2.5 Minute Ride...Whoosh! And What A Ride It Was! by JK Cosmos, New Rep Reviewer

Lisa Kron has a hit featuring Adrianne Krstansky. Kron keeps the pace and engages the audience without any dead space. The initial scene may have been perplexing, as Lisa, played by Krstansky, takes us on the journey and the ride, uses a pointer on a blank screen. The sound of the clicking slides, the red dot on a blank screen, all very effective. It gave the audience pause and allowed them to fill in the blank space, the white space, to create the scene based on the language of the production, not the visuals. It reminded me of art appreciation classes as an undergrad and the use of the white space, rather than color on the screen lead to images and use of my imagination. Nicely done.

Krstansky gave an energetic and well-paced performance with humor and some ironic twists. She evoked emotion and illicited a recognition in us and an empathy that crosses ethnic lines. The traditions and cultural descriptions in the dialogue transcend the Jewish experience, as many peoples identify with much of the play.

The acting was up close and personal; there is no other way to say it. The outlook despite tragedies in life, remains optimistic and positive. Who knew? I didn't expect the joi de vivre that came across despite some horrific recollections in the piece.

One short story of a German boy, who chose not to join the war and not to join the Nazi Party and his courage to be his own person resonated for me and was one of the thesis components of the play. Lisa's father feeling lucky to be Jewish, so as not to have to make a decision to choose a Nazi uniform or to decline; very poignant.

Krstansky stayed in character and moved us through the events of her life; of Lisa's life. It was fabulous!

2.5 Minute Ride (Well, really, 70 Minute Ride)

by Frank Furnari, New Rep Reviewer

Downstage @ New Rep begins its season with the roller coaster that is Lisa Kron’s 2.5 Minute Ride. Some may remember Lisa Kron from her 2007 Boston appearance starring in her other major autobiographical play, Well. 2.5 Minute Ride opens with a slide show about Lisa's family, but from the beginning, we know something isn’t quite right, we don't actually see images on the slides, only colors. Something is a little off - as Lisa says, “My family is all either dead or crippled.”

Lisa takes us on a whirlwind journey - abruptly changing time, place, and topic. We jump from family vacations where the “cripples” go on roller coaster rides, to visiting Auschwitz with her father, to a family wedding – just be sure you hold on as the quick transitions can be jarring. The piece alternates from funny moments discussing Peg’s (Lisa’s partner) reaction to Lisa’s family and analysis of the situation through her ‘therapist mind’ to the realities of horrors of Auschwitz. The jumps are occasionally confusing, but it makes you feel as if you're hearing an unscripted talk rather than a play.

Adrianne Krastansky masterfully performs the character of Lisa – one feels that she is channeling Lisa Kron. Occasionally, Adrianne falters when portraying some of the other characters - sometimes one isn’t sure who is supposed to be speaking, but when she is Lisa, she is spot on and a remarkable sight! One of the best moments of the piece is also its darkest - while visiting Auschwitz, Adrianne gets the audience to feel the dread, the sorrow, and her reluctance to even attempt to explain the experience. This play isn’t going to offer you new insight or break new ground, but it is interesting, touching, funny, and only 70 minutes long – hard to pass up, especially when you get to see such a talented actress giving a great performance.