Labels: Boom, Critics

I am not sure about this play...intriguing and provacative but also very esoteric and confusing....I do like experimental theater and this is certainly an experimental piece. I found it absorbing and disturbing so for that purpose, I would recommend seeing it.

by  James Heneghan, at 10/01/2009 10:21 AM

A wonderful experience - thank you!

"Boom" was delightful - well-produced, well acted and surprisingly polished. The concept, surreal but plausible in a fantastic way, was REAL science fiction, not the childish swill being served up to a 13-year-old audience at the local cineplex. Food for thought!!

The theater was great - easy parking, surprisingly comfortable, tons of good food and booze nearby.

by  Mike Stoken, at 10/01/2009 10:53 AM

Although this was a middling production from Next, I thought the acting of the two principals was very good and their story engaging. Contrary to another review I've read where the reviewer just didn't understand the play, we do know what happens to the characters, not immediately after they exit the stage together(not to give away too much!), but in the evolutionary future. The character of the museum docent shows us that future. Everything else about the docent, however, felt amateurish. Her story was not that interesting, the interpretation of the character too mundane. Direction seemed lacking here. Her costume looked like a cheap Halloween costume, but maybe I've missed the point here. The set, on the other hand, was intersting and clever. Parts of the play were very funny, but the frequent f-bombs probably bothered some older members of the audience for whom the word still holds its original meaning.

by  Mary Beth, at 10/01/2009 11:23 AM

I am so sorry to say I thought it was just awful
The actors did a great job not their fault
I think the problem lies in the essence or thought How to make sense of creation For me it was just a poor effort Actually a most impossible task for a short play
Sadly I could not recommend this play to friends

by  Anonymous, at 10/01/2009 9:36 PM

As always, the acting on Boom was beyond anything I see in any regional theatre. I can't say enough about the brilliance of the those people.

Now the script was something else.

I won't belabor the point, I thought it was confusing and almost impossible to understand.

Next has produced some excellent theatre, but this won't be one that people will remember I'm afraid.

by  Rob Mark, at 10/02/2009 12:28 PM

I enjoyed this play a great deal. The story explains itself quite adequately as it goes along, asking us throughout to contemplate (primarily) existence and evolution. It is an engaging, sometimes funny, and thought provoking story with a perfect unexpected twist at the end. I was puzzled about the purpose of the heroine’s constant M-Fing (it seemed pretty superfluous), but otherwise the dialogue maintains interest and keeps it fast paced. The acting was exceptional all around, the direction/production very good, and the set was great (as usual). Highly recommended for anyone looking for something beyond Hollywood fare. Perhaps not among the best that Next has done, but certainly above their average, which is still high praise.

by  Joel Weiner, at 10/04/2009 4:05 PM

The actors tried hard. The play was poorly conceived and written. The themes were blurred, allegorical meanings subdued. I kept thinking my librarian aunt would say, "Anyone that uses so many vulgar words shows a poverty of vocabulary." It was an effort to sit through to the end, but with no intermission I couldn't leave gracefully. Shame on all of you.

by  Unknown, at 10/06/2009 11:45 AM

I thought it was a brilliant play in every way. My only qualm (spoiler alert) was that the last time evolution went from fish to humans it took over 300 million years, not 65 million years. Otherwise, high praise to Next for this production, and to the author for everything except what a quasi-paleontologist would notice.

by  Robert Peterson, at 10/06/2009 1:30 PM

I really enjoyed this play. This was my first time going to this theatre, and I would go back. The set design was terrific, and the narrator was hilarious. I enjoyed the acting of the main characters as well. Nice job!

by  Anonymous, at 10/06/2009 1:51 PM

I should have watched the guppies! $80 and 80 minutes I'll never get back.

by  Carsh, at 10/06/2009 2:58 PM

My daughter and I thought this was great fun. We believe it would be a great movie one day.

by  Anonymous, at 10/06/2009 2:58 PM

Some very fine moments in a mediocre show. All three of the actors were solid, and should be commended; most especially the actor who portrayed Barbara impressed as she convincingly delivered the character from staid efficiency through to her escalating weirdness/madness/disintegration. Sadly, the play itself seemed to ‘go off the rails,” leaving me with mixed feelings. Language wise, less would have definitely been more, as the repeated swearing became a distraction rather than a positive contribution to the storytelling. Overall this was like a potentially interesting 2nd or 3rd draft of something that with considerably more fine-tuning could have been much better.
I’ll still be back though, because Next has given me many fine experiences through the years, and even the lesser ones leave me with something to think about, as this one does.

by  pjeau, at 10/06/2009 5:37 PM

Boom was a Bust! We felt it was too sophmoric and had little depth.

by  Anonymous, at 10/06/2009 9:49 PM

I liked the concept of the play very much, and the acting was fine; but, as you know, it just didn't work. I sat in an audience that was deathly quiet, so that my every giggle was heard. If the playwright is going to work on it further, I'd suggest fewer f-bombs and a general toning down of the female character--she was so over-the-top all the time that it became grating. She also spoke so quickly (part of her explosive character) that a lot of "funny" lines were lost. Also, if the curator/narrator character had been a little more serious, professional, I think the story line would have been clearer.

by  Anonymous, at 10/07/2009 12:03 AM

Our first Next Theater experience. We were generally pleased at the quality of this play. It took us a few moments to realize that this was supposed to be a "museum" but after we caught on, it was very funny and thought provoking. We enjoyed the acting which we thought was quite good. We recognized Kelly O'Sullivan from her performance at Northlight Theater where we are regulars. She did the same "mount" in the other performance. :) John Stovis did an excellent job of protraying his character, in fact Shannon Hoag did a very good job as well. The set designer should also be commended in producing a convincing set for this play. We recommend this to anyone with a good sense of humor.

by  Anonymous, at 10/07/2009 12:59 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed Boom. I had the fresh, original quality that I usually get at Next, different than at the other theatres I attend. The Next productions usually stay with me, in my mind, longer than at other theatres and Boom did, too. I asked Jonathan after the show why the Chicago reviewers were down on it...what happened to that show. Maybe it was the state of the moon on opening night..........

Keep up the good season and don't let the critics get you down! The audience appreciates what you all do.
Carol Doctor

by  Anonymous, at 10/09/2009 1:51 AM

I want to thank everybody for their passionate comments about "boom." Part of what excites me about theater is the diversity of opinions a play can elicit and, while I'm sorry that the language put some people off of this play, I am thrilled to see how much dialogue came out of the viewing. This 29th season is a diverse offering of plays and I hope you'll all stick around and see the rest... and there are fewer swear words in the remaining four plays put together! We are also looking for folks who would like to participate in a focus group of our audience, so I welcome any volunteers. Please e-mail me at jasonsoutherland@nexttheatre.org.

Don't miss "End Days" by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Previews begin October 29th and it runs through November 29th.

by  Anonymous, at 10/16/2009 12:01 PM