“An amiable bulldog with a level stare and desert-dry delivery, McDonagh is fine company for an hour and a quarter, and his director, Ciarán O'Reilly, has gifted him with a nifty production...The piece is about the ever-changing New York scene and it makes thoroughly clear that he is the quintessential native New Yorker, one who equally loves and loathes the city he can't do without. If you spend an hour with him in the driver's seat, you can expect a smooth, entertaining ride.”
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“Uproarious and moving...a terrifically mounted one-man show...Mr. McDonagh’s slight, old-time New York accent, gentle wise guy persona and superior comic timing perfectly realizes his well-constructed script...Director Ciaran O’Reilly’s simple yet crisp staging briskly enhances McDonagh’s storytelling with aesthetic precision as well as unifying the technical elements into a compelling presentation...It also skillfully incorporates anecdotes from McDonagh’s eventful life.”
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“McDonagh isn't the first to cite that cab driving in New York City can be downright dangerous, but he surely communicates it more colorfully than anybody else...While ‘Off the Meter’ doesn't transcend the limitations of the one-person genre, it's a gem that takes us from the world of the checker cab to the land of Uber, Lyft, and Gett. Subtitled 'Driving New York Crazy for 35 Years,' it's ironically a very sane and novel look at the Big Apple from a seasoned taxi driver's perspective.”
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“It's hard to think of anyone who could who could do justice to the New York cabby's life better than John McDonagh…And justice he does in ‘Off the Meter On the Record’…, his often hilarious one-man show...He seems more the working-class guy next door than a polished actor. Much of his stuff is very funny, the more so because it's grounded in reality...We see the embodiment of yet another New York institution on the brink of extinction, making his words resonate that much more poignantly.”
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"McDonagh’s one-man play will have you laughing at his 35-year plight behind the wheel of a NYC yellow taxi cab...McDonagh is a likable fellow, with a welcoming presence...During his well put together show, McDonagh illustrates how the city, the people and taxi’s have changed in the past four decades...McDonagh delights in his tales...The show is well paced...’Off the Meter’ and John McDonagh are a pleasant way to remember the past, while laughing away the future."
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"This thoroughly entertaining piece takes us through 40 years of loopy, can-do political gesture, misadventure, and unpretentious observation of human nature made while navigating the city he loves...The performer’s New Yawk accent i.e. his man-of-the-people roots, easy manner, integrity, and keen-eyed humanity, make my comparison to Mark Twain organic...Director Ciaran O’Reilly allows the artist to be natural, yet utilize the small stage with creativity."
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“This engaging production runs on all cylinders...McDonagh comes across as neither particularly endearing nor welcoming...He speaks with an air of authenticity and just a hint of attitude—in other words, as a quintessential New Yorker...The only problem with the show is that it’s too short...An absorbing portrait of a city and society in continual flux, as told by one who has lived through it, ‘Off the Meter, on the Record’ makes for an extremely satisfying journey.”
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