Thistles Off-Broadway Reviews

Cyndy Marion’s Thistles is an extraordinary Off-Broadway gem that masterfully weaves humor, heartache, and humanity into a deeply intimate theatrical experience. Set in a family’s dilapidated farmhouse during a global calamity, the play's themes of familial tension, generational conflict, and the weight of legacy feel profoundly relevant and universal, pulling the audience into Rebecca’s world as if it were their own. The set design is brilliantly crafted, so immersive and personal that I felt like I was a silent character in the room—a fly on the wall of this fraught but deeply relatable family dynamic. Every detail, from the creaking doorknobs to the worn furniture, enhances the raw authenticity of the story, making the audience feel the farmhouse’s history as much as the characters do. The acting is nothing short of phenomenal. Each performer breathes such life and complexity into their roles that I found myself recognizing their joys, struggles, and longings as echoes of my own. It’s rare for a play to capture the intricacies of human relationships so vividly and so honestly. I laughed with these characters, I mourned with them, and I walked away feeling like I had spent the evening in the company of family. Thistles is a poignant reminder of the ties that bind us, even when they threaten to unravel, and the courage it takes to hold on—or let go. Cyndy Marion has crafted something truly special, and this production will leave you thinking, feeling, and yearning for more.