Farinelli and the King

See it if you're a superfan of Rylance. Got me in the door. Or if you just can't get enough of the 17th cent. aria canon, sung castrato.

Don't see it if you're expecting Rylance to once again transport you. I know it's just me (see other reviews) but I never cared about the king's plight.

See it if You like a Shakesperean style play with comedy!

Don't see it if You do not enjoy a more classical feel

See it if you adore Mark Rylance and are willing to see him in a play that's not as wonderful as he deserves.

Don't see it if You have no patience for whimsy or for a plot that doesn't go as deep as it means to.

See it if You love great acting, beautiful singing, and are interested in thinking about a life of power and success versus one of simple beauty

Don't see it if You hate classical singing or don’t like to spend time thinking about what matters in life and how we should live.

See it if You love period dramas, gorgeous costumes & sets, Baroque music, countertenor arias, & Mark Rylance. You can overlook a very weak script.

Don't see it if You are looking for a cohesive narrative. It is fragmented and I found it painfully dull. You don't like countertenors or Baroque music.

Also I really wanted to like this play. In fact, I extended my stay in New York specifically to see it. I am a fan of Mark Rylance and historical drama and had high expectations for the show. Unfortunately, I found it profoundly disappointing. I see that many of the early reviewers loved the show; I wish I could understand what they saw in it. The story had great potential; however, it is presented in fragments and vignettes and very little happens. It felt incomplete, and it never drew my interest.
If you enjoy countertenors, you will likely enjoy Iestyn Davies’s singing. I am not a big fan of countertenors, so Davies’s singing was not enough to compensate for the lack of story and character development. (If you are unfamiliar with countertenors, you might wish to check out one of Iestyn Davies’s performances on YouTube.)
The costumes and the set were very impressive, and the Belasco is a gorgeous theater. The actors did a fine job. I just wish the play itself was more engaging.... Read more Read less

See it if Go to see Mark Rylance, the gorgeous staging, and the beautiful sound of castrato. Really a beautiful show. Rylance is from another planet.

Don't see it if You are a philistine or you hate opera. The whole show is not an opera. Just a few songs throughout.

See it if ... you are open to a very different theatre experience: laughter, singing, great acting by Rylance!!

Don't see it if Seriously, go see it.

See it if You love great theater. The story is truly moving and the singing transported me to a different time and place.

Don't see it if It's sold out!

See it if You like Mark Rylance or superb comedy and extraordinarily beautiful music. Intelligent and brilliant.

Don't see it if You don't like history. Also, use amplifying earphones as accents are strong.

See it if You like historically based plays.

Don't see it if You like dancing