years ago in Texas. I would really encourage everyone to attend the show and see it for themselves before they decide it isn't worth anything based on reviews from performances that were never intended to be reviewed.

Nice and cool now!

"Was this worse than Desperate Writers?"

Both plays were atrocious. Desperate Writers was desperately trying to be funny, without a single laugh in it. This one was attempting to be serious, while being unintentionally funny, amidst long stretches of boredom. The level of vulgarity in this one was so grotesque it too prompted incredulous laughter.

So because of the laugh quotient, I would say that as a theatrical experience, this horror was better than Desperate Writers.

I thought Tricks had good lighting and sound designs. The set was okay, if not outstanding.

I saw Jeffrey and the Most Fabulous Story Ever Told at the Minetta Lane Theater. Those were both excellent productions.