Adam Wildavsky

See it if Ivan van Hove's staging is not to be missed. Everything about this production is worthwhile. It compares favorably to the great 2009 revival

Don't see it if The only reason to miss this is if you never enjoy musicals. An hour and 45 minutes with no intermission is too long for you.

Also Everything a Broadway musical should be. This show opened in 1957 but the issues it covers are more relevant than ever. Seeing it a mile from where it's set only adds to the experience.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the 1960's, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war, and the ramp-up of the welfare state.

Don't see it if You're looking for a plot or drama.

Also Brian Cox did a credible job playing Johnson, but the play was not critical enough of LBJ and his policies. My favorite parts were watching the actors playing Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, and Robert McNamara. I did not find the portrayal of Martin Luther King as compelling.

I'm looking forward to the fifth and final volume of Robert Caro's biography of Johnson for more insight into this period.... Read more Read less

See it if You're a Chekhov completist. But this did not improve upon the original.

Don't see it if It bothers you to see men playing female characters for no apparent reason.

Also I saw this the same weekend as "Life Sucks", another reimagining of Chekhov. This production suffered in comparison.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy well-written plays. You appreciate a sophisticated approach to leadership.

Don't see it if You are impatient with cast members who occasionally forget their lines.

Also The entire cast gave strong performances. Robert Cuccioli was riveting as Julius Caesar.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy musical comedy.

Don't see it if You care only for shows from Broadway's golden age. You're looking for strong, memorable melodies.

Also Excellent performances from David Schramm, Allie Trimm, Robert Picardo (yes, from ST:Voyager), Ray DeMattis, and Raji Ahsan.... Read more Read less

See it if You like to see Broadway spoof itself. You appreciate that not all claims of good intentions are sincere.

Don't see it if You're looking for a deep take on homophobia or small-town attitudes.

Also Angie Schworer was a stand-out as Angie. It was great to see Shakespearean actor Michael Potts as Mr. Hawkins. I knew him only as Brother Mouzone on The Wire.

The show tries valiantly to escape its NYC Leftist preconceptions and mostly succeeds. The only unnecessary digs I noticed were at the expense of Fox News and Indiana.

I found the idea that one could reach teenagers through reasoned conversation charming but naive. I can't recall it often working when I was a teen!... Read more Read less

See it if You have to see everything Nathan Lane participates in, no matter how painful. You relish scatological humor.

Don't see it if You're looking for something intelligent.

Also I despair for a world where people enjoy this play - it got a standing ovation. To call it post-modern would insult post-modernism. Until now I did not think that possible.

The cast did a fine job with the material they had. My only criticism is their choice of roles. I could see Bill Irwin’s influence in Nathan Lane’s movement, especially early on. Next time I hope to see Irwin himself.... Read more Read less

See it if You have an interest in the life of the mind. You want to understand why philosophy is relevant to life. You love drama.

Don't see it if You're not at all curious about how the ancient Greeks created the basis for the modern world. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was enough for you.

Also In a strong cast, David Aaron Baker was outstanding as Anytus, one of Socrates' accusers. He shows why the Athenians might have felt threatened by Socrates and demonstrates the power of an appeal to emotion.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy a study of the relationship between the individual and the state, a la Antigone.

Don't see it if You seek escapist fare. You think 100 minutes is too long for a play with no intermission.

Also A compelling illustration of some of the realities of life under a totalitarian regime.

Michael Meth gave a standout performance as Sigmund. Kristen Gehling was incredibly sexy and intelligent as Maya.

The rest of the cast was strong as well. This late Arthur Miller effort should be performed more often. I enjoyed it much more than I did The Ride Down Mt. Morgan.... Read more Read less

See it if You want an empirical demonstration of the importance of free speech, not just an academic exposition.

Don't see it if You believe that words have an intrinsic power to hurt, and not, as LB put it, that it's the suppression of the word that gives it its power

Also The show takes a different approach than the 1974 film. I enjoyed both but the show dragged in places. I felt for Bruce's audience members near the end of his life and career, who judged that he was no longer funny. It's true enough - he had something more important than comedy to convey.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy fun musicals and think it's possible to treat people well without being pummelled by social justice tropes.

Don't see it if You are looking for a return of Broadway's golden age.

Also I was pleasantly surprised by the intelligent treatment of business and the decisions and tradeoffs it entails.... Read more Read less

See it if You're an Ethel Merman fan, or a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, or you enjoyed "Book of Mormon."

Don't see it if You're looking for something deep.

See it if You love a grand combination of music, plot, costumes, scenery, singing, dancing. You are curious about the sound of an unusual language.

Don't see it if You are Richard Spencer.

Also One of the greatest American musicals, reimagined in the language Sholem Alaichem used when he wrote the original stories.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Rostand or Shakespeare or intelligent Feminism.

Don't see it if You require a strong plot.

See it if You appreciate beautiful singing or you'd like a light-weight introduction to opera.

Don't see it if You are a grump.

Also An amazing experience. The audience gave a well-deserved standing ovation. Take the opportunity to see this if at all possible - it's been extended through August 19.... Read more Read less

See it if You're a Jim Parsons or Zach Quinto fan, or you're interested in the effects of a culture that compels men to repress their sexuality.

Don't see it if You don't like shows about gay men.

Also Surprisingly undated for a 50th-anniversary revival. Intelligent, but don't look for any uplifting characeters.

Zach Quinto's performance as Harold was a standout.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see how an unusual staging can enhance our understanding of a beloved classic, or if you just want to have a great time.

Don't see it if You are a grump.

Also See this production post haste if you have a chance! It was easily the best play I saw in 2017 as is scheduled to close on Jan 6, 2018.

All too often avante-guard theater is different simply for the sake of difference. Here the playright's and director's choices serve to crystalize Austen's points while entertaining us as well. The acting is superb with roles demanding both drama and physical comedy.... Read more Read less

See it if You value clever acting and wordplay over integrity of theme.

Don't see it if You understand that there is no moral equivalence between Israel and the Palestinians.

Also Negotiation between a civilized party and one that uses violence as the primary means to achieve its political ends cannot be fruitful for the civilized side. The play illustrates the deceit Israel had to use against its own institutions in order to engage in this shameful betray, then ignores the inevitable disastrous consequences.

Calling a negotiation a "peace accord" in no way guarantees this it will result in peace, nor indeed that such is the goal of either party.... Read more Read less

See it if You don't believe that any play could be as bad as this one is rumored to be.

Don't see it if You value your time or your sanity.

Also I didn't give it a zero because for some reason I stayed for the second act. But it's really bad, almost as bad as a Pinter play, and for me that's saying something. The main fault is the writing. It's as if the playwright heard what the elements ought to be and strung some of them together without a plan or any understanding the overall concept of a mystery.... Read more Read less

See it if You hang out at Central Perk.

Don't see it if You preferred "Seinfeld."

Also The original show was absurd enough that it's difficult to parody, but this was a good effort. Gunther was especially endearing, and I loved The Routine.

SMELLY CAT™ is a Trademark of the Wyatt Chemical Corporation.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a "Seinfeld" fan or you enjoy smart comedies.

Don't see it if You're looking for Noel Coward, though that's an awfully high bar.

Also The latest chapter in the battle of the sexes.

See it if You love the original play so much that you're willing to see it in any guise, or if you've never seen any Cyrano.

Don't see it if You are such a big fan of the world's greatest play that you'll feel deprived by all the missing scenes.

Also The music was forgettable for the most part, but some of the duets were stirring, as were the soldiers' stories.... Read more Read less

See it if You are on a date.

Don't see it if You want a traditional multi-character drama. While there are multiple actors and multiple characters the story focuses on an individual.

Also While it is experimental theater, as it is billed, it does have a story and a plot.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Chekhov or any classic Russian playwright. You'd like to see "Uncle Vanya" in a new light.

Don't see it if You prefer action thrillers or musicals.

Also A tour de force. Also great to see some familiar faces.

See it if You must see everything Metcalf or Lithgow appear in.

Don't see it if You seen enough portrayals of bickering couples who have difficulty communicating.

See it if You're enough of a fan of the U.S. Constitution that you don't mind seeing it co-opted for polemic purposes.

Don't see it if You do not reside in the Left's cultural bubble and realize that it might not be best for the government to act as a parent.

Also 1. Schreck gives a strong performance.

2. She does well to note the difference between positive and negative rights but she does not evidence a deep understanding of the difference between a government based on one or the other. While noting that most countries employ the opposite principle to the USA she fails to take into account that our approach of regarding individual rights as primary may be the chief reason for our relative success and desirability.

3. High School senior Thursday Williams shone. Look for interesting things from her, whether she pursues a career in acting, law, politics, or something she decides she likes even better.... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in entrepreneurship, the dynamics of workplace relationships, or the history of the newspaper business.

Don't see it if You cannot understand British accents.

See it if You love great American musicals and don't mind a new take.

Don't see it if A change in emphasis would ruin your memories of this classic.

Also I did not care for the plot twist, but the dark element has been there from the beginning. Showing us Laurie’s attraction to Jud was a plus - it helped the plot hold together better for me.

Rebecca Naomi Jones was a picture-perfect Laurie, as sultry and confused as one could wish.

Ali Stroker well deserved her Tony for her portrayal of Ado Annie. As for the show as a whole, I’d have given the Best Revival nod to Kiss Me Kate.... Read more Read less

See it if You are in NYC, or you have the means to visit! This is one of the best musicals of all time, in an outstanding production.

Don't see it if You're tone-deaf.

Also Kelli O'Hara was amazing. I'd love to see more opera singers on Broadway. Her duet with a piccolo was especially enchanting.

The choreography stood out - should get a Tony for sure.

I had not noticed when I'd seen the show before that one plot element does not ring true, the discharging of the debt.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Mamet or community theater and you do not take yourself too seriously.

Don't see it if You want a believable plot.

Also Linda the custodian was a standout.

The idea is a promising one, and the work resists succumbing to feminist platitudes. The second half could use a re-write.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoyed HBO's "Sex and the City."

Don't see it if You dislike puns.

Also Kelly Ipema is marvelously talented. Some of her best work is channeling the boyfriends - she's great as both Steve and Mr. Big.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy intelligent drama with a strong moral perspective.

Don't see it if You think 3-hour-plus play deserves more than one intermission. You dislike a playwright explaining what he's already strongly implied.

Also For those unfamiliar with the cultural milieu:

George Best was an Irishman who was one of the top three players in the English Football League in the late '60s and early '70s.

A conker is the nut of a horse chestnut tree, often used in a children's game of ritual combat.... Read more Read less

See it if You like strong performances and tight writing.

Don't see it if You want an uplifting, entertaining, or educational plot.

Also The first act was painful, where we saw a hyper-intelligent woman toy with her mere average children and their companions.

The key to surviving the second act to is to question the author's assumption that children's outcomes in life are due only to their parenting and to keep in mind Ayn Rand's dictum that man is a being of self-made soul.

John Tillinger was a delight as Hugh, a cliched role but one played to perfection.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a Wagner fan or are interested in how otherwise intelligent people can pursue anti-Semitism or any form of irrational discrimination

Don't see it if You are looking for a strong plot with active, heroic characters.

Also The show tries hard to tell us something about tolerance for those who differ from us but ultimately misses the mark.... Read more Read less

See it if You are into silly premises. You agree with Johnny Carson when he said "Buy the premise, buy the bit." You appreciate satire.

Don't see it if You're looking for a good story.

See it if You've any interest in Elizabethan England, or in Shakespeare or Marlowe.

Don't see it if Conspiracy theories leave you cold.

Also Len Rella was a standout in a dual role as a hired assassin and as Ben Johnson.

The embedded puppet show was more entertaining than one might have guessed!... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Tolkien or Lewis themselves, not just of their work.

Don't see it if You expect great insight into their friendship and competition.

Also The American waitress was annoying and only slowed an already torpid pace. She did a good Elvis, though.... Read more Read less

See it if You've ever enjoyed a musical.

Don't see it if You are tone-deaf.

Also The plot of this 1945 classic could have been ripped from today's headlines. A victim of sexual harassment turns to domestic abuse and crime.

All the leads were nominated for Tony awards, and deservedly so. Joshua Henry stood out from an already stand-out cast. I'd have picked the show for costume design as well, for those gorgeous fisherman's sweaters.... Read more Read less

See it if You're a fan of Tony Danza, or whomever stars in the revival.

Don't see it if You're looking for more than a passing fancy.

Also Worthwhile simply to see Tony Danza, who gave a perfect performance. I was a fan of two of his TV series, "Taxi" and "Family Law", but didn't realize what a strong actor he had become until I saw his supporting role in 2013's "Don Jon".

The musical itself was a pleasant distraction, but forgettable. I've since seen and enjoyed the 1992 film starring James Caan, Nicolas Cage, and Sarah Jessica Parker.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the effects of competition on the human spirit.

Don't see it if You don't care for sportball and have no use for introspection.

Also Uses tennis as a metaphor - one can enjoy the play without being a fan. Having played or watched helps, though!

My companion did not care for the ending - I thought it apt.... Read more Read less

See it if You like to make your own decisions about social and political issues or are interested in how art can reveal truth.

Don't see it if You prefer conventional entertainment or are happy living in a media filter bubble and prefer not to have to think for yourself.

Also A remarkable accomplishment. I've never encountered anything like it. See it while you can.... Read more Read less

See it if You regret missing Broadway's golden age.

Don't see it if You are a grump.

Also This wonderful play is a period piece, set in a before-time when not only did we lack Google Voice but there were no cell phones, not even big ones.
The plot concerns a self-aggrandizing police inspector, clearly inspired by former US Attorney Preet Bharara, who seeks out crimes where none exist. His persecution of innocent clients and employees of an answering service exacerbates their existing self-esteem issues and Oedipal dramas. Their Kafkaesque plight leads them to break out into song spontaneously, and sometimes even dance.
The cast is talented and the production effective.... Read more Read less