"Passive aggression, as a sly and infuriating art, has surely never been practiced as entertainingly...Both a happy product of and a ruthless portrait of the collaborative process. It also turns out to present a most ingenious acting challenge, in which rage and resentment may be expressed only indirectly...This production slides from surface comedy into an unexpected realm of emotional substance, where laughter increasingly comes with a catch in its throat."
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"A meticulously observed, virtuosically performed ode to miscommunication...Director Lila Neugebauer excels at drawing nuanced, sensitive work out of her ensembles, and under her guidance all six actors turn in performances as meticulous as the set on which they move...It’s smart, it’s barbed, it revels in the wince-worthy, helplessly funny observation of human idiocy...I also left feeling wrung out."
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"The hottest comedy in New York this winter. Anyone who has ever suffered through a staff meeting will immediately recognize the passive-aggression and petty slights that dot this 110-minute howler...The troupe benefits from the leadership of Lila Neugebauer, the most skilled director of ensembles working in New York today. The complexity that she and the company bring to every moment makes this rather bland high school office a treat to behold."
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"Comedy gold in the least likely of situations...As 'Miles for Mary' finds hilarity in these petty bureaucrats and the mind-numbing minutiae of their plans, it finds a certain sympathy for them...The cast seems to know everything about these characters...Sometimes seems like the greatest Nichols and May sketch. But everything about it has been executed with an astonishing precision, and it all contributes to the overall effect...Funniest new show in town."
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"What I see is a slender premise, funny in spots and consistently well-played, but stretched out beyond its comfort zone, to almost two intermissionless hours, and lacking a certain eccentricity that might light a fire under it. For what's on stage here is a bloated ensemble effort...The Mad Ones are being a little condescending to this bunch...Neugebauer directs the intricate interplay persuasively, and the actors fit comfortably into the faculty's insecure skins."
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"The main comedic element lies in our pleasure of watching grownups behave like children and intelligent grownups behave like fools. The main dramatic element is anticipation of the blowup we are sure will eventually occur. Certainly, under the capable direction of Lila Neugebauer, this is ensemble acting at its best...The problem is that with nothing really at stake...The fact that many in the audience did find the play entertaining is the triumph of style over substance."
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“First up is ‘Miles for Mary,’ a company project from The Mad Ones, a New York City-based troupe dedicated to creating ‘ensemble-driven highly detailed theatrical experiences that examine and illuminate American nostalgia.’ Seen previously at The Bushwick Starr during the 2016-17 season, ‘Miles for Mary’ is a brilliant satire on group dynamics in an ongoing school fundraising committee told in real time.”
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"The winning play fulfills the company’s mission with little fanfare and much affection...Truly a case of creation by committee, rather than being pulled in different directions, it is amazingly cohesive. Director and cast are one. It’s hard to single anyone out because they’re so enmeshed with each other...Devoid of bells and whistles, 'Miles for Mary' celebrates the truly mundane with an eye for detail and an ear for humor."
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