"It’s only Ms. Sun up there, switching voices with such nimbleness that she rarely relies on monologue. The show is made up almost entirely of scenes between two or more characters, and each blooms into life as naturally, and fully, as scenes in a traditional full-cast play...The production is so full of vivid life that the prospect of calamity seems incredible."
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"Seeing Nilaja Sun perform solo is like watching a virtuosic musician. The masterful way she plays her instrument—her chameleonlike self—inspires awe as she conjures a vibrant community alone onstage...It tries to tackle a few too many big ideas, from the power of nontraditional medicine and the ineptitude of local government to classicism and racism, all tied up with an overwrought ending. But such flaws are pretty much eclipsed by Sun's brilliant performance."
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"Sun's ability to turn on a dime, flipping between characters in a few words or less, often gives one the feeling of three or four people on stage when in fact there is only one...The piece suffers from a lack of dramatic structure; having introduced everyone, Sun pretty much lets them natter on...During its lengthy buildup, however, 'Pike St.' often seems to wander in no discernible direction...'Pike St.' would benefit from more pauses and fewer paragraphs."
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"Hurricane Delores doesn't hit until 75 minutes in — and five minutes later, the evening is over. We see almost nothing of what Sun is seemingly promising throughout...The underlying artistry, however, is as good as it gets, thus making the whole endeavor as instructive as it is frustrating...If Sun can mold it into a work whose story and execution are as dazzling as she is, 'Pike St.' could well take all of New York by storm.'"
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"'Pike St.' is a must-see and one of the best plays in New York City. I wish there was some snazzier way to put it but the story, character, and aesthetics are phenomenal. It's a heartbreaking and hilarious, filled with life but has the shroud of mortality hanging over it...I the could have watched another 3 hours of this performance. Each character was so effortless drawn up through Sun’s voice and body."
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