We round up the reviews for the new play from Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, which continues to perform until the 6th July.
The Guardian: *** “It’s certainly cathartic to see a work so unafraid to go big and risk bad laughs by letting serious strife spill over into farce. Yet there’s something dramatically strenuous about the sheer tonnage Jacobs-Jenkins packs into these two and a half hours. The repeated pauses for Nazareth’s addresses reflect that, refusing to let the material breathe, almost as if fearful of leaving something out – or even simply leaving things unsaid. And for all the show’s muchness, it ends on a moment that feels both delicately ambiguous and vaguely unearned. Its title suggests a singularity of motivation that the play, for better and worse, never comes close to evoking – or achieving.”
Theater Mania.com: “Director Phylicia Rashad stages that edge-of-your seat scene around a circular table slightly upstage right with Naz and Junior’s backs to the audience. It could easily become deadly choice in the hands a less confident director, but Rashad proves that it’s not necessary to spoon-feed audiences every beat. They’ll lean in and pay attention if you get the pacing and performances right—and there are some remarkable ones here.”
Vulture.com: “For a Branden Jacobs-Jenkins production, Purpose is awfully buttoned-up — even, in an adjective I don’t tend to associate with his work, deferential. Some of that lies in the direction: Rashad takes a straightforward approach to her staging, like she is simply putting up a realist drama. That works well when Purpose is convincing you of its vérité aspects: Lennix and Jackson have some real lived-in give and take; they even seem to putter in harmony. But where moving into another register would be welcome and justified, Rashad stays with two feet on the ground.”
Time Out: ***** “But above all, of course, the show works because of Jacobs-Jenkins’s writing, which is probing without losing its humor and bracingly honest without being cruel. Purpose is a big swing, but that’s what it takes to get a big hit. Jacobs-Jenkins’s breakthrough play, An Octoroon, was a rejection of old theatrical conventions. This one takes a seat at the table, where—rising to the occasion—it makes speeches, makes trouble and makes excellent theater. “
Talkin’ Broadway: “Throughout, all six cast members are given a chance to shine, and they all rise to the occasion while still giving the whole evening a truly ensemble feel under Phylicia Rashad’s lovely direction. The design elements as well, from Todd Rosenthal’s gorgeous set that suggests a home meant to receive and impress important guests, to Dede Ayite’s costumes, Amith Chandrashaker’s lighting, and Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen’s unobtrusive sound design, contribute immensely to the production of what is decidedly an outstanding entry to the Broadway season as it begins its race toward the April 27 cutoff date for 2025 Tony eligibility.”
New York Theatre Guide: “Still, Purpose buzzes with rich ideas about sons and fathers and the burdens of legacy, sexuality, and authenticity. Solomon Sr.’s passion for beekeeping cleverly drives home the point of the play’s title. Purpose dazzles and stings.”
The Wrap.com: “with “Purpose,” Jacobs-Jenkins delivers another harrowing comedy about a deeply troubled American family.”
New York Post: **** “One of Naz’s suggestions succinctly sums up this highlight of the Broadway season: “Buckle up.””
To book tickets visit: https://2st.com/shows/purpose