I said to my husband as we left the theater "Well, this is certainly headed to Broadway!" I loved everything about it. I'm a New Yorker and I never knew this vibrant part of my city's history. The actor's were wonderful, the singing beautiful. I loved the reworking of Foster's music. The dance is exceptional. I don't understand the criticism of the set - it served the narrative perfectly to my mind. I'm sooooo glad I didn't read the Chronicle review - totally, in my opinion, misses on almost all counts. I believe they also panned An Evening with Miao Miao, which was another Berkeley Rep production a few seasons ago that also as deeply moving as it was entertaining! Paradise Square is amazing. Go see it!

My husband, daughter, and I saw "Paradise Square" last night at Berkeley Rep. Everything about it was terrific; the dancing, singing music, sets, and the intriguing storyline, which brought history to life. The Roda Theater at Berkeley Rep is small, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Our daughter is ten; this was a great way to learn about an event in American history we knew nothing about. She enjoyed the performance as much as her Dad and I did. This play received the standing ovation it deserved; Don't miss it!

This musical is inspiring, beautiful, thought provoking and original!!!! My husband, ( who is not a fan of musicals), and I left the theatre shocked by the talent of the actors and actresses in the production. I loved the historical facts given and the tie in to the problems with race we are facing in our country today. I will be seeing this again - and bringing friends. Wow - thanks for a great night out and a new aspect of history brought to life!!!! (“Nelly” had the most unbelievable voice ........!!!)

Like a previous review - " So close" - I wanted to love this show. There are fantastic performers and terrific dances by Bill T. Jones. But it's not quite right yet. It needs a red pencil; there is a great show in there somewhere. Like "Ragtime" and "Newsies","Paradise Square" is set in New York City, mixing real people and invented characters. Based on Stephen Foster songs - "My Old Kentucky Home", "Oh, Susanna!" - it weaves a complex history of the "Five Points" area in the 1860's. It was a racially-integrated neighborhood where African Americans and Irish Americans lived together. But this tapestry gets tangled and the show drags at times. In my view, this is balanced by the exhilarating dances by Bill T. Jones, which contrasts Irish step-dancing and African Juba dance. The dance-off sequences are worth the price of admission, as is the "11 o'clock" number by Christina Sajous. who blows the roof off. The over-long first act was Purgatory, but Paradise is close.

Saw Paradise Square last night as it nears the end of its run at Berkeley Rep. I SO wanted to love this show and I could feel the performers, director, writer, choreographer wanting me to love it too. And there is SO much to appreciate: the performers are top notch, the production design/values as wonderful as anything on B-way. I kept thinking to myself: "What is it? Why isn't the audience going thru the roof at the end of every spectacular musical number?" What I came away with is that the story ultimately feels uninspired because the book is spread out over too many characters and plot lines; it's hard for any of the characters stories to really pop and come together. If there is a way to amend the show so that there are two (at the very most) story lines and have the others be lessened or eliminated, I would have been loving this experience the way I could tell everyone involved in the production wanted me to. Less is more, I kept saying to myself. And less is more is what I would tell the team.

Amazing talent, singing, dancing, energy and a story with which many of us are unfamiliar. For us, the first half was way too long, 1hr 45 min, sitting in cramped chairs. The stage setting was dark, as were the costumes, and never changing, which got tiring after that length of time. The talent was there, no doubt, but our attention was lost and we kept longing for the intermission so we could get up and work out our cramps. It is a piece that takes place in 1863, in a poverty community of mixed races, which is a very timely story telling in this day and age. It was thought provoking and we enjoyed it with the exception of the length of the first half. We were not able to make the second half and were disappointed in that. I do not think that young children would understand this play, but teenagers definitely would benefit. We love Berkley and there are multiple choices of restaurants nearby the Theater. There is also a wonderful Book Store on the corner of Addison/ Shattuck.