Travesties

See it if you like a play that's sophisticated, funny, philosophical (re:art, politics, memory), rapid-fire, well-acted and well-staged. A wild ride!

Don't see it if you hate getting lost. Actors talk at warp speed. Read "Imptce... Earnest" first. Some peo left at intermission; I'd like to go a 2nd time.

See it if Just don't bother if you can avoid it. Numrich steals the show, the only saving grace of the show.

Don't see it if None of the Characters is treated in any interesting way. Nothing is new is learned about them.

Also Hollander's performance is embarrassing. Alternating​ from Estelle Guedes when old to Leslie Jordan when "younger"
The show is an ill-conceived attempt to discuss: "What is art?" The characters are made irrelevant by the author's only discussion in this over 2:30 hr show.
Why Lenin is mentioned at all (albeit so briefly) is anyone's guess. It could have been Mickey Mouse just as easily.... Read more Read less

See it if You prefer philosophical discussions over story and character development.

Don't see it if You are looking to have a good time and be entertained. It was not a fun night at the theater.

See it if You can appreciate a show that you might not understand till you’ve seen the whole thing, and even then it might be hard to explain it.

Don't see it if You want an easy to understand, easy to follow and easy to relate to story. This has some superb acting and is incredibly confusing.

See it if If you like an upbeat play with great writing, acting directing as well as lighting.

Don't see it if The show can get deep and needs your full attention. If you don't like humor, parody or satire.

See it if This is for Stoppard fans. He is at his early best. The staging is wonderful. the cast is super.

Don't see it if This is a play that THE CRITICS will love but the members will not. I am a member & I feel that Stoppard is just trying to show off.

See it if An intellectual delight A perfect tsunami of literature, history, theatricality, intellgence & punditry Cast is a dervish of perfection

Don't see it if Not for the feint of heart or non-Stoppard fans Dense historical/literary references (esp Wilde's Earnest) will cause much head scratching

See it if you're a fan of Stoppard or Hollander, like intelligent & absurd vocal farces, curious about DADA, Lenin & Joyce's time in Zurich

Don't see it if you're afraid of intellectual wordplay, verbal farces are not your thing, uncomfortable with British witticisms and puns or Stoppard

Also Hollander is exquisite, his facial expressions are priceless. Director's touches bring music and dancing into the production, Seth Numrich also excellent, lovely sight gags to complement Stoppard's feisty text... Read more Read less

See it if inventively brings together Lenin, Joyce, Dadaist 2 explore diff perspectives on art; hilarious farce; Tom Hollander extraordinary lead

Don't see it if at times seems as if Stoppard just wants to show how clever he is; still Stoppard's combo erudition/ingenuity/humor is amazing

Also Among Stoppard's brilliant theatrical conceptions: he uses footnote to history - dispute between Joyce & minor figure (Carr) centering on The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - as a central plot point in this play and then fills his play with characters from Earnest and infuses his play with the madcap spirit of Wilde's work. Wow!... Read more Read less

See it if you have at least a 180 IQ.

Don't see it if you don’t.

See it if You love Stoppard’s uber-intelligent plays that weave historical fictions about authors and political figures.

Don't see it if You think the majority of Stoppard’s plays are too smart for their own good & you constantly feel as though you’re missing something.

See it if you love circuses, puns & physical theater! Brilliant consideration on the purpose of art & its relation to sex among other things.

Don't see it if you need theater with a plot. There is some story but it is hard to discern in the wild staging.

See it if you have never seen a production of Tom Stoppard's gem. Acting and staging are of the highest caliber. Possibly better than the original!

Don't see it if you don't like fast-moving, witty plays with double-entendres and the like being volleyed at the audience.

See it if you want to see the best imaginable production of an early Stoppard play. It's very funny and superbly acted.

Don't see it if you don't like wordy intellectual plays.

See it if you love art, brilliant acting, writing & non stop, funny repartee; It's a plus to be well acquainted with Joyce, Lenin and Oscar Wilde.

Don't see it if you don't like farce and quick talking dialogue. Need to allow some of the glib conversation to flow over you and not think too hard.

Also I saw the final performance yesterday, which is too bad since I would have seen it again - there is a lot to absorb. Sitting in the first row was a mesmerizing and engrossing experience.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Stoppard, great acting, terrific sets&lighting.It takes you on a wild ride.Hold on & enjoy it.I can't tell you how good it is.GO!!!

Don't see it if you don't like Stoppard's brand of humor or style of writing.This is 1 of his best plays.Please go see it, & be open to something new.

See it if You have a chance to brush up on the background players. You love great writing in convoluted, multilayered, esoteric themes.

Don't see it if You dont delight in things like Wilde's Importance of Being Earnest. False identities, drawing room farce. Rapid fire overwritten dialog.

Also This play is not for sissies, you have your work cut out for you. You should do your homework and you really need to concentrate. Or alternatively one could just bask in the flood of words and action and not try to get the historical and literary word play. One could see this play a dozen times and still hear new nuances.
Tom Hollander is wonderful as is Seth Numrich. The women are slightly less resonant--not sure why. Stoppard writes very textured women, and many of the best lines are spoken by women here but dont land quite as well. Reading that offends me-but the women were more interchangeable to me. I wished that the Joyce actor was stronger and the Lenin character written with more texture--here you go--the women brought Lenin more to life than Lenin did. Its closing soon and I may try to get back to it if my schedule allows. Absolutely worth seeing. I bought at the box office but I see it is on the TKTS board nightly.... Read more Read less

See it if you like slapstick. It was sometimes funny.

Don't see it if you prefer intelligent and engaging comedy and are not into slapstick.

See it if you want to see and hear theater at its best. Tom Stoppard is pure genius. The cast and staging are impeccable.

Don't see it if you are looking for light fluff. This is satire at its most sophisticated form.

See it if high-energy British comedy about the not-very-reliable memories of a Henry Carr (wonderful T. Hollander)& historical figures in his orbit

Don't see it if would be bothered by British accents or not knowing some of the historical figures; want something linear

Also if you are unfamiliar with the characters either just go for the ride and enjoy them as just fun characters or just read a few facts on Wiki.
I am sure I missed some lines and if if it were going to be here longer it would be one of the few Broadway shows I would bite the bullet and see again.... Read more Read less

See it if Great acting, esp. Hollander & Numrich. My score reflects the fact that the show went over my head, despite my reading up on it beforehand.

Don't see it if Very fast paced, absurdist, tons of literary & historical references. If you're not familiar with them, you will be lost, as I was.

See it if you appreciate thinking-person plays; are well-versed in Modernism; don't mind being somewhat confused; are expecting lighthearted fare.

Don't see it if you must know what is happening at all times; don't appreciate Tom Stoppard's sometimes quirky and unclear decisions; don't want to think.

Also The chaotic, page-strewn Travesties set offers a glimpse of the insane world to come. A dizzying play inspired by true people and events of early Modernism: art, war, and (unreliable) memory merge here. Words are a refreshing sip of water that become tidal waves (a la The Front Page), but give the play 15 minutes and you’ll ease into its merry-go-round, frantic pacing. That Stoppard connects Joyce, Lenin, Tzara, and a court case about an actor’s trousers for a Wilde play is outrageous but smart: the play on words (“yes, yes” echoing Ulysses’ last words, in Russian “da da,” like in Dadaism) alone reveals Stoppard’s masterful power of assimilation. Travesties is well-synthesized and strangely satisfying. It does help to know Modernism, Ulysses, and The Importance of Being Ernest (I suspect anyone who does not will be confused). Fortunately studying literature for a living, I enjoyed feeling “in-the-know.” I didn’t expect so much physicality: Tom Hollander and Seth Numrich are standouts.... Read more Read less

See it if You saw it in london and you love tom hollander

Don't see it if you want to see a better revival play

See it if Love Stoppard, don't miss this production. Not his best work as it's a bit disjointed but the cast and staging make up for it.

Don't see it if Very talky and silly but not everyone's cup-of-tea.

See it if You are a fan of the brilliant writing of Tom Stoppard. Very clever play and Tom Hollander’s monologue at the beginning was outstanding.

Don't see it if You aren’t familiar with The Inportance of Being Ernest. You don’t enjoy very wordy plays.

Also I was lucky enough to have a seat near the stage so I was mesmerized by the physical and emotional energies of the actors. Not sure I got all the references but I followed enough to really enjoy the cleverness of this play. It is worth the effort.... Read more Read less