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The Humans (Chicago)

Theatre

The Humans (Chicago) Tickets

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Rating: 3.3 out of 5 based on 30 reviews

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About

Stephen Karam’s The Humans is an uproarious, hopeful, and heartbreaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate and give thanks at his daughter’s apartment in Lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the Blake clan’s deepest fears and greatest follies are laid bare. Our modern age of anxiety is keenly observed, with humor and compassion, in this new American classic that won the 2016 Tony Award® for Best Play.

Photo by Julieta Cervantes. National Tour cast of THE HUMANS: Richard Thomas, Pamela Reed, Daisy Eagan, Luis Vega, Therese Plaehn

Reviews

Rating: 3.3 out of 5 based on 30 reviews
  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    terrific play, wrong venue

    by ghrhfgh on 2/11/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    We saw this play 3 years ago at a small theater and enjoyed it immensely. It is about an intimate gathering of a family, and as such demands an intimate setting, i.e. a small theater. In the Cadillac Palace, a wide open house seating probably 1500, it didn't work. The actors, instead of projecting their voices as good actors do, were reduced to yelling. Still, with the acoustics of the house, there was reverb and echo that rendered many lines impossible to hear. To its credit, the theater has employed a sur-title system, of sorts. But it's made essentially of flashing lights, off to the side of the stage, so that it's distracting rather than helpful, and it only shows about four words per line as it scrolls quickly through the script. I think a wider stretch of text positioned above the stage, like Lyric Opera does, for example, would be much better. It was too hard to enjoy this wonderful play.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Good acting, OK play.

    by CIPN on 2/10/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    This is an entertaining play where nothing much happens. The acting is top notch but the story is pretty straightforward and simple.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Flawless

    by Wnewt on 2/10/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    The acting is flawless and the play hits home on many levels. It's enjoyable and hilarious on the surface and I think it's worth seeing at that level alone but the surreal touches take it to a whole different level not so funny and actually scary.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Touching and real

    by Abogada on 2/9/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    Amazing performances! Really felt like I was watching a family I knew!

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    The Humans

    by Anonymous on 2/9/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    Did not enjoy seeing The Humans play. The whole story was about a family getting together for Thanksgiving and dialogue about their lives. I kept expecting more to happen and it never did. Was bored and very disappointed in the story line.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    So Disappointing!

    by Anonymous on 2/7/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    I had seen the reviews of the New York production and they were so superlative. I couldn't wait to see it here and bought tickets right away. I was so extremely disappointed. I'm rarely that out of touch with the critics, but this was just dreadful. The acting was fine, and we had great seats, but the story was just ridiculous. Mainly because there was none. I read tons of character-driven fiction and know that it can be interesting but this was just a bunch of random people on stage and it wasn't interesting or compelling in any way. Save your money.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Great Performance from an Excellent Cast!

    by Gubmoni on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    The play opens with family humor showing the relationships with each family member as they enter the apartment for the first time. Each character is carefully revealed to the audience at a comfortable pace. As their individual despair, frailties and humanity are established, the play takes a darker turn into the sadness that exists in the parents. The Irish Family Humor is presented in a wonderful way with each performer showing why they earned their respective roles on this cast. Wow, we loved it in case this was not already made clear!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Humans is brilliant!

    by Theatrenerd1 on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    Richard Thomas and Lauren Klein give two of the most sublime performances that will be seen this season. The entire cast bring to life a brilliant, humorous, moving play. Cast, play, direction, set are beautiful.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Not as funny as advertised

    by Tates1231 on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    The reviews use claims of hilarious, rip-roaring laughter, etc. Our audience did not agree. It was a great story about family dynamic with pellets of humor throughout but in no way did we leave this performance feeling lighthearted from laughter. We enjoyed the story line of family dynamic and the actors performances.

  • Rating: 2 out of 5

    The Humans

    by DevorahB on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    I think this play was very flat. I did not find it funny at all and it lack continuity. At the ending was so boring. I did enjoy seeing Richard Thomas but that was it. I feel like I wasted my money. Very disappointed.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    Not Recommended

    by chigal99 on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    The four of us who saw the play would NOT recommend. We see a decent number of shows each year and this has to be one of the worst. I was looking to a family drama set over Thanksgiving. And while, I guess, some of it is believable it's also very predictable (parents not thinking their first apartment is good enough). Mostly what makes it so horrible is: no character development (you don't feel close to any of them; very removed so unreliable); No cohesive plot, many "so what" points (is the mom sick? dad infidelity? daughter is in retail or music? hard to know!) Such a week plot and and ending that leaves you thinking, what? Highlights: 90 minutes & no intermission so at least it goes by quick!

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Fantastic

    by Jdd1980 on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    It was awesome. Emotionally charged and hit many family dynamics, some close to home; which made it all that much better.

  • Rating: 4 out of 5

    Some very fun lines

    by MARICH on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    While I wouldn’t consider this a comedy by any stretch there are some really funny one liners in the play to break the tension. This play is about life; the struggles many face and an opportunity to put our own life in perspective. More thought-provoking than entertaining. The 90 minutes takes you away to their place/lives.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    A waste of a Tony win

    by Seeingashow on 2/6/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    This was one of the most boring plots I have ever sat through. My Thanksgiving dinners have more drama. It must have been a slow year for plays in 2017.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    The Humans lived up to its name.

    by zowi on 2/5/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    This production about a family at Thanksgiving was so painfully--and beautifully--human. It made me want to hug all my family members. I think it absolutely did its job as a work of art to enlighten the human condition.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    Not worth it

    by BettyQ on 2/4/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    I was really looking forward to seeing this play. The actors were terrific, but the storyline just didn't cut it. It seriously came from the book of life from a zillion families I know. My husband said he could just go to one of our large family parties and hear the same thing, LOL. I just don't think *SPOILER ALERT* an affair and losing a job are so uncommon. I was very surprised to hear that it won the Tony Award for best play. I go to a LOT of theater. This just didn't cut it.

  • Rating: 1 out of 5

    Boring story line

    by amt318 on 2/4/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    I was excitedly anticipating this play but was disappointed. The story line was boring. The actors were very good but they couldn't make up for a flat story. Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend this show.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Compelling !

    by Shar5 on 2/4/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    Fantastic cast sharing their families journey, something everyone can relate to!

  • Rating: 3 out of 5

    The Humans

    by NewMusicFan on 2/3/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    The Humans is a wonderful comedic drama about the foibles and frustrations all of us must overcome to make our way in the world. But, it was a poor fit for the cavernous Cadillac Palace Theatre. In my opinion, The Humans is best presented in a smaller format and a more intimate environment. This is a five-star play if presented at Steppenwolf, or Goodman, or Victory Gardens. Unfortunately, the play suffered from the producers' decision not to add microphones to these wonderful and talented performers as their best efforts were swallowed up in the vast space of the Cadillac Palace.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5

    Disappointing Humans

    by PlayAficionada on 2/2/18Cadillac Palace - Chicago

    This performance of Humans was too long. Always suspect when there is no intermission, so many would have left. Very poorly directed: backs of actors to audience at table, shrill, stretched on and on. Grumbling in the audience and paltry applause.