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The Contending

Tier 4: Independent blog. Counts 20% as much as a Tier 1 review.

Reviews

20

Average

87

Highest

95

Lowest

75

148th most prolific outlet·114th most generous scorer·1 different critic
SORT:
Birthright
94

“Jonathan Spector destroys all that cautiousness and timidity with his bold, ambitious and ultimately transcendent new play, Birthright, which, not mincing words, needs to move to Broadway ASAP.”

The Balusters

“It is the kind of work I crave in a comedy-- insightful, entertaining, uproariously funny, perspicaciously comments on our time and stays with you long after the curtain comes down.”

Schmigadoon!
77

“Both musicals are incredibly entertaining and have a mad fab talented ensemble working their respective Broadway butts off singing and dancing and sillying at the speed of sound.”

Fallen Angels

“Roundabout Theatre Company and pace-perfect director Scott Ellis have awakened this quite funny if somewhat slight theatrical bonbon and mined it for all possible laughs.”

Proof
Proof

Frank J. Avella · Apr 17, 2026

90

“This formidable production to reveal the terrific twists and turns as they happen.”

Liberation
89

“This one does that magnificently, while providing seven incredibly talented female actors—and a lone male (Charlie Thurston) the kind of roles they can sink their souls into.”

John Proctor is the Villain

“This was my near-breathless reaction to experiencing the first half of Kimberly Belflower's absolutely riveting and thought-provoking new play, John Proctor Is the Villain, the second most electrifying and manipulative production I have seen this season.”

Operation Mincemeat

“All the madness comes together rather spectacularly in a show that proves that crazy-crackers outside-the-box creative ideas can beat the Nazis and can also make for a truly terrific and sometimes sublime theatrical experience.”

Cult of Love
91

“It’s also a wholly relatable theatrical experience, just in time for anyone feeling trepidation about attending familial holiday gatherings.”

Swept Away
91

“Swept Away is a riveting odyssey and if you can allow yourself to break free of genre-convention, you’re in for a thought provoking and sublime experience.”

Maybe Happy Ending

“Share on Twitter The entrancing new musical—not based on any film or book or series or album or—well you get me—Maybe Happy Ending, begins rather slowly and quietly as we witness the mundane (although not to him) day-to-day, moment-to-moment rituals that Oliver (Darren Criss), a retired robot who doesn’t realize he’s retired, goes through while ...”

The Contending - Theatre Reviews (Tier 4) | Broadway Scorecard