Good Night, Oscar (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets

88%

(519 Reviews)

Positive

95%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Entertaining, Clever, Funny

About the Show

A new play based on the true story of the unpredictable Oscar Levant's fateful late night interview.

Sean Hayes returns to Broadway in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright’s new show, about Oscar Levant: Hollywood actor, concert pianist, and the most subversive mind to show up on television during its Golden Age.

It’s 1958, and Jack Paar hosts the most-watched late-night talk-show on TV. His favorite person to have on is the character actor, pianist and wildly unpredictable Oscar Levant. Most known for his witty one-liners, Oscar's favorite was: “There’s a fine line between genius and insanity; I have erased this line.” On this fateful night, Oscar sets out to prove just that when he appears live on national TV in an episode that Paar’s audience — and the American public— would not soon forget.

Good Night, Oscar explores the connection between comedy and tragedy, the ever-diminishing distinction between exploitation and entertainment, and the high cost of baring one’s soul for the public to consume.

Member Reviews (519)

100

Masterful, Profound, Must see, Great acting

See it if Sean Hayes delivers a master-class performance. Physicality, musicality, emotionality - he gives his all non-stop for nearly 2 hours.

Don't see it if I can only recommend this show. Nothing negative.

100

Masterful, Must see, Riveting, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You want to know EXACTLY why Sean Hayes won an Oscar.

Don't see it if You haven’t read a brief summary about Oscar Levant beforehand. I think it was very helpful to know a bit going into the show.

100

Riveting, Must see, Intelligent, Great writing, Great acting

See it if you want to see Sean Hayes give the performance of a lifetime in a beautifully written play with an excellent supporting cast.

Don't see it if there is no reason not to see this play. Read more

100

Great acting, Exquisite, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if You are a fan of Sean Hayes or just want to see incredible acting

Don't see it if No reason not to

100

Must see, Masterful, Great staging, Great writing, Great acting

See it if You are looking for an acting masterclass.

Don't see it if (Sorry for not being helpful but I can’t think about something you won’t like about this show)

100

Enchanting, Delightful, Clever

See it if It’s an absolutely brilliant play with nothing but excellent performances.

Don't see it if No reason except if you don’t enjoy stirring, humorous new theater.

100

Profound, Must see, Great writing, Great acting, Absorbing

See it if you appreciate real-life stories put on stage, great acting and piano playing.

Don't see it if I don't see why you wouldn't want to see it. Read more

Masterful, Great writing, Great acting, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if you want to see an exceptional performance by S. Hayes-his performance alone is worth the price of admission, and the main reason to see it.

Don't see it if you want to see a performance based on a true event-This production is heavily fabricated and an exaggerated deviation from actuality Read more

Critic Reviews (25)

“The work is startling, but the performance is less an inhabitation of character than a nonstop loop of perfectly rendered facial tics, trembling hands and compulsive gestures. ”
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“The play, having hit its high point, wraps up quickly soon after, and it’s a letdown to return both Hayes and Oscar to Earth...The playing’s the thing, to mangle that other famous quote vehicle, wherein to catch their consciousness.”
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“While Hayes' Levant is an acerbic, self-destructive, sad-sack of a human being, there's nothing to hate or even dislike about him. Or ’Good Night, Oscar.’ Sean Hayes is just too easy to love.”
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“Hayes’ performance in ‘Good Night, Oscar’ demands to be seen. Though the play itself may not be memorable, Hayes’ acting feat undoubtedly is. ”
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“...he [Sean Hayes] turns Good Night, Oscar into one of the very few Broadway shows I have seen in recent years that truly, honestly and unimpeachably deserves its tumultuous standing ovation.”
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“ ‘Good Night, Oscar ’tries very hard to present Levant as a sort of Lenny Bruce-in-the-making – and who knows, maybe he was – but for all the hard sell, the play seems even more intent on serving as Tony bait for a hammy Hayes.”
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“That Sean Hayes transforms in the new play ‘Good Night, Oscar,’ there is no doubt. Whether the end result is a human being or a bag of tricks depends on your taste for ham.”
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“Though the supporting personae fall flat, these design elements fuse with Hayes’s performance for a powerful and cohesive character study.”
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Trailer

Creative team