Written by Liz Flahive
Directed by Leigh Silverman
Synopsis:
Manhattan Theatre Club in association with Ars Nova present the world premiere of From Up Here, Liz Flahive's new American play which concerns a high school senior who needs to apologize to his entire school for something he did
NYTHEATREREVIEWS.COM:
"With its impeccable performances and an overall design that borders on perfection, From Up Here is one of the best new shows of the season. Cheers to Manhattan Theatre Club for stepping out of their box and taking a chance on a controversial play from a very young playwright; a step in the right direction."
NEW YORK TIMES:
"But Ms. Flahive’s casual avoidance of hand wringing and sententiousness brings a breath of fresh air to a subject more often accompanied by torrents of the hot kind. There is nothing of the after-school special in Ms. Flahive’s treatment of this Important Issue. The play has the bouncy humor of a quirky-family sitcom, but in this case the usual adolescent afflictions — acne and awkwardness, mean girls and cruel jocks — take a back seat to something larger, darker and more mysterious. "
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:
"The play, which was developed at the Ars Nova theater, marks the Off-Broadway debut of Flahive, 28, a former magazine beauty editor. From where I sit, "From Up Here" introduces a fresh new voice and a writer whose work is more than skin-deep. "
Read the whole review HERE.
THEATERMANIA:
"But what truly makes From Up Here one of the best and most emotionally satisfying works this season is its generous, yet fully earned, compassion. Here is a play about the now-requisite dysfunctional family, but one that, for all their pain and suffering, is pulling itself together rather than apart. "
Read the whole review HERE.
TIME OUT NY:
"Showing a surgeonlike precision for character giveaways and mood shifts, Flahive dramatizes the tortures of domestic life, showing how the urge to escape can lead to violence and curdled rage. Her script is full of quick-witted jokes (especially in the mischievous persona of Will Rogers, who plays Lauren’s dorky suitor), but the final scenes are near-harrowing, as the half-capable, half-crazed mother and her humiliated son acknowledge their mutual state of damage. Under Leigh Silverman’s spotless direction, a perfect cast does this smart, moving script justice by baring all. "
Read the whole review HERE.
VARIETY:
"There are moments of acutely observed emotional truth here, but getting to them requires considerable wading through self-conscious quirks in a play whose flaws might have been less evident in a more rough-edged presentation. "
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK SUN:
"The play arrives like a gust of fresh air all on its own, a gem of a debut in a near-flawless production. "
Read the whole review HERE.
NEW YORK POST:
"The evening's tone feels particularly misplaced when we eventually learn the details of Kenny's transgression, which is too disturbing to be placed in such a lighthearted context."
Read the whole review HERE.
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