1.5 out of 5 stars

There’s indeed a lot of gruesome stuff in Rajiv Joseph’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” a two-hander chronicling the sorta platonic/sorta romantic relationship between Kayleen (Tony winner Kara Young) and Doug (Nicholas Braun) from childhood until their late 30s. Doug is always injuring himself – losing an eye here, getting into a fight there – whereas Kayleen nurses her hurt mostly on the inside, as in mental pain. But once you get the premise – and the fact the story is going to keep moving back and forth in time – the play frankly becomes a bore. And that’s in spite of some very well-realized performances. — Charles Passy

At Lucille Lortel Theatre, through Dec. 28; gruesomeplaygroundinjuries.com. (Review date: Nov. 23, 2025)