AJM

See it if A drama about the troubled relationship of a wildly mismatched, young couple. This story is based on an actual event/crime.

Don't see it if troubled, romantic relationship/partner abuse subject matter would be triggering for you. You would be uncomfortable seeing simulated sex.

Also Billed as a psychological play about the cost of female ambition, that’s not at all how I saw it. I saw a talented, accomplished woman who had made a poor, romantic partner choice, which had nothing to do with her professional life / ambition. Unfortunately, like far too many women, she chose a “bad boy” and it ended up costing her everything. One could probably speculate for days on the reasons why seemingly intelligent, successful women chose druggies, slackers & other misfits for mates. Who knows why this one did. // While the couple’s disturbing dynamic kept my attention, unfortunately the auditory/visual gimmick employed to show the woman’s negative effect on her troubled boyfriend was used ad nauseam, turning this play into an unconvincing amalgam of the surrealistic and realistic. The playwright writes well enough that this gimmick shouldn’t have been necessary to tell the story. // On a positive note, the acting, set, lighting and sound design were all very good.... Read more Read less

See it if A heartfelt, coming-of-age story. Being gay isn’t easy in a traditional Indian family. Neither is being an immigrant in multiple countries.

Don't see it if you have no interest in the immigrant or gay experience. If you’re looking for something new in the gay, coming-of-age genre, this isn’t it.

Also Given his final speech, I imagine that performing this piece is therapeutic for the actor. Otherwise, while he is personable and his performance was earnest, this story has been told many times before and there was nothing new or truly special about his. While every life is valuable, not every life story makes for compelling theater. I wish more playwrights/performers had greater insight into themselves and recognized this fact. // There was a lovely, South Indian dance with the young woman playing the actor’s sister and a clever use of fabric props to bring elements of the show alive.... Read more Read less

See it if A story of star-crossed young lovers and a future Earth destroyed by ecological disaster where humans have evolved into two warring groups.

Don't see it if you don’t like puppet theater. Prefer a traditional, theatrical experience. Find the topic of ecological disaster upsetting.

Also I found this very imaginative, puppets-with-a-serious-message play engaging, thought proving and funny. By the audience’s reactions, it seemed like a good time was had by all. Kudos to the wonderful puppeteers and the excellent visual and sound designers! And kudos to the wacky, wonderful, wise-cracking sometime-sort-of-narrator Mr. Fox!

According to the NY Times review of this play the title is “inspired by the so-called immortal jellyfish, a real species that somehow can age in reverse.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/magazine/can-a-jellyfish-unlock-the-secret-of-immortality.html... Read more Read less

See it if Darkly comic drama about skin cancer patients dealing w/nightmare of a disfiguring disease & their family members shocking lack of support.

Don't see it if you’re triggered by the subject of skin cancer or have had a bad, medical experience. Not an action play. It’s driven by talk.

Also At first, I thought it was peculiar to have a large, mirrored, back wall as the set design for a skin cancer clinic. Most skin cancer patients would not want to be reminded of their disfigurement from a horrible disease. But, perhaps, the mirrored wall was meant to show/reflect - the audience can be seen in the mirrors - the ways we might behave if we found ourselves in the same unfortunate situations as the people in the play. Good ensemble acting, in general, but some of the actors were hard to hear sometimes. The title, “I’m Revolting”, clearly has more than one meaning. Patients feeling/thinking they look revolting because of the disfigurement skin cancer can cause. The power dynamic between patients & doctors, which can sometimes be problematic & cause patients to revolt against the medical advice they’re given. Loved ones who sometimes display insensitive/revolting behavior towards the skin cancer patient or revolt against the role they are expected to play in supporting them.... Read more Read less

See it if shameful story of how the Chinese - in pursuit of a better life - were detained & restricted from coming to America in early 20th century.

Don't see it if you don’t want to face one of the dark sides of American history and the literal ($$$) & emotional costs that restricted immigration caused.

See it if Set in NYC, this is a darkly comic but also thought provoking tale about racism, real estate, revenge and redemption. Pulitzer Prize winner.

Don't see it if if u don’t like "slice-of-life" plays or find cursing - of which there is a lot - racist language, overt sexuality objectionable, skip this.

Also As NY Times Theater critic Ben Brantley said in his 2014 review of this play, “I’d locate it somewhere south of cozy and north of dangerous, west of sitcom and due east of tragedy.” Stephen McKinley Henderson is wonderful in the lead role and won a well-deserved Best Actor Obie Award for his performance. Kudos to the rest of the cast, too. If you see this, be sure to pay attention to the wonderful, meticulous set design of the kitchen. On a different note, I have to say that I found the ending somewhat contrived, but it also left me wondering how the younger generation would fare in the coming years with the legacy they had been handed.... Read more Read less

See it if Fun recreation of the lost, first American play. It’s only known about because there was a court trial over it and, thus, a court record.

Don't see it if Immersive, 4th-wall breaking theater. U need to pay close attention to understand what’s going on. If that’s too much effort, skip this one.

Also In this one, the first American play - performed at a tavern in Virginia in 1665 - meets the first American critic. No spoilers here, so you’ll have to wait until the second half to find out what happened!

From the program: “We’ve ended up with a play that looks at the roots of American theater, but is really about our culture today. What’s the difference between recorded history and what might have actually happened? Who gets to tell stories? Who has the right to criticize how they’re told?”

A young, charming, earnest group of actors give it their all on a tiny, spare set. I was sitting in the front row and could observe the cast closely. I assume there wasn’t a very big budget for this play, so I was particularly impressed by the costumes and especially the very authentic looking, period footwear!... Read more Read less

See it if Peter Pan’s supposed origin story. Whimsically told by a wonderful cast (w/several newcomers) on a simple but effective set. Lots of laughs.

Don't see it if you prefer your theater serious, sophisticated or profound.

Also To avoid any confusion and to be able to follow along a bit more easily, you might want to read up on this story before you go see it.... Read more Read less

See it if 2-hander about a complicated, past relationship. Many might find it relatable. Both funny and thought provoking.

Don't see it if A talky, rehashing-of-the-past play. Lots of fast moving, topic changes. If you want action or a happy ending, skip this one.

See it if A suspenseful, twisty tale about a woman’s search for a friend who has disappeared - or did he? - which leads to her own self-reinvention.

Don't see it if you don't like one-person shows, stark staging, mysteries, thrillers, are looking for something silly or light.

See it if American premiere of a seldom staged play about equality in marriage written when Coward was only 18 and, clearly, wise beyond his years.

Don't see it if you don’t like period pieces, prefer lighthearted pieces & happy endings. This is talky play, not an action play.

Also This century old play starts out on a light note but soon turns serious in its depiction of and commentary on the constrained role of intelligent, ambitious, independent women in marriage. It was written when Coward was only 18 years old and I found it astoundingly insightful writing for someone so young. Given some of the less than enthusiastic reviews here, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

Some have commented that the British accents are hard to understand, but I was told that has now been toned down and had no trouble understanding the dialogue. The costumes and shoes were absolutely wonderful, including the men’s. Couldn’t take my eyes off of them. They did a great job of changing the sets right in front of us and it was fun to watch that happen. I thought everyone did a great job, but Cynthia Mace in the small role of the housekeeper stole the show. The audience loved her!... Read more Read less

See it if A confessional, solo play about victimhood & how complicity in oppressive, patriarchal systems allows them to continue. Excellent acting.

Don't see it if you don’t like monologues, plays based on actual, political events, discussions of class, privilege, difficult childhoods, sexual assault.

Also Playwright/actor Tracy Thorne gives a quietly moving, thought provoking performance in this story about how the privileged wife of a powerful man barely seems able to understand her complicity in his abuse of power. But what accounts for this? Is she willfully ignorant in order to have the life she wants? Simply not bright enough or brave enough to think hard and ask questions? Has she been conditioned by society since childhood to put men first? How do her childhood traumas factor in? The slow unspooling of her confessional monologue in a soft, soothing voice kept me interested and intrigued to see who and what it was all leading up to, especially since she drops early on that her controversial husband is a well-known, public figure. The take away is that although she and her children have paid a price for her complicity, with her undeserving husband now elevated to one of the highest positions of power in this country, it will be society that pays the biggest price of all.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Dickens, would enjoy an unusual, mood filled, solo performance of A Christmas Carol. The inimitable Jefferson Mays was excellent.

Don't see it if u want a more traditional CC, don’t like solo shows. Very dimly lit (deliberately) & hard to see unless you are sitting close to the stage.

Also As presented, this one-man show was intended to be an intimate one, but the dim lighting definitely worked against that & size of the stage didn’t help either. It would have benefited from being mounted in a much smaller theater, but I understand the desire to have as many people as possible see it (& also to make as much money as possible!). While I understand the attempt to evoke the actual time period of A Christmas Carol via the almost exclusive use of candlelight to provide illumination, it was very hard to see Mays’s facial expressions unless you were sitting close or watching him through binoculars. It was also very difficult to understand what the ghost of Marly was saying, which was problematic because his function is to launch all of the action that follows. On a more positive note, Mays was terrific & this is an opportunity to see him at his craft, that is, if you can actually see him. I also liked some of the sound & stage design & there were some very good special effects.... Read more Read less

See it if A who-done-it murder mystery where the audience doesn’t really care who done it. It’s the mayhem of this laugh riot play you come to see!

Don't see it if you dislike farce/slapstick, don’t like to laugh. But, seriously, who doesn’t like to laugh?

Also Easy to see why this won London's Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2015. I have never laughed at a theatrical performance so much in my entire life! And I have never heard an audience laugh as much either! Needless to say, the cast is terrific and their timing is immaculate, which it needs to be to pull off the non-stop action and physical stunts this play requires. The audience loved when the 4th wall was so delightfully broken several times. The set design - which won a well-deserved, Tony award - is absolutely fantastic and a character in the play in its own right. And that ending! No spoiler alert here. Go see it for yourself to find out what I mean!... Read more Read less

See it if Documentary theater about practicing faith leaders who no longer believe in God and are fearful of the repercussions of admitting to that.

Don't see it if you don’t like documentary theater, prefer action over talk, religion/loss of faith is a trigger for you or that topic isn’t of interest.

Also Based on interviews, this play uses the actual words of practicing members of the clergy who lost their faith & belief in God to explore their fears about openly acknowledging that & the possible repercussions to their personal, professional & social lives. While heartfelt, I didn’t think it made for particularly compelling theater. Also, it seemed like the playwright didn’t know how to resolve this piece & opted for an easy (though not, as one sees in the play, for the character involved) ending. However, it’s not often that you find a loss of faith portrayed on the stage & it was interesting from that perspective. What was especially fascinating to me was how people are brain-washed from an early age into believing in a non-existent entity & what a shock it is when they realize what has been done to them & how, after their loss of faith, they come to understand that they are responsible for their own lives. Their lives aren’t controlled/directed from on high. Running time 65 minutes.... Read more Read less

See it if Story about a father & son both looking for connection, love & understanding. Deep humanity was on display in the folk songs & monologues.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a traditional theatrical experience or something silly or light or don’t like folk music.

Also Excellent writing, singing and acting in this moving story of longing and loneliness and the search for connection, love and understanding that cuts across generations. The themes of the father’s and son’s monologues were beautifully echoed and heightened in the poignant songs that accompanied them. I didn’t expect this to be as emotional and thought provoking as it was. Such a delightful surprise.

Simple, handsome, effective set. My only complaint is the lights on the sides of the stage were glaring at times. The soft, low-key, pre-show music set the mood nicely. Running time approximately 80 minutes. No intermission.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to learn about the impacts of incarceration on families and loved ones. Based on true events.

Don't see it if you’re looking for something light or aren’t interested in this topic. There are a number of funny moments, but this is a weighty piece.

Also Terrific writing and acting on a spare but effective set. Enough about the prison system was depicted and in a smartly staged way to draw you into the subject matter and engage your attention. The portrayals of all the characters were complex and felt very realistic. Their interactions felt very natural and convincing. Their search for the comfort of community was well presented and the warmth and compassion they find in each other was believable and moving. It was easy to empathize with all of them. This play is as good or better than some shows I have seen on Broadway lately and deserves to be seen by a wide audience. Running time 95 minutes, no intermission.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re interested in a two-hander about a teenage, love story set in 1938 in an American, pro-Nazi, summer camp.

Don't see it if the supposed premise of this play is barely recognizable in the actual play. Save your money and your time. Skip this one.

Also From the show, “Set on the cusp of World War II, this boy-meets-girl cautionary tale about the seductive nature of fascism reveals a shocking part of America’s past and reminds us how easily darkness can sneak up on us.” Apart from the teenage, love story - which could have been set anywhere - the supposed premise of this play and what I saw on stage bore little resemblance to each other. The much ballyhooed, Nazi element was so minimally present as to be barely noticeable. This article in The NY Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/25/theater/bess-wohl-camp-siegfried.html - was MUCH more informative than the play was about Camp Siegfried and the Nazi ideology that the German American Bund who ran it promoted to the teenagers who attended the camp. Unfortunately, Bess Wohl has missed an opportunity to inform and educate.

Good acting. Interesting set design. Only the writing is lacking. This play did not deliver what it promised. Save your money and your time and skip this one.... Read more Read less

See it if Albee’s searing, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about existential dread & its destabilizing effects set in the world of country club WASPs.

Don't see it if you prefer something silly/light. This show is meant to disturb & to make you think. You must pay close attention to get the most out of it.

Also See this if you want to understand why Albee is considered a great playwright/wordsmith. It requires a lot of you but is worth it. The various subject matters addressed are uncomfortable and challenging, the relationships are complex and the characters are difficult and often unattractive, just like people in the real world can be. It’s performed on an interesting, thrust stage lined all along its edges with yards of leather bound books and long rows of bar glasses that cleverly help to set the scene. Excellent Asian-American cast, but the actor who plays Agnes really needs to project more as it was often a strain to hear her. And, due to the set design of this play with the audience on two sides of the stage, it was also hard to hear the actors when they had their backs to the audience.... Read more Read less

See it if relationship between 2 generations of women scientists & their differing opinions about women’s reproductive behavior & how best 2 live life

Don't see it if you don’t like two-handers, intimate venues or spare sets, are uninterested in female/feminist subject matter, prefer happy endings.

See it if you would like a story about the rift between a Chinese father & his Chinese American daughter & the secret that is the reason for it.

Don't see it if you prefer linear dramas, aren’t interested in stories about Asian culture or are looking for something silly or light.

Also I didn’t find this play particularly original and I didn’t buy some of the premises and characterizations presented. The acting was fine, so my lack of belief was no fault of the actors but rather due to the writing. Unlike what the billing for this play proclaimed, I didn’t find it nuanced, haunting or thrilling. Also, when the play ended, a young, Chinese woman in the audience was quite incensed at what she had just seen and she could be heard indignantly saying over and over that the history depicted on stage wasn’t accurate. So, perhaps, that is another mark against this play. Kudos to the scenic designer for her simple, minimal but effective stage set, which included a river that is swum in. Running time 1 hour 45 minutes with no intermission.... Read more Read less

See it if you like experimental theater and Chekhov. Appreciate the abstract.

Don't see it if prefer traditional theater. This is definitely not that.

Also This was billed as a “wildly playful piece about the elusiveness of meaning” and a ”pure theatrical thrill ride". It delivered on the “elusiveness of meaning” part, but, as far as I’m concerned, it did not live up to the rest of its billing. It started off well enough and there were many laughs in the beginning, but, as the night wore on, it morphed into something quite strange and abstract. I had to work hard to understand what it was trying to say. Honestly, I couldn’t wait for it to end. That being said, I am not normally a big fan of experimental theater but thought I would give this one a try because the reviews I read online of previous performances gave it such high marks. Unfortunately, after this experience, I will probably steer clear of experimental theater. Life is too short to waste my time, which is what I felt I did this evening.... Read more Read less

See it if you would like a drama set in 1945 about tragedies/traumas large & small and the things we do and the way our minds work to help us survive.

Don't see it if you don’t like 2-handers, a mostly monologue drama, are triggered by disappointment, trauma or sexual assault, prefer lighthearted pieces.

Also A very moving and thought provoking piece about the things people do to get through life. Excellent acting by father and son team Reed & Ephraim Birney. Loved how they hugged each other when they took their bows. Also, wonderful set, lighting and sound design. From the minute you walk into the theater, the sound design sets the mood. I was surprised but delighted to see that the prolific John Lee Beatty had designed the set, which I thought was very effective in evoking the old Penn Station and, along with the sound and lighting design, provided the moody quality this play required. Used to working on much larger, Broadway stages, JLB cleverly uses mirrors to enlarge the Irish Rep’s small stage. The devastating demolition and catastrophic loss to NYC of majestic Penn Station just a few, short decades after the 1945 setting of the play and the catastrophic, permanent losses suffered by the young man in the play remained intertwined in my mind throughout.... Read more Read less

See it if Thrilling, amazing and deeply mystifying. Ari Wind is a charmer and a world-class entertainer. This one is a must see.

Don't see it if you don’t like the practice / art of magic.

See it if you’re a Shaw fan or like old fashioned plays about women's place in society.

Don't see it if you’re expecting to see a comedy. Very few people were laughing the night I saw it. This one is all talk, no action, so keep that in mind.

Also I am not familiar with the original Candida, but I found this updated version slow moving and unexciting. Sadly, its main theme of woman’s place in society is still relevant, though.

The set worked well, but the set decoration was over-the-top cluttered. As for the acting, the father-in-law was, like the set decor, over-the-top and Candida was unconvincing. She didn’t come off like the kind of woman men would be fighting over. The other actors were very good.

A program insert written by the director, David Staller, said, “… it was with this play that Shaw single-handedly crafted a template for what would morph into what we now know as the Rom-Com.” Hard to believe given what I saw on stage. Generally, I didn’t find it either romantic or funny.

The director also said, “As for why this play at this time, it was actually the wish of my lifelong pal, Mr. Sondheim, that this be out next production.” While I don’t doubt that’s true, I do doubt that this is what Mr. Sondheim had in mind.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re NOT a Republican or are a Republican who can take a joke. Lots of jokes about the awfulness of the Former Guy.

Don't see it if you’re a staunch Republican. Female performer tried way too hard & it showed. Often found myself forcing a laugh. Expected more from this.

See it if Very funny, musical parody of the 1st season of the Netflix show “Stranger Things”. You will get the most out of this if you have seen that.

Don't see it if if you didn’t like “Stranger Things”, didn’t like the 80s, don’t like parodies, don’t like musicals, don’t like to laugh.

Also Loved Barb! Loved the monster! Dr. Brenner was a hoot! Great set and good costume design. The wig design was spot on and captured that unmistakable 80s look. Very good choreography. The bit about Winona Ryder (she plays the mother, Joyce, in the Netflix series) In her heyday encountering some of the characters from her past roles like Edward Scissorhands and Beetlejuice was hilarious. The audience enthusiastically enjoyed all the references to other shows like the Broadway classic “Gypsy” and movies like “E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Dirty Dancing”. Terrific performances/singing by the entire cast. Clever songs/lyrics. Thoroughly enjoyed all the exuberance of this show!! If you’ve never seen “Stranger Things”, a supernatural mystery set in Indiana in 1983, you won’t get as much out of this, but, in all likelihood, will still find it entertaining. If you’re nostalgic for the 80s, this one’s for you!... Read more Read less

See it if Smart, fast-paced, darkly funny take on elite college admissions & the intense competition among minorities to be admitted to “The College”.

Don't see it if the fast paced, teenage girl dialog can be challenging to follow at times. If you don’t enjoy dark humor, this play isn’t for you.

Also The name of this thought provoking play is both its driving force and a foreshadowing of its shocking ending. Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is the inspiration for this and right off the bat, you see that in the names of the two protagonists: M and L. M(acbeth) and L(ady Macbeth) are twin, Asian, high school girls ruthlessly determined to get into "The College" by any means necessary. You don’t need to be familiar with “Macbeth” to enjoy this play, however. It stands on its own. Where competition is concerned, human nature has not changed since Shakespeare’s time and anyone possessed of even a passing familiarity with the cutthroat competition to get into elite colleges will get it. The writing was sharp and clever. The acting by the young, energetic cast was excellent and the spare set was used to good effect. Good lighting and sound design, too.... Read more Read less

See it if a serious & disturbing look at how race, class & a dysfunctional family/childhood affect 2 brothers who do what they have to do to survive.

Don't see it if you prefer lighthearted pieces and happy endings or find plays with family tensions triggering or upsetting.

Also Written 20 years ago, this two-hander felt sadly relevant to today’s times given all the violence and unrest in society. Depressingly, these two men are trapped in a world they seem to have no way to escape. The rap music playing before the play started was over-the-top loud. A good play, which this is, can set its own scene. It doesn’t need music that was truly painful to listen to. Also, I think this play would benefit from a smaller, more intimate setting. I was sitting in the 1st row of the rear mezzanine and that was simply too far from the stage to really feel immersed in the action the way that one should.... Read more Read less

See it if you would like a slowly unfolding family drama/tragedy/mystery about mental health, secrets and grief.

Don't see it if suicide, mental health, depression or family dysfunction would be triggering.

Also The acting was good, but this play is too long. I saw the 1st preview and they announced that it would be 1 hour 40 minutes - although it was originally billed as being 90 minutes long - but it ended up being closer to 2 hours. So, I imagine that they will be doing some cutting, which would be welcome because I found myself wanting it to end, especially since there was no intermission and the seating is tight. In several scenes the actors sit on the floor and, even though this is a tiny, 4-row theater, I found it difficult to see them when they did that. Also, the actor playing the young daughter needs to project her voice more. Even in such a small theater she was hard to hear at times.

In case you’re wondering what the title refers to, Inkwell Beach is a town on Martha’s Vineyard frequented by African Americans. It seems that many of the town’s most prominent residents have been writers.... Read more Read less

See it if a play within a concert re-tells a Greek myth about extraordinary sibling devotion, a brutal act & the terrible vengeance it results in.

Don't see it if you dislike indie rock music, violence and bloody retribution or aren’t open to a different type of theatrical/musical format/experience.

Also I went in not knowing exactly what I would encounter and, happily, I found this quite enjoyable and unexpectedly moving. The cast/band is very talented and the spoken dialogue combines beautifully with the terrific score. There is a kind of surprise loveliness to this piece. However, this is a concert, not a full Broadway production, so don’t go in expecting that. Also, the cast looked like they were having a great time performing!... Read more Read less

See it if Terrific revival! Joyous, upbeat, fun, energetic & relevant. Cast, direction, set & costumes all wonderful.

Don't see it if you’d have problems with gay/transgender/drag depictions on stage or dislike big, brash, over-the-top musicals.

Also Can’t imagine anyone not liking this energetic, joyous show! The issue of accepting other people for who they are is very relevant in these troubled times we live in. The entire cast was very good, but the charismatic, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-of-him Callum Francis, who plays Lola, was, well, simply fabulous! What a force of nature! Christian Douglas, who plays Charlie, was also excellent. When he sang “The Soul of a Man” you really got a chance to hear how wonderful his voice is and the audience responded enthusiastically. Definitely worth seeing if you didn't see it on Broadway. Very comfortable theater. The seats have lots of legroom, which is a real plus for anyone on the taller side.... Read more Read less

See it if you’d enjoy a satire/farce about political meddling by USA/CIA in Chile in 1973.

Don't see it if you prefer your theater serious, aren’t interested in political/spy themed plays or are against criticism/satire of the US government.

Also Not sure a play about American arrogance and interference in the politics of another country which led to terrible, decades long consequences for that unfortunate country is a topic to milked for laughs. That being said, there were many funny moments, but, ultimately, it didn’t add up to a satisfying whole or night at the theater for me. I also didn’t find it particularly farcical for a piece that is billed as a satire/farce. It felt like a morality play masquerading as something else. The acting was good, as was the set design, especially given the small size of the stage. Enjoyed the portrayal of Richard Nixon.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re interested in a play about young lovers from opposite sides caught in the middle of a war.

Don't see it if a play about war would be disturbing or you prefer lighthearted pieces and happy endings.

Also The pairing of a light-hearted, older couple singing karaoke tunes about love and life with a serious drama about young lovers caught in the middle of a war just didn’t work for me. I got the message about not sweating the small stuff and enjoying life while you can, but the pairing was just too peculiar and absurdist for my taste. This could have been a much more affecting play than it was. As it is, it’s just unsatisfying and odd.... Read more Read less

See it if you like intimate plays with bare-bones staging about historical events & people, in this case Walt Disney and the strikers opposing him.

Don't see it if you’re looking for big production values or something silly or light. This does not present a rosy picture of Walt Disney.

See it if A great book & movie about guilt & redemption, but this play has too much narration & not enough dramatization. Good musical accompaniment.

Don't see it if you were a fan of the book or movie, you might be disappointed by what's more of a recitation of the story than a fully realized drama.

Also This reductive stage production lacked the richness of both the book and the movie, which possibly speaks to the inherent limitations of adapting a complex book like one for the stage. This is a very wordy play with the main character employing long passages of explanation in order to move the story forward and, while the acting was good, I would like to have seen more of a visual language used to tell the story. I think it would have made for a more engaging theatrical experience and would have brought the story more fully alive. Having read the book and re-watched the movie recently, I was, naturally, not surprised by the dramatic turns the story takes and, unfortunately, that did diminish my enjoyment of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if two actors/singers deliver monologues - spoken & sung - in vignettes depicting how they each grew up & their lives eventually intersected.

Don't see it if you’re looking for a big, flashy musical with a large cast. This isn’t that. It’s an intimate musical with a spare set & a small, live band.

See it if You will need a lot of “patience” to sit thru this. Started off promising but became rambling, as if playwright didn’t know how to end it.

Don't see it if you are looking for a tight, well-written, coherent play.

Also 1hr. 45 minutes. No intermission. With all the good/great play material that is undoubtedly out there and truly ready to be staged, how does a well-intentioned but clearly not ready to be staged play like this get produced? This needs a lot more workshopping. I appreciate that it is a vehicle, of which there aren’t enough, for black actors but they deserve better.... Read more Read less

See it if A dark, psychological tale & unusual coming-of-age story. A daring, original musical. Disturbing but also entertaining & thought provoking.

Don't see it if Warning: this is NOT a feel good musical. It is not silly, romantic or light. Expect to see violence, murder, insanity & mayhem depicted.

Also This was a fascinating and memorable night at the theater. The very talented Nicholas Barasch playing the lead role - and on stage for the entire show - was terrific. He has a wonderful voice and a lot of stage presence. The rest of the cast was also very good with many fine voices among them.

I was seated in the second row and had a bit of trouble at times hearing/following the dialogue because it was said quite quickly. I think they need to slow things down a bit, especially for those seated further back in the theater. The score was better than I feared it might be, which was a very pleasant surprise. Smart lyrics and enjoyable music. One quibble with the musicians: I think they need to tone the volume down a bit, so they don’t drown out the singers, which I felt they did at some points.

If you want to dive into this material further or before seeing this, I recommend watching the 1997 movie version of The Butcher Boy. You can find it on YouTube.... Read more Read less

See it if Good community theater. Powerful, affecting story of the tragic costs of repression on families & society. Wonderful set, costumes & acting.

Don't see it if you prefer lighthearted pieces and happy endings or find plays with profound family tensions triggering or upsetting.

Also Go see it. Well worth the time.

See it if Wonderful and enjoyable on so many different levels. Very relevant theme due to the current “Great Resignation” in this country.

Don't see it if if you don’t like period, British or morality plays or are looking for something light or fast paced.

Also In addition to the wonderful writing and acting, kudos to the set, costume, lighting and sound designers. Great job by all, but the set and its brilliant transformation right in front of the audience’s eyes in the 2nd act deserve special mention.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of James Joyce’s Ulysses and would enjoy a well acted monologue of Molly Bloom’s interior life.

Don't see it if If you dislike one person or stream-of-consciousness shows or shows with sensual/sexual content. Unless you’re already acquainted with Molly

Also Bloom and her monologue or are willing to familiarize yourself with her/it beforehand - which I strongly recommend doing - you might find yourself lost in the weeds.... Read more Read less

See it if a Holocaust themed family drama involving fortuitously preserved letters from the time & how they eventually come to light is of interest.

Don't see it if a Holocaust themed play might be triggering for you or you just have no interest in that subject matter. This is not a light hearted piece.

Also All the actors did a very good job, but I felt there were issues with the material. The 1st act was a straight forward telling of the family’s experiences during the Holocaust. Initially, I didn’t understand that the “narrator” was actually supposed to be giving a talk on the book he wrote about those experiences and the family letters his father preserved from that time. It wasn’t until the end of the act that I realized it was a book talk when that was clearly spelled out by a new character. While understanding that helped to make better sense of the 1st act, it should have been made clear from the start. Although well acted and powerful at times, I found the 1st act a bit dry because it functioned mostly like a Wikipedia page about the family. Happily, the 2nd act was much more engaging, interesting, surprising and moving.... Read more Read less

See it if you would like a poetry/movement/music ensemble performance, both painful and uplifting, on the topic of black women's lives.

Don't see it if you don’t enjoy poetry; aren’t interested in the black, female experience; and/or are triggered by stories of abuse or violence.

Also This was a seminal, feminist show in its day and was hailed as "a landmark of American theater” by The New York Times, which, perhaps, makes it worth seeing for that reason alone. Unfortunately, it was hard to catch all the words, and not just from the deaf performer, which was frustrating, although I got the gist of each poem. But it was harder work to understand/enjoy this piece than it needed to be. The performers should have been miked. However, the cast was very good, as was the lighting design.... Read more Read less

See it if Didn’t enjoy this and honestly can’t say who would. So many problems with it. Felt like a vanity piece to me.

Don't see it if Very simplistic, outdated material. Dialogue often delivered too fast & hard to hear. Characters often hard to distinguish from each other.

See it if Disturbing politics of US role in Afghanistan during Russia's occupation is set-up for complicated relationships between the 3 characters.

Don't see it if Not interested in socio/political or parent/child relations/conflicts. 1 hr + 45 minutes. No intermission. Not a light, fluffy play.

See it if you’d enjoy a dramady about trying to find your place & do good in a challenging world, even when family, lovers & friends don’t understand.

Don't see it if you prefer serious dramas or musicals.

See it if Fast paced. Dark but funny. Even when it seems like the devil’s got ya, with some imagination & guts you just might escape an unwelcome fate

Don't see it if you’re looking for a serious drama, have no interest in stories about ex-cons, not into raunchy comedy or need an intermission.

See it if A powerful story about the limitations of intellect when facing death. It’s an experience that reminds you what theater is for.

Don't see it if you prefer lighthearted pieces and happy endings or find plays about illness/cancer triggering or upsetting.

Also “Wit” won the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. As playwright Margaret Edson says about Vivian, the lead character in “Wit”, “I wanted to write a play about grace. And about one woman’s coming into her own true self. The thing about Vivian is that she’s as human as the rest of us. She just doesn’t realize it. So, the work of the play is to help her understand that being human is a shambles; it’s a mess, but all we have is each other. And, so, if she can disarm herself, if she can soften and empty and open herself, then she’ll find out that she is a real, living, complete, whole, messed up person. And that in her life is gonna be an act of grace.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QolMf9engU... Read more Read less

See it if a sweet, charming, fun-filled musical w/puppets about an abandoned dog’s journey to find a loving, new owner would appeal.

Don't see it if you don’t like puppets or musicals or dogs or musicals about dogs or prefer your theater serious, sophisticated or profound.

Also Although this is a family-friendly musical, many in the audience were adults without children, so you might want to consider going if you just want a simple, delightful, uncomplicated theater experience. If you’re thinking of going with children, please consider whether your child is socialized enough to not talk loudly during the performance, constantly kick the back of the seat in front of them or generally make a very distracting fuss. And, if they’re afraid of dogs, this might not be the theater piece for them, either. A grandmother brought her not yet sufficiently socialized and afraid of dogs granddaughter to the performance I attended. Unfortunately, this child was very problematic for her grandmother and the audience for the first 30 minutes. If the actors were distracted by this child, they didn’t show it, which couldn’t have been easy, since she was sitting in the 2nd row. Thankfully, her grandmother finally gave up trying to calm her granddaughter down and they left.... Read more Read less