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  The Oldest Boy at Jungle Theatre

The Oldest Boy

Jungle Theatre
2951 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis

A thoughtful, moving exploration of parenthood, love and letting go, The Oldest Boy is the story of an American mother whose young son is believed to be the reincarnation of a high Buddhist Lama. When Tibetan monks arrive unexpectedly, asking to take her child away for a life of spiritual training in India, she and her Tibetan husband must make a life-altering choice that will test their faith and their hearts. The New York Times said, "'The Oldest Boy' is...marked by Ms. Ruhl's inquisitive intelligence, clean-lined eloquence and spiky humor." Variety praised the play, calling it "...extremely imaginative and hypnotically beautiful."

Thru - Dec 18, 2016



Price: $35-$48

Box Office: 612-822 7063

www.jungletheater.com



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  The Oldest Boy Reviews

Star Tribune - Recommended

"...In a wistful performance, Baldwin registers the honor of giving birth to a child considered an exalted spiritual teacher and the horror of potentially losing that child. She expresses Mother's anguish in suppressed sighs and brimming, glassy tears that don't quite spill."
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Rohan Preston


Twin Cities Pioneer Press - Highly Recommended

"...Honestly, as Ruhl addresses faith, parenting, cultural identity and education, I began to wonder if she was juggling too much. Which is why it is such a pleasure to report that “The Oldest Boy” is a play that ends perfectly, with an unexpectedly heartbreaking reminder that all of that stuff is part of life — which, from cradle to grave, is a series of goodbyes."
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Chris Hewitt


How Was The Show - Recommended

"...Curmudgeonly diatribe: there is no such thing as reincarnation. If Buddhists, and Tibetans, Hindus, Malayans, et al want to believe in it, fine, no problem. But this does not give them the right to disrupt homes and kidnap young children. For The Oldest Boy to celebrate this – does it? See the play and decide for yourself – is, well, imho, offensive. End of curmudgeonly diatribe."
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John Olive


Talkin Broadway - Somewhat Recommended

"...The Oldest Boy has a few rough spots. As written, there is a sense that we miss out on important stations in Mother's emotional journey that occurred between the scenes in act one and act two. That aside, the play and production offer a bounty of riches, opening a window into Tibetan culture, especially of merit for audiences in Minnesota, which is home to the second largest concentration of Tibetan Americans in the United States."
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Arthur Dorman


Twin Cities Arts Reader - Highly Recommended

"...The Oldest Boy, which opened on Friday at the Jungle Theater, is in many ways emblematic of the Jungle’s first season under Artistic Director and show director Sarah Rasmussen. It is edgy, delves into themes and problems that have no easy answers, and plays with the audience’s sense of what happens. Immaculately performed, it neatly sidesteps the limitations of using child actors by having its titular character played by nuanced, emotive puppetry. The only people who appeared displeased with opening night were the walk-up ticket purchasers, who were shut out after the last tickets sold 30 minutes before curtain. (The performance was actually twice sold-out, as a number of subscriber tickets were returned for resale after it first soldout.)"
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Basil Considine



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