Farinelli and the King

See it if Beautiful singing and sets. Candlelit with minimal, hidden lighting. Theater with no lighting hanging from anywhere.

Don't see it if Aimless writing focused on cheap jokes instead of pathos and emotion. Monotonous. Nothing-to-write-home-about acting.

Also What a disappointment! I'm a fan of the movie and the real story has so much that could have been used to draw one into the characters. Instead, most of the dialogue is spent on jokes and musings, deepening little of the characters motives, feelings and pains. Impossible to empathize from the writing. Whatever emotion is conveyed is done by the beautiful singing.
The acting is mediocre. Rylance being the most disappointing of all. Really sucked the life out of the king.
The anachronisms and breaking of the 4th wall were jarring and out of place. Done for more cheap laughs, taking more away from feelings.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy slow stories set in the 18th century or enjoy beautiful operatic singing. The set and costumes were good.

Don't see it if I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters/story. The plot is weak & underdeveloped w/ very little action. One note, flat & passionless

See it if you want to see an insubstantial but heavily stylistic Baroque play, saved by the great Rylance & the ethereal voice of countertenor Davies.

Don't see it if you expect heft, conflict or deep study from a new play about otherwise fascinating historical figures; you chafe at style over substance.

Also There's much to admire about this production, but the play's not the thing.... Read more Read less

See it if Mark Rylance is a must see for you, or if you are curious about castrati and Baroque music. Beautifully done by our British cousins.

Don't see it if You need strong drama to keep your attention, or if you've already overdosed on madness in the monarchy. (I fell asleep.)

See it if Love Mark Rylance. An okay play, nicely staged. interesting subject.

Don't see it if Find Mark Rylance too self-obsessed. Play is weak with not much going on. Seems to be more a vehicle for the star.

See it if you like period pieces infused with modern jokes, want to see why Rylance is a master of his craft, or enjoy countertenor style singing

Don't see it if you are expecting an accurate historical representation and don't appreciate anachronism

Also I expected a historical drama--I didn't expect it to be infused with modern comedy and while some of the jokes were funny, it took me out of it and therefore, I wasn't absorbed by the story. The acting was very good though. I thought they cleverly employed the dual casting of Farinelli is an effective way.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see some great acting by Mark Rylance and some beautiful singing by Iestyn Davies.

Don't see it if you want a more exciting narrative; the story here is somewhat basic and the plotting is a bit slow.

See it if You want to see a man on the stage who talks nonsense and screams. Dullsville.

Don't see it if You sit rear orchestra. Lots of street noise as theater is on heavily traveled street.

See it if If your not already bored with Mark Rylance giving the same performance he always gives with no inner life. Same old gimmicks and tricks.

Don't see it if Warn to care about any of the characters.

See it if you really, really want to see Mark Rylance.

Don't see it if you want compelling characters or have strong feelings (either way) about opera.

Also There just wasn't anything for me to really buy into here as an audience member. Mark Rylance is wonderful as usual, but it's not enough to make up for the lack of substance in the script.... Read more Read less

See it if you really enjoy “early music,” worship Mark Rylance (no matter the material), or appreciate counter-tenor arias.

Don't see it if you are expecting a story to sink your teeth into. This is moreso a “situation” that gets stretched-out for 2.5-hours.

See it if Mark Rylance's over-the-top histrionics please you. If you like the sound of a beautiful counter-tenor.

Don't see it if Boring history shows make you snooze.

See it if You like seeing Mark Rylancd and plays that feel like Shakespeare without actually being shakespeare

Don't see it if You don’t care about music or opera. You don’t like plays with little actual point to them

See it if You're a Mark Rylance fan. You're interested in Baroque music and a little known piece of history.

Don't see it if You want a play with passion and surprise and a deep portrayal of the healing power of music.

Also I am a big Mark Rylance fan, so I was excited to see this. I'm sad to say that I was not moved or excited by the play. It felt artificial to me (well, all plays are artifice, I guess, but the seams were showing here)--an "idea" of madness, rather than a believable portrait; a missed opportunity to delve into why and how music can heal; a strange combination of slowness and a rushed ending.

I did a little reading afterwards about Philippe V, his queen, and Farinelli, and, to be honest, I feel they were a lot more interesting than the play presented them to be. I certainly do not want a play to be a documentary--but I do want it to be as interesting, if not more so, than a documentary.

I did enjoy the lovely singing and the beautiful set. Also, several of the actors greeted audience members before the curtain rose, and that was delightful. Seeing real footlights was a treat.... Read more Read less

See it if You like overly indulgent plays with some clever writing but a fairly long and boring storyline

Don't see it if You can get tickets to something more interesting!

See it if You are into music and can follow a convoluted plot - supposedly based on real events

Don't see it if Want a straightforward play or musical

See it if you can enjoy a play that is nothing more than some beautiful, well-song arias in a well-crafted atmosphere with a few cute moments

Don't see it if you require a sensible plot, emotion, interesting and understandable characters, and acting that is more than humdrum--disappointing Rylance

See it if You admire Mark Rylance; though this is not the best use of his talent.

Don't see it if You dislike Mark Rylance.

See it if You have interest in countertenor singers, the history of castrati, Handel music. Impeccable 18th Century setting, wigs and costumes

Don't see it if Uninvolving story despite the madness and the royalty; very hard-working Rylance; there is a LOT of countertenor singing.

See it if you are a fan of Mark Rylance, or just want to see the enchanting design and absorb the unique experience.

Don't see it if you are expecting plot, character development, dramatic tension, conflict, or really a fully thought out play.

See it if you are a huge Mark Rylance fan, otherwise save your money.

Don't see it if you are looking for a stimulating and engaging evening in the theater.

See it if You love mark rylance

Don't see it if You are prone to falling asleep in the theater

See it if You enjoy period pieces with lots of anachronisms or you enjoy Mark Rylance.

Don't see it if You have other options or you don’t find mental illness funny.

Also I expected to love this play, and I was seriously disappointed. Maybe I was too tired the night I saw it. I did not find the “funny parts” funny.... Read more Read less

See it if you like period pieces. If traditional opera stagings of, say, Handel, is your cup of tea. If you an incurable Rylance fan.

Don't see it if you want your play to make your think. If you like smart scripts. If you are not into the banality of period pieces.

Also I saw it last month and already forgot what it was about. I remember it had some cute moments. Some nice arias. Traditional staging. Solid acting. And horrendously boring script. There's no point in the story, it's so trite and really meaningless. The characters are not developed, and it's not clear what the whole fuss is all about, except for a horrendous backstory of child mutilation. Mark Rylance IS wonderful, but then his role is so easy and two dimensional - my cat could have played this frail naiveté while pretending to be all scared. It was upsetting more than anything else.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Mark Rylance fan

Don't see it if you think a good play should have a good script not just a good set.

Also Even Mark Rylance couldn't save this one. My mind kept wandering throughout to other roles I would love to see Rylance in (Krapp, Falstaff, Richard II, etc.)... Read more Read less