The Great Society

See it if want to see Brian Cox on stage, else no reason.

Don't see it if want characters with any kind of depth - each was just a name and a way to tell the story. not much action onstage - it happens off.

See it if You like historical re-enactments with actors trying out accents as they assume the characters of historical figures.

Don't see it if You like motivation and character in your historical characters, not bullet points and anecdotes.

Also This didn't work at all for me on any level. Everyone seemed to be shouting. The characterizations were card-board cutouts. Events whizzed by at a ridiculous rate so nothing would be left out. There was no one I could relate to as a person.
Everyone was just a talking point.
Surprising coming from the playwright of "All The Way".
Too much material not enough humanity.... Read more Read less

See it if you are very interested in the history of the Johnson administration. Its more of a history lesson than a play. the cast is excellent

Don't see it if you have no interest in the the 60's. Cast portrays many characters and if you are not familiar with the period it can be confusing

See it if you can find a cheap ticket - I got a great seat at a very low price!

Don't see it if you're looking for something fully rounded.

Also The pacing was odd - I think it tried to cover too much. But I learned a lot about LBJ.... Read more Read less

See it if Want good acting and comment.on history repeating itself. Interesting take on historical hindsight

Don't see it if Don't enjoy political history as the baseline for your plays. A bit slow paced so if you are easily bored.

See it if You like American History and don't mind if the characters, as written, don't stand up to the real people

Don't see it if you have used audible.com to listen to Dallek's 1,200 page book on LBJ or Caro's 5 volume set

Also If you want to really know the story you must read or listen to Caro's 5 volume set... Read more Read less

See it if you're a history buff who enjoys seeing great actors perform a by the numbers pageant.

Don't see it if you already weren't bowled over by "All the Way." This isn't necessarily a step up.

Also I love political history and rather enjoyed "All the Way" a few years ago, but I didn't think it was necessarily a great play. It was compelling & entertaining, but wasn't crying out for a continuation. "All the Way" was also a play specifically about something, LBJ's fight with MLK for Civil Rights legislation. GREAT SOCIETY doesn't have the same narrative focus. It's just the story of the 2nd term. A little Civil Rights, a little Vietnam, etc. Brian Cox is commanding as LBJ, even if he doesn't resemble him all that much, but I don't mind that. I would rather a good performance than a detailed impression. The rest of the cast is excellent but also mostly wasted. So many great characters from history are reduced to bit roles in brief scenes. Most of the talented cast is forced to be in the background in various wigs. The writing just doesn't support what this cast is capable of and the production feels claustrophobic & crowded on the thrust of the Beaumont.... Read more Read less

See it if You're intent on seeing anything involving LBJ and/or Brian Cox, even if the quality is mediocre.

Don't see it if You expect top quality staging, a well-edited and managed script, a carefully managed cast... Oh, I could go on and on. It is a chaotic mess

Also I was very disappointed with the play, having seen "All the Way" with Bryan Cranston five years ago. This play is the equivalent of a Ken Burns documentary series, that should span six two-hour episodes into a play that's under three hours but feels much longer. Somehow, the playwright decided he had to include absolutely everyone and every event that occurred during the final period of LBJ's presidency. We know how it ends, but the route leading there could have been shown with far fewer actors and better designed scenes. The backdrop of TV screens showing images of the periods makes the entire scenario one big jumble. I didn't think the acting was very good, either. Brian Cox sounds like Logan Roy, his role in "Succession," while Barbara Garrick uses a Texas accent as Lady Bird and Bryce Pinkham a Boston accent for RFK. It's too much crazy in one play.... Read more Read less

See it if you need a compact history lesson and you love testosterone-filled (good) ensembles

Don't see it if you actually like plays.

Also this is the fourth show I see at Vivian Beaumont Theatre that has the exact same apparently-fast-but-actually-prolongued pace, almost all-men ensemble (women are accessories), pseudo-history-lesson format. I always leave thinking that these are three hours I will never get back.... Read more Read less

See it if you like political drama, even those that are more a pageant of events than real drama.

Don't see it if you are not interested in recent American history.

Also It feels more like a history lesson than a play. Although it covers some of the most tumultuous years in American history, it offers no new insights into either the events or any of the cast array of historical figures. Brian Cox is fine as LBJ but some of the other key roles are oddly miscast.... Read more Read less

See it if If you are a devoted LBJ fan or history buff and don't care if the play is good or not.

Don't see it if you want a play to show you something, not just tell. It was like a Power Point acted out - didn't get behind events to reveal character.

Also I loved "All the Way" and lived through the events depicted, but this play was a real disappointment - static, talky, and could have done so much more to reveal character . Instead, was like a human timeline.... Read more Read less

See it if You like dry, instructive, historical drama with little characterization and less heart. Well acted and serviceably staged, but zzzzz.

Don't see it if You prefer plays that have a heartbeat.

See it if You would like an update on the history of the mid 1960s or want to see how so many wonderful actors can have their talents obfuscated

Don't see it if You are looking for insight into LBJ’s character

See it if you want a high level overview of LBJ's presidency

Don't see it if you are expecting the cast to resemble ANY of the actual characters portrayed. The only decent casting is Lady Bird Johnson

See it if You are curious to see the follow-up to “All the Way.” Brian Cox gives a full-punch performance and much of the writing is great,

Don't see it if Seeing a production which ultimately fails to illuminate LBJ would leave you dissatisfied.

See it if you are interested in recent US history and President Johnson in particular and /or want to see the sequel to "All the Way"

Don't see it if you are not prepared to sit through a rather dreary history lesson overstuffed with facts, figures and historical characters

See it if Don't see it.

Don't see it if You don't want be put to sleep.

See it if you enjoy historical plays or are interested in LBJ.

Don't see it if you don't like historical pieces.

See it if you have a penchant for this time in history or Brian Cox.

Don't see it if you want to see work that advances the form. You don't enjoy dry and manipulative historical retelling.

Also It's a bit dated in it politics. Not quite woke as they say....
This will put you off if you prefer a more critical (or at least grey) portrayal history.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re a fan of LBJ and his doings. I find these subjects boring and banal. They gave it a good effort - relevant for today’s politics

Don't see it if You aren’t a fan of regurgitating old Problems reflected in new ones

See it if You need a history lesson.

Don't see it if you dislike overproduced, amateurish, civics lessons.

See it if You really like those biopic movies that are basically a big performance for one actor, and a structure of event and event.

Don't see it if You are hoping that they could take this period of history, all these resources, and a large and talented cast, and actually illuminate.

See it if Despite solid performances, this was a heavy and uninteresting slow burn. Tough to stick with especially at 3 hours. A monotone play.

Don't see it if You don’t like heavy political works.

See it if you want a live Cliff Notes version of the mid ‘60s In the US with LBJ at center stage.

Don't see it if are expecting a worthy sequel to All the Way. The writing is weaker with little depth of characterization. Brian Cox is not well-cast.

Also While its intentions are noble, it comes across as a long slog.

See it if you want to learn more about the politics of LBJ.

Don't see it if you saw "All the Way" and expect the same complex portrayal of LBJ - a flawed man trying to do the right thing. This LBJ just yelled a lot