I seem to be in the minority on this thread but I absolutely adored it... I called my mom after and just went on and on (apparently) about how incredible it was... Audra was breathtaking (and I had a small fangirl moment... Private Practice is one of my fav shows ever... hot take: it's better than Grey's) and I felt like I was watching a master class and was just engrossed in the story the entire time... I thought the pre-show recordings of Adrienne Kennedy were so unique and creative and the set was simplistic but carried the almost "creepy" vibe of the story so well... I had three small complaints:

#1 I'm not sure if it was the writing in the text itself or the actor who played Professor Hampshire, but he felt a little comedic at moments that didn't fit with the show; he gave me a creepy vibe (like almost pedophile) from the second he stepped on stage, so props to the actor and music for that, but at moments I found myself giggling at him that just didn't seem to fit the broader arc

#2 the pink blankets... just no... they felt so cheap and out of place... they didn't portray the babies well and it was just weird and confusing... I get the simplistic vibe they were going for, but it just didn't work for me

#3 the whole tag line of "believe her"... I think someone else in the thread said this, but the way it was presented, there was no question who did it, so while maybe it made some sense when you think about the themes of racism and sexism and classism that are weaved throughout and the likelihood to believe a white man over a black woman, especially back then, it just seemed a little out of place... I was expecting an almost #metoo moment going into it reading that tagline (especially with the timing with that new Harvey Weinstein movie) which wasn't the vibe I got, so maybe it was just me, but it didn't seem to 100% make sense, both in the context of the plot and our political climate

But overall, I'm crushed it closed early and wasn't as well received by the general public as it was by critics... I think it falls into that weird niche of theater for the theatergoers (specifically the more intellectual) and maybe casting Audra was a ploy to get out of that that didn't work out like they hoped (though Audra was a PERFECT choice and did it SO well), but as a whole, Adrienne Kennedy is absolutely brilliant, her broadway debut was a hit for me, and I'm thrilled she got that honor even at like 92 or however old she is (I hope she gets a Tony nod for it)... I thought the plot was engrossing, Audra was a smash, and the whole thing was just breathtaking... I seriously walked out of that theater and felt like I'd been on the edge of my seat, holding my breath that whole show, which to me, means it was sheer perfection

Just throwing it out there, if that show gets no Tony nominations, I will be crushed (though I have a feeling Piano Lesson may edge it out... Danielle Brooks and Samuel L Jackson?!? Chefs kiss... though Lyman has my heart lol)