Straight White Men (Broadway)

See it if you'll laugh at the juvenile antics of grown men. You don't need philosophy; you'll settle for a slice-of-life portrayal w/its messiness.

Don't see it if you want true insight into privilege. Lee offers little POV; issues have no resolution. A cop out. Sh we like/dislike SWM? Muddy thinking.

Also SWM frustrated me. I was often taken w/its snappy dialogue, but the content was inane. Much time was expended setting up clever family exchanges. But the central issue was a mess. Sh we feel sorry for the lost brother Matt? He has a BA fr Harvard/PhD frStanford...yet he wants to just be "useful" and do idiot-work. Really? And he's suffering under student loans, but won't let his father pay them off? And he refuses to try therapy? And what about the banker brother Jake who has half-black children, but at work treats women and minorities terribly? Weirdly, they're mostly shown sympathetically. The performances are mixed; Hammer and Charles shine; the others don't (especially Ed the father, who delivers his lines woodenly). The production is polished and highly realistic..you know this because people are constantly eating and spilling/cleaning up complete with vacuuming, and there's a bathroom. There's also a framing device (and a framing of the set). No depth to this piece.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a very funny show that’s also tender and smart and full of good topical insights. Mostly great acting and clever staging.

Don't see it if You can’t overlook a few choppy moments that just don’t seem to flow as smoothly as real life does. Feels slightly forced to make its point.

See it if If you want to see a family story of brothers at Christmas, one bro foesnt live up to expectations. Poorly directed.

Don't see it if If you want a good show with substance behind d it, good directing g or something that keeps your attention.

See it if Does a privileged education obligate a person to a high-achievement life? Dad and 2 sons try to "fix" 3rd son. Enjoyed the physical comedy

Don't see it if Given how close the family seemed to be, I didn't buy their rejection of the low-key 3rd son. Writing was too heavy-handed.

See it if you want to see a fresh, funny & insightful study of human nature, familial bonds, inherent privilege, over/underachievement & masculinity.

Don't see it if you require a tidy & easy resolution to satisfy your experience; liberal guilt prevents you from sympathizing with the titular characters.

Also I implore the people who saw this in early previews (when the play was still a work-in-progress, there were last-minute casting changes, and there was a lot of public drama surrounding the production) to give this play a second look. The resulting production, once they got past the rewrites & casting revolving door, is immensely entertaining, smart, well-crafted, well-acted and captivating.... Read more Read less

See it if you like the cast who do terrific jobs, want to see funny show with "hidden" serious undertones, want to see something unexpected

Don't see it if you're expecting a tirade about male privilege, don't like men behaving like children, can't deal with a truly exasperating character

See it if Diorama by female Asian playwright. Through her lens, questions regarding testosterone, fathers, sons, siblings are questioned w/o answers.

Don't see it if Taxing white privilege and brotherly buffoonery can be overlooked by such an appealing and talented cast. Great to be back in the tiny Hayes

See it if you want an exploration of straight white male privilege that never satisfactorily cracks open the issue (but maybe that's the point?).

Don't see it if you're looking for a show that wants to present its conflict and then satisfactorily wrap it up by the end of the show.

See it if you believe that people should live up to the expectations that society thrusts upon them. This may make you reconsider that notion.

Don't see it if you’re blinded by the title. Open your mind and watch this insightful play that happens to leverage white men to discuss universal themes.

See it if You want to see a cute, albeit run-of-the-mill, all-boys family comedy with some famous (though good) actors.

Don't see it if You’re hoping for a provocative play by a hot playwright who’s known for that. This is decent, but very average. But maybe that’s the point?

See it if You like plays about white privilege and the burden it brings to some men.This focuses on a father & 3 brothers. Just go watch Armie Hammer!

Don't see it if You are easily bored by repetitive conversation and brotherly competition. Bullying Silly at times Cacaphonous music before the show

Also This play was originally shown at the Public Theater on a much smaller scale in a 199 seat theater. It has lost much of its intimacy in a Broadway theater of almost 600 seats. The story is plausible, but the conversation gets tired after the first hour. One of the brothers is bullied by the other two because he doesn’t have a set goal in his life.
Of course, the rest of the family tries to “fix” him.
The time setting is the days around Christmas. The story is introduced by some interesting gender neutral and fluid people, who drift on and off the set.
The reason I scored this and 82, is because of the presence of Armie Hammer. He was terrific. Next time I will buy a ticket in the front row.... Read more Read less

See it if Curators set up live action diorama tableau of dominant US life form. No one understands how this life form can be self-sustaining.

Don't see it if You think the domination of the privileged is meaningful and useful for all.

See it if you like shows that have you thinking & talking about the issues as you walk out.This one really makes you think about male roles,privilege

Don't see it if you don't like good theatre, don't like to laugh, don't like to think, would rather watch Jersey Shore.Just go see it!!

See it if you like a play with clever premise dealing with relevant social issues and recontextualizing them. The acting is great and sometimes funny.

Don't see it if you're very socially or politically conservative or get frustrated when the concept is better than the actual play.

See it if You like family drama. Family tradition and dynamics remain relevant to you in this hurried world.

Don't see it if You are not riveted by horseplay. You dont like being preached to even with a touch of subtlety. You dont think tough love is love.

See it if interested in an innovative social commentary about privilege & family dynamics. Often funny, sometimes muddled. Well acted.

Don't see it if you want characters that are more than just types rather than believable people: you don't want an unresolved ending.

See it if You enjoy shows which examine masculinity from different points of view. If you like plays developed within a family unit.

Don't see it if You are not interested in ecamining non-traditional societal masculine roles or are bothered by unspoken family relationships issues.

See it if you crave a night of fun entertainment presented by a good cast.

Don't see it if you expect more than a lot of funny one liners. This play had the potential to be more, instead it meanders and any message is lost.

See it if mostly naturalistic family drama about a man, his 3 sons; discussion of white privilege, funny sitcomish lines in beginning, touching at end

Don't see it if don't want unusual framing devices; don't like 4th wall broken, want clear answers

Also 2 nonbinary characters break 4th wall in beginning and bring the other characters onto the set during each scene. The play is set within a frame.
I found these bits to be individually entertaining but not sure they really added to the discussions going on in the play.... Read more Read less

See it if A family powwow over adult disappointments, privilege & unfulfilled potential is of interest. But the actors seem to be playing at charac...

Don't see it if ters not inhabiting them & are directed to make indulgent farce from truthful, painful satire. New post-sexual intro adds humor & confusion.

See it if you're intrigued by themes of gender and privilege, or if you want to see an all-star cast onstage. A fascinating exploration of identity.

Don't see it if you can't handle theatre-shaking pre-show music or don't want to grapple with heavy issues during a play.

See it if Young folks (under 30) seem to adore this show. Lot of jokes, silly bantering, a good deal of cursing. Loud music. Good for college kids.

Don't see it if For the reasons young ones like the show, older folks may not. Very loud music, silly jokes, cursing, no rhyme or reason, no real plot.

Also Three brothers and father at Christmas. They horse around like teenagers but they are around THIRTY and FORTY years old ! A few funny bits but most of it not.... Read more Read less

See it if How straight white men acknowledge and cope (or don't) with their privileges in a diversifying world built on colonialism and capitalism.

Don't see it if Discussions of privilege or seeing trans people make you uncomfortable. Lots of unresolved plot and character tensions irk you.

Also Ticket from online rush via TodayTix for $39.50.

See it if you want to see four actors (no, six actors) do their stuff. Some very interesting conversations, but the play doesn't hold together

Don't see it if you're put off by LGBTQ talk, especially in the introductory piece. Also, if you want more than just character sketches.

Also As the play ended, I was disappointed that there wasn't a clearly defined ending. Later I realized that there really wasn't a beginning or a middle, either.... Read more Read less

See it if No reason to actually see it.

Don't see it if Want a real story or better dialogue rather than cliches. Better than it was two years ago at the Public. Curtain raiser was unnecessary.