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Sealed for Freshness Reviews
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| 1 |
A horrible waste of time and money. Review by: Mel, Mar 28, 2007 |
| The writer had no idea how women relate and talk to each other. They would have especially not talked that way in 1968. It was two of the most uncomfortable hours that I have ever spent in my life. It was so vulgar, immoral and completely ridiculous. The, so called, jokes were put out there for their shock value and nothing else. There was no point to the story other than to watch women cruelly tear down other women. Most of the acting was ... read more stiff and unrealistic. The only relaxed performance was the character doing all of the damage. It was insulting to both men and women. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 2 |
Worst play I've seen all year Review by: Sisterjsb, Mar 25, 2007 |
| This play was not worth the 1/2 price ticket I paid for it. The playwright undermines the audience's intelligence with every trite joke, every overused cliche, and a general misunderstanding of how women communicate. He also seems to have little knowledge of the time period, and directs the piece as if it were 2007, not 1968. The acting is atrocious, with nary an authentic moment the entire play. This is a great example of what happens ... read more when a bad play meets a bad director and bad producers. Oh, whoops, they're all the same person. |
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Don't go
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| 3 |
Keep your money fresh in your Tupperware since this show has already spoiled Review by: When Worlds Collide, Mar 7, 2007 |
| The script strives to be profound but never manages to get beyond mediocre. Much could have been done with the plot that never occurred. Both the acting and direction were uneven. J.J. Van Name actually delivers a solid and, at times, entertaining performance but the contrast of her character's darkness to the "Drag Queenesque" performances of Patricia Dalen and Nancy Hornback makes it seem as though characters from two different plays have ... read more accidentally wandered on to the same stage. Lady Macbeth meets Brini Maxwell. As for Kate VanDevencer's stereotypical "Dumb Blond" performance, I can only say that the direction instructing her to perform (for lack of a better term) with the obviously forced, shrill, annoying voice is wrong. The play may have at least been tolerable had her character been better developed. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 4 |
Best comedy I've ever seen. Review by: Franklin, Mar 7, 2007 |
| I don't know what the problem is with all these haters who have reviewed this show. Maybe they don't know what's funny and what's not, because this show was FRIGGIN' HILARIOUS. Real comedy for real people. A play doesn't have to be high art to be rolling-on-the-ground hysterical. Great physical gags, hilarious over-the-top laughs, and still real enough to inspire a conversation with my wife all the way home. And by the way, the night I saw it ... read more was PACKED. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 5 |
Funny, with added depth= fun night at the theatre! Review by: Andy, Mar 6, 2007 |
Sealed For Freshness is many things, but what makes it so appealing to the audience-- it is a perfectly arced comedy, but also a full of real and tangible drama. It moves quickly, almost in real time, and carries the viewer along at pace. The characters, all unique and quirky, and wonderfully fleshed out and REAL, take the viewer on an emotionally hilarious journey.
It is also a very well told story, in that same fashion that we expect ... read more from a good sitcom—characters that appear surface at first, but who develop into realistic mediums for great laughs, as well as believable drama. Each character undergoes that all important "change" that is essential to great writing, and they are ever more realistic in their petty insecurities, the offense they take at their lot in life, and their all too human tendency to take out their frustrations and anger on each other.
Sealed for Freshness offers a lot in the guise of a brief two hour visit to a Tupperware party— wonderfully subtle one-liners, out right knee-slap comedy, and a realistic drama. Stone is a versatile writer with a good ear and pens natural, flowing dialog. He also makes great use of the stage space, allowing the actors to utilize the full width of the narrow living room set, and creates an atmosphere that grows more energetic as both the dramatic and the slap-stick comedy builds to the inevitable and hilarious conclusion.
There is a subtle depth here, which grows deeper upon reflection. While it is easy to remember the bathroom humor of Stone’s writing, the tribulations of each of these women’s lives is what lingers. And the resemblance the audience sees of themselves in each of the characters rings true. It is a comedy, yes, but it is also an examination of what people sacrifice in their lives in order to have a little of that smart, well-ordered goodness that Tupperware promises. The play begs the question: how much of one’s own personal happiness can be given up in order to achieve the appearance of perfection? And how long until what we have given up goes stale.
Stone’s long lasting (pun intended) Tupperware metaphor works well, and while the point he is making is not subtle, neither are the female characters he has written nor the problems they are dealing with. The “loudness” their interaction with one another, and the great physical lengths they move in are perfectly equal to the emotional release they experience over the course of the evening. Like something left long hidden in Tupperware at the back of the fridge, when it all finally comes, you know it’s not going to be pretty.
Sealed for Freshness is at it’s very best not when making the audience laugh, but when holding up a mirror to them, and allowing them to recognize our own shortcomings in our expectations of ourselves, and of our family and loved ones, who, though we may grow used to, never really allow as much forgiveness for as we do ourselves.
The characters of Bonnie Kapica and Sinclair Benevente ring the most emotionally true, each in their own bitter disappointments and their longing for something more. The rest of the cast makes good use of Stone’s witty script. To breathe life into the dialog is not such a tough task when it is written so naturally. Stone has deft ear for realistic dialog and he is sympathetic in treatment of these somewhat damaged women.
Stone has written for laughs, but he transcends comedy and reminds the audience that human foibles are the same, be they uncovered at a Tupperware party, or lingering deep in the heart, sealed up and locked away for far too long…
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 6 |
Review by: michael, Mar 3, 2007 |
Over the past 20 years I have seen hundreds of B'Way and off-B'way productions and I can honestly say this ranks at the ALL TIME WORST! Additionally, I have never felt compelled to post anything advising people not to WASTE their money and time. Of the 20 people in attendance, about 3 people applauded in an embarrasingly awkward moment for performers and audience members alike.
Do yourselves a favor. Open your kitchen cabinets and stare at ... read more your plastic storage containers for 2 hours. It will be less painful! |
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| 7 |
Review by: Mike, Feb 28, 2007 |
| Descriptions do not do this show justice; it needs to be seen to be believed. Yes, some people laughed. Just as many cringed. This show was more than just a low point in a so-far undistinguished season. It would have been a low point in any season. If you missed the original "Carrie," or "Moose Murders," here's your chance to make up for that. |
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| 8 |
sealed for freshness but oder gets out anyway Review by: phillytheaternut, Feb 28, 2007 |
| i saw this mess of a play and all i can say is that its sub-tv . i also think the previous reviews are from very nervous investors. |
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| 9 |
A Real life comedy with real dialog that transports you back to the 70's Review by: Sandkicker, Feb 27, 2007 |
| Some critics only seem to write reviews so that they can show their friends they know how to spell big words. Try watching the play before you put pen to paper and try to write your review without reading another review. Go back to writing about why Britney and Kevin broke up. This play was about real life, real problems and real dialog. Not some t.v. sitcom set with a laugh track. Did anyone who wrote a review actually live in the 70's or did ... read more we just graduate? First time Director Stone could have taken the easy way out and written for the critics, but it seems to this first time reviewer that he wrote this play for the people who have lived the 70's and not for those who work in ivory newspaper towers looking to work their way up the ladder. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 10 |
sealed for freshness, you need to see this Review by: Jim, Feb 27, 2007 |
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed “Sealed for Freshness”. I did not laugh at every joke and surprised myself by even shedding a tear or two. I stood at the end and really appreciated the efforts of the cast, crew, set and story.
I have seen some of the reviews that have come out about this play and I would like to ask those reviewers a question or two.
Let’s address the “bathroom humor” issue. I do believe that a previous author ... read more of plays had great fun debasing the politicians and royalty of his time, stooping so low as to make fun of the obvious visible cases of syphilis that the royal family of France had contracted, but then that author was Shakespeare and I don’t think that any of today’s reviewer would actually care to detract from the original material..
Let’s look at the “Angst” issue. If I’m not mistaken Julius Marx showed his with verbal threats and physical brutality to all including his brothers and Harry Horwitz did the same but then we laughed so hard at them who could possibly not enjoy that. We knew them as Groucho Marx and Moe Howard. We could talk about William Claude Dukenfield who mad us laugh by threatening women and children, but who could not like W. C. Fields?
Let me say this about the “vulgarity issue”. I guess that Redd Fox, Lenny Bruce, Chris Rock and George Carlin are obscene pornographers that should never have been allowed to destroy the public morals.
I think that those reviewers need to access the height of the column that they have put themselves on and remember that humor like great drama is a very complex and diverse issue that any one person cannot accurately evaluate for all.
I would encourage those of you that found any humor in some of the examples I have noted, to see “Sealed for Freshness” for yourself and make your own judgment.
Thank You
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Seniors
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| 11 |
Laugh out loud at Sealed for Freshness Review by: Edith the Librarian, Feb 27, 2007 |
| I laughed just about every minute during this show. The great cast made all of the jokes work. There are also dramatic moments that may bring a tear to your eye, unless you're still crying laughing. I also loved the set and want a living room just like it (so retro-cool). If you want to enjoy yourself at the theater, see Sealed for Freshness! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Large Group
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| 12 |
It's a Hit! Review by: Regs, Feb 27, 2007 |
| I enjoyed the emotional range to this story. It was funny and then surprisingly dramatic. The set brought my back to my youth and the performances were outstanding. This was a great night out. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Business Associate
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Adults
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| 13 |
If you like to laugh Review by: Nelis, Feb 26, 2007 |
| This show is hysterical, I left with a sore face from laughing so hard. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
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Recommended for:
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| 14 |
Fantastic comedy/drama...a must see! Review by: Pat, Feb 26, 2007 |
| Fantastic...would definitely recommend this play. It takes the audience on an emotional roller-coaster. If you like to laugh but want more than just one-liners, this is a must see. Writer/director Doug Stone really hits the mark with Sealed For Freshness. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Business Assoc., Tourists
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| 15 |
A great show with strong woman roles Review by: Star, Feb 26, 2007 |
| Had a great time and a lot of laughs. The cast was amazing each had funny and emotional scenes. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, Tourists, Adults
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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