Ruben & Clay's First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show

See it if you miss your hometown community theater Xmas pageant; you yearn for the cornball, mawkish holiday specials of Como, Williams, Crosby, et al

Don't see it if you have a cheese intolerance; u hope for an Idol concert [There's precious little singing by the two]; u expect a scintilla of wit or soul.

Also Ruben Studdard has a great voice... and that is where his talent ends. He doesn't have a trace of stage presence. Clay Aiken can sing (if showy, shrieky American Idol belting is your aesthetic), but he yucks it up, prancing and mugging like an imp on crack, to the point of cringe-inducing irritation. The supporting cast are game for this hokeyness, but their talents are limited. Act 1 is full of lame, hackneyed, unfunny jokes -- attempting to capture the nostalgia of 50s & 60s TV Christmas specials. But it comes across less like the network specials of Perry Como & more like a cut-rate, self-funded cable access program. Act 2 (if you actually stick it out through intermission) is a more maudlin affair, full of cheap sentimentality that feels more like the Jerry Lewis telethon than a Christmas spectacular. There's more singing from the Idol duo, so it makes it a little more satisfying than the insufferable first act. Bottom line: Enter at your own risk.... Read more Read less

See it if Like a variety show all about Christmas.

Don't see it if Do not like Christmas, hear music about it

Also Went for its a Christmas show for fun. It was fun with singing wonderful songs about snow, bells, Santa Claus and Jesus. Clay dressing up in silly Christmas sweater. Cheesy in a good way.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Clay's and Ruben's, enjoy Christmas carols, or need something light and joyful in these difficult, complicated times.

Don't see it if you're going to take it too seriously. It's theatre, but it's not meant to be Hamilton, so relax.

See it if Ruben & Clay play off each other well. Their ensemble of 3 girls and 2 boys are wonderful singers and dancers. Lots of Christmas songs.

Don't see it if Loads of fun, though not top Broadway production values. There is a religious aspect to some of the program. Bway debuts for Ken and Julian!

See it if you want to get in the Christmas spirit and don't mind some cheesy holiday fun. Singing was great, some funny parts, other elements lacking

Don't see it if you're expecting a grand spectacle. It does come across cheap for a Broadway production, and the mad libs portion was a bit of a disaster.

See it if you want this to be EXACTLY what you’d expect: cheesy, hokey, 70s-variety-show-style holiday corn, featuring the Idol duo America fell for.

Don't see it if you’re expecting a Broadway caliber show. This is like your hometown dinner theater’s lovable if hastily thrown together Christmas pageant.

Also I’m not a fan of Christmas shows in general, so this one actively lampooning its own ridiculousness appealed to me. It also has the stupid-funny quality I loved in Getting the Band Back Together. And for American Idol nostalgia, you can’t beat this duo.... Read more Read less

See it if If you enjoy holiday musical reviews and a fan of American Idol . They tried hard.

Don't see it if Do not see if you expect a well produced musical , this is holiday fluff with sparkling lights.

See it if you just had to catch up with Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken 15 years later after seeing them on the TV show American Idol.

Don't see it if you were able to get tickets to any other musical on Broadway.

Also I was DISAPPOINTED from the moment the show began to the moment it ended. Despite the fact that these two singers have lovely voices, they are NOT musical theater performers. The show is billed as a "Christmas Show". It was POORLY constructed as a show. It should have simply been called a Christmas "CONCERT". These two headliners can really sing, despite the fact that their back up singers were often OFF KEY. This was a TERRIBLE CONCEPT and I hope that it is NOT repeated again next Christmas season. WORD!!!... Read more Read less

See it if you obviously wouldn't see this if you hadn't watched the American Idol that pitted these two together--and this was pure campy fun

Don't see it if but the attempt to make this like a 1960's TV show just didn't work and it was cliched and downright silly, but the boys were charming.

See it if mega Idols fan & up for whopping Xmas schmaltz w/ a few songs very well done. Over 2 hours long, this likely won't satisfy as much as hoped.

Don't see it if seeking a well-paced, -written, or -crafted Xmas show. Act 2 drags w/ long-winded videos for Clay's charity & testimonials by Clay & Ruben.

See it if you love Clay and Ruben. They still sound fantastic

Don't see it if you don't like over the top silliness

See it if Ruben, Clay and the talented 5 supporting cast will blow past every musical expectation you may have set upon entering; music score = 100

Don't see it if Variety show fails miserably in Act 1 and has you reaching for the remote to change the channel; mercifully reduced schmaltz in Act 2

See it if you are a fan of Clay and Ruben, and also Xmas music. They did a great job singing. The comedy acts were not funny.

Don't see it if you are looking for a Broadway production. This is a Xmas song show that tries to do too much.

Also Some of the jokes were just bad or over the top. They were trying to be edgy but it just didn't work. Glad I saw them, since they still sing great, but I would have rather had more of a concert vs. them trying to put on a show.... Read more Read less

See it if you are big fans of Rubin Studdard & Clay Aiken. They sing well in the show.

Don't see it if if you don't know or like Rubin Studdard & Clay Aiken. Rubin sang well but had little stage presence. Show was very trivial and boring.

See it if You like Clay Aiken and/or Ruben Studdard or enjoy Christmas music sung by two great vocalists. Or like corny/cheesy jokes.

Don't see it if You want a polished, sophisticated show with beautiful sets, a big cast, or a show with a plot.

See it if A fun holiday show that feels intimate for Bway with minimal patronage.

Don't see it if You hate Xmas shows or have a heart of stone.

Also R & C earn their pay and their chemistry is immense. As with last year's Broadway holiday show, this really exceeded my expectations. There is no song list in the Playbill, so it is all a hazy memory the next day. But most people had a great time. The second act video interviews of RC with photos of their youth was a nice segment. Khaila Wilcoxson is a jolt of young, sexy energy. La'Nette Wallace was a round mound of laughs. Always a treat to see Farah Alvin. Big donation sock raises funds for the show's charity, which gets a five minute video at the top of Act II. PSA with Bway prices is a fail. Ditto for Arpino, cast because he wrote this. Funny audience guest segment with Mad Libs. R is almost inaudible. I was third row center and it was an effort. Cute show. A real change of pace, but refreshing. The lighting was blinding, ruining my phone pics. No hair and MU, so a bland look on stage. Abysmal costumes.... Read more Read less

See it if I thought might get a decent, entertaining & well produced Christmas show, instead I got two singers who have been in business for 15 years.

Don't see it if The first act moves somewhat quickly but the second is rather slow and tiresome. This show has one good singer and Clay Aiken.

See it if you know/care who these guys are or want to discover Ruben for the first time. He's funny, moving, good voice/personality/sense of humor.

Don't see it if you have fond memories of Clay Aiken's singing from TV. I never watched American Idol, didn't know him, & won't be in line for his next CD.

Also Aiken is a very good sport about playing second banana to Ruben, but his singing did not strike me as anything that any number of Bway musical regulars couldn't do better. Unlike the NYTimes, for singing alone, I much preferred last year's Home for the Holidays which featured more talented singers with kitschy nonsingers & book. My prediction is that there will NOT be a second annual Xmas show featuring Ruben & Clay next year. I did enjoy that there were actual religious songs in this Christmas show (you know, about Christ who is, after all, the center of the season) & not just pop classics.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Ruben and Clay. You want family friendly. You will laugh at a bad jokes just to be polite. You are a good ole Christian.

Don't see it if You want a well written show. Want a good set, script and overall production. With all that said. I had a good time and I was entertained.

See it if You are fans of RUBEN and Clay and are into corny Christmas shows! The only savior was that Clay Aiken is still a great singer.

Don't see it if You are not into corny Christmas shows!

See it if you enjoy wonderful Christmas songs mixed with a delightful Christmas theme.

Don't see it if you are tired of the exploitation of the Christmas Holiday.

See it if you want to hear two great singing voices of our time in a delightful celebration of the holiday season.

Don't see it if you want a more traditional musical (there is no actual story line).

See it if Enjoy pedestrian Xmas music production. Are a fan of R and C

Don't see it if Not interested in Xmas music.

See it if IF YOU WANT TO START OFF YOUR CHRISTMAS CHEER A LITTLE EARLY.GREAT SINGING BY BOTH.SOME OF THE SKITS COULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED BUT OVERALL

Don't see it if IF YOU DON'T LIKE FAMILY ORIENTATED SHOWS WITH CHRISTMAS SONGS.

Also A DECENT FAMILY SHOW.A TRIBUTE TO RUBEN'S BROTHER WAS VERY TOUCHING.

See it if you just want to enjoy a simple christmas show with people you know and love

Don't see it if you're looking for a story - this is just a bunch of christmas songs with a big charity push in the second act.