“Noah Haidle’s new play is deftly directed by Vivienne Benesch and played with sharpened precision by this wonderful cast.”
PLAYCLOSED
Birthday Candles
Opened Apr 10, 2022 · Closed May 29, 2022 · Ran for 1 month
4 Rave
4 Positive
8 Mixed
11 Negative
Critics' Take
Critics are divided on this life-spanning dramedy, with some finding it a poignant meditation on existence while others dismiss it as manipulative, clichéd fluff. Messing's performance earns praise, but the play's philosophical ambitions often fall flat.
This show has closed. Tickets are no longer available.
Critic Scorecard
27 reviews4 Rave
4 Positive
8 Mixed
11 Negative
Sort:
““Birthday Candles” is even better.”
“Metcalf's performance is nothing short of extraordinary, finding fresh colors in what could have been a repetitive exercise.”
“This play feels like an offering, a true gift, a lesson on survival and a bold reminder to live each day with zest and adventure.”
“Not even a tacked-on final birthday scene that strains credulity can sour the simple, icing-sweet pleasures of Birthday Candles.”
Audience Scorecard
1.3K audience reviews
B
Shrugging
Awards Scorecard
2021-22 season19
Nominated
Outer Critics:2 noms
Box Office Scorecard
source · Broadway League, publicAll Time
Frequently Asked Questions
What do critics say about Birthday Candles?
Critics are divided on this life-spanning dramedy, with some finding it a poignant meditation on existence while others dismiss it as manipulative, clichéd fluff. Messing's performance earns praise, but the play's philosophical ambitions often fall flat. (CriticScore 60/100 from 27 reviews.)
Is Birthday Candles worth seeing?
Only if you're a devoted fan. Critics are mixed on Birthday Candles (60/100 from 27 reviews). Most suggest you could skip it.
What is the CriticScore for Birthday Candles?
Birthday Candles has a CriticScore of 60/100 based on 27 professional reviews. This show is rated "Mixed".
Is Birthday Candles still running on Broadway?
No, Birthday Candles has closed. It played at Todd Haimes Theatre and closed on May 29, 2022.
Theater Scorecard
Great VenueCompleted a major renovation in early 2026 with all seats replaced and legroom expanded, making it one of Broadway's most comfortable and modern houses. New restrooms significantly reduce intermission wait times.
Original Broadway Cast
- Debra MessingErnestine
- Enrico ColantoniKennethBroadway debut
- John Earl JelksMatt
- Crystal FinnJoanBroadway debut
- Susannah FloodAlice
- Christopher LivingstonBilly
Creative Team
- Vivienne BeneschDirector
- Noah HaidlePlaywright
Quick Facts
- CriticScore
- 60/100 (27 reviews)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- Apr 10, 2022
- Closed
- May 29, 2022
- Run Length
- 1 month
- Synopsis
- Each year on her birthday, Ernestine Ashworth bakes the same golden butter cake, and across nine decades the audience watches her age from seventeen to one hundred and seven in her family's Michigan kitchen. As lovers, children, grandchildren, and even a pet goldfish come and go, Ernestine grapples with questions of mortality, legacy, and meaning, confronting the joys and losses that accumulate within a single ordinary life.
- Data Last Updated
- October 7, 2026
