The Open House – Location, Tickets, Reviews
The Open House, a new play by Will Eno at Signature Theatre, is a droll take-down of the classic Family Drama in American theater. Acerbic, depressing dramas about families who destroy each other may have brought immortality (not to mention Pulitzers) to Arthur Miller and Eugene O’Neill, but Eno has had enough.
In this play, an emotionally stunted family debates selling their home. Their vitriol stands in stark contrast to the less dour young buyers. As a sendup of theater classics, The Open House reaffirms Eno’s status as the kid in the back of Drama 101 firing spitballs. For this outing, Eno has enlisted the aid of The Debate Society, one of the hottest theater companies in New a York at the moment (co-founder Oliver Butler directs).
Maxamoo
The Open House is little more than a cranky op-ed about tropes in American drama. Folks unfamiliar with the history of modern theater (and how liberally it is peppered with emotionally stunted alcoholic patriarchs and withering housewives) will likely be confused. This is definitely a show for theater fanatics – they’ll be the ones laughing as Eno pokes holes in the overinflated moroseness of typical family dramas. But even theater majors may find The Open House a little offhand and uninspired. The pairing of Eno and The Debate Society could have been a season highlight, but we found it ultimately disappointing.
Public Opinion
Twitter is loving on The Open House pretty hard:
@thismyshow: Saw Will Eno’s “The Open House” at @SignatureTheatr tonight. What a weird fucking play….I loved every second of it! Had shades of Albee.
@DBroide: Will Eno’s fine new play, The Open House, @SignatureTheatr, is very clever & enjoyable. Loved all the performances, too. Highly recommended.
@indabelle: Almost sold out now, but I was lucky to see Will Eno’s The Open House @SignatureTheatr (twice!) and it is fantastic. Hoping they extend.
Have you seen The Open House? What did you think? Comment below or tweet to us at @Maxamoo.
Critic’s Reviews
The reviews so far, the Times found it “schticky” while TheaterMania admires Eno’s genre takedown:
New York Times
A Miserable Family, Lashed by a Father’s Cruel Intentions
TheaterMania
Will Eno deconstructs an entire genre in his new play at Signature Theatre.
TICKETS
$25.00 performances through March 23
$75.00 performances from March 25 through March 30
(click here for tickets)
DATES
Performances through March 30, 2014
LOCATION
Signature Theatre
480 W 42nd Street
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
1 hour 20 minutes, no intermission
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Will Eno
Directed by Oliver Butler
Featuring Hannah Bos, Michael Countryman, Peter Friedman, Danny McCarthy & Carolyn McCormick