←Recommendations of The Opposite of ERSTWHILE

A couple of old guys sitting around talkin'... Green's exquisite ode to later-in-life transitions sublimely examines the tectonic shifts that happen over coffee as the play dissects the Venn diagram between growing old, growing up, and the precarious overlap in the middle. Another one that demands being read aloud so that the reader can channel the characters through their remarkably individuated voices and unique personas. (I had a blast!) An absolute gem for old souls and immature spirits

"Everyone needs somewhere to be." And Green gives us the most marvelous place to be - right next to three men who are navigating life after work, the nuances of friendship and the challenges of retirement. As the men look back at their erstwhile life, what really stands out is the future they are creating, the bonds they are forging and the newness and rediscovery of being who they always probably were once upon a time.

This is my first Mathew Green play and it was so heartfelt. I loved seeing men caring about each other with different levels of ease. Women often learn - certainly about married men - from their partners. I loved hearing about their lives firsthand - and I felt I knew them. Green skillfully lets the audience know what is truly going on while all of them may not know - and he kicks you in the butt at the end. These are people who have lived and are learning to offer their views.

Wow, the dialogue in this play seriously pops, painting a picture about who these men are and how they engage with the world just through diction and density alone! And those characters are distinct and lovable, even when they're curmudgeonly or running a coffee shop intervention! I love the message that it's never too late to become who you are going to be, whether or not you've already lived a life. The play is charmingly hopeful - even for those of us who think retirement sounds boring! Ha!

If I were waitressing this Old Man Coffee Club, I'd be constantly coming by with more coffee just to be sure not to miss a word. Jasper had me rolling with the many variations on the Elwood theme. And just when you think you know where it's going, there's a gentle conclusion to this amusing but tender piece that also opens the door for more.

Even in the brief time spent with these guys, one can see the many layers to their friendship and the history that they share. A great script for older performers!

Wow, I love this deep short play -- entertaining to be sure, but with undercurrents about aging, what's important, and what it means to be an older man in America. Just great. I love these guys and would gladly spend more time with them.

All three voices in this play are very clear and full of depth. And the story is so wonderful and important. Male friendships as well as navigating "life after..." are stories we don't get enough of these days. I absolutely loves these guys and would love to join them for coffee one day.

A good play for those of us who like to eavesdrop on the early morning coffee crew, and a strong, special play for beloved veteran performers in any theater troupe. Our sympathies shift and flow as we (and the characters) get more and more information throughout.
We remain hopeful that these three shall gather again tomorrow.

This charming play is an entertaining slice of life, but at the same time shows three men in varying states of transition and discovery. The personalities of the well drawn characters and their verbal jousting will make you think you're sitting at the next table eavesdropping on their chat. At the base of it all is the true affection these friends have for each other, the full extent of which is revealed in a lovely ending.