Laugh to Keep from Crying (2011 Video) User Reviews

Womp womp!

[kalivingston01 · 2/10 · 30 October 2011]

I don't understand the point of it. So predictable and typical characters are present (lonely, bitter woman; sassy sister; crazy male comic relief, menacing , violent male and savior male with nice biceps). I LOVE theater and I LOVE Tyler P. but this story is lacking depth, fresh characters and reality. Instead of real characters, it seems as if the characters are caricatures of individuals with little believability. Songs are inserted just because...And the same actors are just rotated from other plays...time for new talent. I know that there are thousands of folk that would die to be in one of his plays, but its the same ppl all the time. New play...same actors, same underlying plots, same song inserts (including impromptu "old school gospel medley") and same...well, you get the picture. Great set, voices, clothes, and costumes though...very nicely done!

Appreciated the comic relief even in dark circumstances

[shamontielvaughn · 7/10 · 28 February 2013]

If you've seen any of Tyler Perry's other plays, you've seen this one before. Nothing about the plot will surprise you, but I like the play anyway. Actually I prefer all of his plays over the movies because his plays are character driven. The cast was great, but the standout roles to me were Palmer Williams Jr. as the crazy landlord; the two white tenants played by Wess Morgan and Stephanie Ferrett; and the son played by Donny Sykes. I'd definitely like to see them in more of his work although we already see Palmer on "House of Payne" acting crazy as ever there, too. But Donny Sykes is funnier and I like it when the two of them have scenes together. The play is about a bunch of tenants living in the hood who are trying to deal with the pitfalls of prostitution, violence and unemployment. But what I like about Tyler Perry's play is that it shows that through all of these trials and tribulations, the tenants still manage to find a lighter side and have some fun, as any hood would. I definitely could've done without all the singing. I wasn't into any of the songs (although I usually like musicals) but since I wasn't impressed by the songs it just seemed like overkill.