AliceG

See it if the "cafe", created for the show, is lovely; the food is plentiful (picnic style); the actors lively and hardworking; we laughed a lot

Don't see it if the show itself offers nothing new to Midsummer fans despite talented 3rd Rail crew; no deeply immersive twists/turns like Then She Fell

Also Still in previews and staff taking notes, so there's still hope that 3rd Rail will be able to work their usual magic here. Right now the show isn't fully immersive, we're supposed to be at a Midsummer dinner (wedding feast?) but no wedding in sight, no conceit carried through start to finish. Even when champagne is poured at the end we never have a toast to the brides and grooms (missed opportunity), and we're never specifically included as an audience in whatever dinner it is (a la Grand Paradise), another missed opportunity, so honestly it feels more like really fun dinner theater than the truly immersive, magical experience I'd hoped for... Read more Read less

See it if There is one crazy amazing idea at the heart of this show, and it works. It shocks, it surprises, and it teaches an important lesson

Don't see it if Unfortunately, the show goes too far, giving in to angry yelling and later, lecturing, where subtlety would have had more impact

See it if Full-on Bway-style musical about a queer black character who's writing a musical while full of self-loathing, demeaned by religious parents

Don't see it if Show is raw, out there, sometimes so personal it's hard to watch; not for young kids. But powerful, groundbreaking stuff and the lead is A++

See it if you'd enjoy seeing this classic work set to music by an outstanding team and sung by some serious vocal talent; this show is full of heart.

Don't see it if you dislike plays about race or can't bear for anyone to touch the classic story, although this is truly a truly loving adaptation

Also Saw this is previews with a talk back from the outstanding creative team; they admit they will be adapting and perfecting it right up to opening night. This means that I need to see it again. And maybe again.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be mesmerized by Adam Driver's performance. I didn't think I liked him especially; now a huge fan. Great writing, great cast

Don't see it if It's hard for the other actors to compete with Driver's outsize role; the play can feel unbalanced as a result (dull when he's not there)

See it if you'd like a one-man comedy show with great props; if you travel a lot

Don't see it if You only like fully sketched out plays with complete story arch and a full cast. This is a very funny one-man show

See it if you want to witness several truly great performances of well-written/believable dialogue; three leads all outstanding

Don't see it if you want life-changing; this is a moment in time, just before Obama's election. No lessons, moral or story arch; a bit pointless

See it if You’d like a very realistic slice of life with characters you’ll recognize. Many laugh-out-loud moments. Great dialogue.But no real ending.

Don't see it if The play steadily establishes its characters, building tension like Wolves & Miles for Mary, then fizzles out. Truly a lost opportunity

Also The characters are reversed from what they would have been in the ‘70s, and it takes much of the punch out of the play. I would have thought more about what the 70s were really like, then used that to build more tension.... Read more Read less

See it if There are some beautiful moments here, some great dialog, and the cast is really outstanding, plus Cumming sings; if that's enough, go.

Don't see it if First two acts, lots of laughs and outrageousness, moves nicely, but third scene tries too late to turn the ship, crashes badly

Also While sparks of genius fly throughout, the play badly needs a strong editing hand to cut repetition, build the right momentum, and foreshadow what's coming. Some super weird moments in the third act didn't help (the endless thumb sucking and the loudly ringing phone --extremely annoying and unnecessary). This could be a great play someday when rewritten by a more mature (post-Slave-Play) Jeremy O.Harris.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy beautiful singing and dance; this is a joyful, enchanting show, with great talent onstage & magical stagecraft

Don't see it if you have trouble with strobe lights, don't like music-and-dance-focused pieces, prefer dramas/thought pieces

See it if You’d like to be carried away to London, Scotland, and over the ocean to Appalachia. This tiny show feels as big as the world

Don't see it if You need linear shows, don’t want to hear diverse opinions, or can’t handle a full range of powerful emotions onstage

Also The three actors take on their roles so fully it’s as if they’ve stepped into their characters’ souls. While the storyline is at times confusing, I was carried along happily right to the end, with lots of help from three very talented musicians... Read more Read less

See it if You’ve followed Van Halen over the years and would enjoy talented actresses acting out the highlights, with some recorded music & no singing

Don't see it if You haven’t followed the band’s antics. I would have preferred a mash-up of acting, videos, lip synching, to break up the story

See it if you love the theater, the pure joy of seeing 2 great actors burning their way through a thoughtful and relevant script; you want 2b moved

Don't see it if your theater has to hit you in the face with lights, song, dance; this one is pure poetry

See it if You’re happy to hear some good songs in lovely voices and strong acting; not really a musical, unfortunately

Don't see it if You’re hoping for a powerful musical with show-stopping or original numbers; very much like a black Glee episode with a gay rights theme

Also Hate to be down on this. Some lovely moments, beautiful voices, but several plot holes and unexplained behaviors. Stereotyped gay vs homophobe confrontation lacked subtlety and nuance. Too many “why”s at the end.... Read more Read less

See it if you're obsessed with the story of Reality Winner and need to see her arrest acted out minute by minute

Don't see it if you're hoping for any insights at all. The (excellent) actors literally just walk through the arrest transcript, censorship included.

Also So much could be done with the story of Reality Winner, from the reasons for her transgression to why she took a plea to what it all means for society today. This show makes no effort to do any of that. If you're interested, just read the transcript, which is in the public domain (censored, but so is the show). There is no creativity here and the show is hard to watch. It's especially puzzling that the creators didn't fill in the censored parts of the transcript -- maybe breaking the fourth wall to explain the issues -- since it's all public now. A wasted opportunity.... Read more Read less

See it if It seems the Times and I saw very different plays. I found the first part a bit silly, while the rest pulled me in completely

Don't see it if you need perfection; the tone in the first act needs work, as we take the women seriously one minute and not the next. Still, enchanting.

See it if You’re willing to enjoy good singing and acting almost randomly put together; you love Dylan’s music in any context

Don't see it if You know Dylan’s repertoire and expect his music to be presented in some semblance of its original context. Want a great/uplifting storyline

Also Story felt a bit cobbled together around the music. Or was the music pulled in to fill out the story? Kept wishing the words to the songs made sense in the context... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like to see a fine actor completely immersed in the difficult life of Lenny Bruce

Don't see it if you're hoping to see Bruce's energy and comedy recreated, an ambitious undertaking that isn't quite achieved; if you want upbeat/uplifiting.

Also The focus on Bruce's issues rather than his comedy, on his drug and family problems, make the show sometimes hard to watch... Read more Read less

See it if you can get a ticket (seriously: some stand-by tickets available, get to the theater early on the night). A really lovely production

Don't see it if you don't like Oklahoma, don't like musicals (although this one is quite thought-provoking). There are gunshots and brief darkness.

See it if you like dramas, like to think, laugh, and be surprised, love a great ending, a great cast, great acting.. this is a magnificent night out

Don't see it if you really struggle with accents; I admit I missed some of the dialog, although none of the import. P.S. lots of cursing, not for kids

Also I see that some people dislike the Irish stereotypes supported by the play and I get it. If you really hate to see Irish people drinking, cursing, dancing, and fighting, then don't go. But it's really well done.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy great acting close up, theater in the round, new stagings of classic plays. Thoroughly enjoyable, well-paced, powerful.

Don't see it if .. I hesitate to say the usual "if you only love B'way musicals" type thing, so really, just go see this, it's lovely

Also My Google calendar invite sent me to an address on West 4th Street, the theater's prior location, so beware. This is the first production in the new theater at Hunter College on 68th. Also note (if you were wondering) this is not a student production. Also, it's general admission and they send you to another building to pick up your ticket and use the restroom before you go in, so, while there are no bad seats, I advise an early arrival if you want to sit together or need an aisle. Finally, just FYI, no bar, no snacks, so don't come hungry because they do a lot of eating during the play!... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like a high-energy, moving performance by a captivating young actor

Don't see it if you want a well-thought-out story arch or an "ah-ha" moment; the play simply ends, without any attempt to shine a light on the "why"

Also Sadly, something was missing from this play, despite the actor's incredible performance. If this were mine, I would introduce a few more spiritual hints throughout (sparrows +), then come back after the end with Private Peaceful speaking out from wherever he is, telling us how the family is doing, and oh, now he knows what was out there waiting for him, and his dad is there, and (someone else I won't say), and well, we'll find out for ourselves one day, and maybe a little "in spite of it all, I'd do it all again the same way." Then a little smile and a wave offstage to someone... and curtain.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a lively, musical, documentary-style show about Buzz Aldrin and the angst of being the second--and far less famous--man on the moon

Don't see it if you want a story arc or strong theme; this is about what happened. Whether it has real meaning for the rest of us is up for discussion

Also Really great actors and music, a very entertaining night

See it if you're up for a light-hearted evening, a hugely diverse cast, lovely original music and voices, and a bit of Shakespeare thrown in.

Don't see it if you need your theater serious or educational. You're outside, there's Shaina Taub, frozen sangria, music, and laughter. Go. Enjoy.

See it if You want to see the best off-Broadway show of the year; you care about humanity; you love the theater for its own sake (no fancy set)

Don't see it if you don’t want your eyes and heart opened by the best acting and writing you’ll see this year

Also Two actors, alternating in the small space of the NY Theater Workshop Next Door, with only a spotlight and two chairs -- but those chairs become a home, a white van, a war-torn city, a boat on a raging sea, while the actors become a photographer, a revolutionary, a graffiti artist and her lover, a worried mother, a principled journalist, someone who's lost his way... and someone who's found hers. A stellar performance. This is what theater is meant to be.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re interested in well-told memoirs, storytelling, thoughtful musical excursions into the past. A really beautiful, honest show

Don't see it if You dislike one-man shows, need a full cast and big Broadway show

See it if You like to see works in progress, thoughtful narratives. Much good here, talented actors/dancers

Don't see it if The play is based on a true story and the playwright has put his heart into it, but I needed to know exactly what happened & what came after

Also Several really lovely morsels here: a fabulous dance, a heartwarming home movie, a monologue that reveals why we see what we see, and a beautiful set design. I hope they keep working on it and we see a new iteration soon... Read more Read less

See it if As usual, Dave Malloy is exploring new territory in subject and in song. A funny, sad, thought-provoking musical about Internet obsessions

Don't see it if you're really triggered by addiction stories, I suppose. Malloy really makes you think about the amount of time we spend online these days

See it if you'll be blown right out of the audience by Murphy's performance, the lighting, the sound, the grief.. then reeled back in

Don't see it if you are triggered by death, lost someone recently (unless you want to sob uncontrollably); can't bear loud, repeated noises

See it if you love jazz, love New Orleans, want to learn more about the history of both

Don't see it if you want a fully developed musical; play is many small pieces stitched together

See it if you love what small theater can do; powerful message and powerful humor combined; several great plot twists

Don't see it if you are already complete stressed out about climate change, I guess; there's a serious message here, despite the laughter

Also A really well done and surprising play. Had no idea what to expect and just loved it.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re ready to explore race, slavery, white privilege, & stereotypes; to be uncomfortable, to be angry; to be confused; to think.

Don't see it if You’re not ready to do the above. You want to just relax at the theater. Diggs suppresses his joyful musicality here, going to a dark place

See it if you're willing to laugh/cry at yourself and others while wanting to scream/cry about the world we live in; this is true theater, a must see

Don't see it if you need linear, simple, uncontroversial theater; if you'd rather see Carol King, The Musical; you don't want to face today's race realities

Also Imagine if God (or a racist president) told Noah (or the fabulous Peaches) to gather together all people of color in the US, no matter their wealth, status, gender, jail time, or reality show success, and put them on a plane to Africa. Now. Plane's leaving, honey. What, you don't want to go? You don't really feel 'black'? Your ancestors didn't even come from Africa? Or... you're afraid? Tough luck, honey, Peaches is calling, you'd better get on that plane.. or only Peaches knows what will happen next.... Read more Read less

See it if Three talented men sing the words to an old album of black men singing on chain gangs in the south; a brief narrative, lovely music, moving

Don't see it if you want a play or any expansion on the story behind the album or what it means today. They just sing the album. Could've been much more.

Also Show-score should not be mixing the reviews from the earlier, intimate, and I assume less expensive production in 2017 and the current production. It does make a difference that the tickets were $50 and the venue much bigger. This was a lovely idea and well presented, but not appropriate for a big venue when the audience is expecting much more and many are further from the stage. Several people around me nodded off. In contrast, I'd have been very happy if I'd paid $25 in a little off-off-Broadway theater like the Wild Project or NYTW Next Door and seen this. It's a lovely small-theater piece that didn't make the transition, at least for me... Read more Read less

See it if You love theater that challenges you. Show explores Japanese culture from a Japanese-American POV, hitting all the cultural highlights

Don't see it if You’re triggered by the title. No one commits suicide in the show. but suicide is referenced. Also if you only like trad stories/ messages.

Also Impossible to explain this show, and yet it sits in my brain like a beautifully wrapped package. Especially loved the Japanese serou (goats) at the end, honoring and respecting the dead, and the very real mother-daughter relationship.... Read more Read less

See it if You have a cheap ticket: there are elements of a good play here - dance, folklore, a moral - but it’s like someone took scissors to it

Don't see it if You want coherence, a sensible plot line or ending; you don’t want to be hit over the head repeatedly with the play’s purported moral

Also The play teases with possibilities. The program asks for audience participation, and my audience was ready! But after one or two moments, that vanishes. Then it seems we have a cute morality tale. Except the people we’re supposed to sympathize with are all unlikeable; only the boyfriend and the cellphone (tangential characters) have any appeal. Then it’s a thriller. Then an African fable. Then the bad guy (gal) we hate becomes the person we’re supposed to have sympathized with all along. And even the core theme of the play doesn’t hold up because the “ugly” lead isn’t ugly at all. Not even close. It’s odd, but it’s as if the play were written by committee... Read more Read less

See it if you love B'way, tap dancing, great singing. Worth going just for O'Hara's "I Hate Men" & her fights with Chase's character, priceless

Don't see it if Look, this show is really cheesy, it's dated, it's thematically challenged, and you won't learn much, that's just "Kiss Me, Kate"

Also Some bits were overlong and the show has not been successfully updated like My Fair Lady; but the chemistry and sparring between O'Hara and Chase are beautiful. Both super talented and full of life, a joy to watch. And the dance sequence (Too Darn Hot) is stunning; there's incredible dance talent on this stage... Read more Read less

See it if you don't want to miss a stellar performance by Cranston, despite a loud, TV-screen-filled production with odd swings in tone

Don't see it if you don't want to watch a lot of TV; there are many screens and much of the time the actors play to the cameras, not the audience

Also The show is fun and loud, and Cranston gives it his all. But there are odd changes in tone, unexplained swings in the main character's behavior, and the switch in his message at the end is odd and scarcely explained, leaving the show feeling pointless in the end... Read more Read less

See it if You want history laid out before you as if you’d stepped back to Calais and seen this human tragedy with your own eyes. Powerful, must see.

Don't see it if You have a bad back and can’t get a good seat. Some people sit on floor. Also if loud sudden noises trigger you.

Also This is theater for today—meaningful, diverse, eye-opening, profound. I only wish they had a donation basket for a refugee NGO as you exit. NOTE entrance is on the side, seating is complex, and large bags must be checked, so get there at least 15 min early. Also, the bagcheck queue looks like the restroom queue. Dodge that line and push through to the restrooms :)... Read more Read less

See it if you have any interest in women's rights, our government, the constitution. But this is not a play, more a presentation of events and ideas

Don't see it if you want a light, upbeat show; you don't want to learn; you hate women (I guess) :)

Also Lots of triggers here around sexual assault. If that's you, come anyway, but sit in the back by the exit. One woman left during the show at a triggering moment. From the front row. And forgot her jacket and had to come back.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd enjoy three fine actors engaged in a taught family drama; this kind of a "Get Out" for women in a bad marriage

Don't see it if you're triggered by domestic abuse, or you want a political message for our times. It's a good, tight play and the acting is lovely

See it if interested in open, difficult, perhaps transformative discussions on race and sex; are willing to listen hard. Play has many layers to peel

Don't see it if you are traumatized by dominant-submissive sex: there is no sex onstage, but close to it. Also if you don't want to be forced to think

Also Super-smart, mind-blowing, multi-layered writing rarely seen in the theater, and maybe for good reason -- audiences like to know what's going on, or at least think they do :). When the play ended (a little confusingly), we were stunned and didn't stand despite phenomenal acting. An hour later, we were like "OMG I get it." Many hours later, we're like "WTF, I need to see it again"... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like to hear both sides of the Black Lives Matter debate. Play tries hard to be balanced. Lots of great dialogue, great acting

Don't see it if you don't want to hear the police point of view in these difficult times, or have the concerns of people of color ultimately diminished

Also I'll try to explain. The play has a lot of wonderful dialogue re black lives matter and police shootings. Kudos to the playwright for that. The play also illuminates the police point of view. But in the end, it goes too far. Everyone is to blame here except the police: the parents, the kid, the system, the world.. but the police here are just good people doing their jobs. And with that, the play's potential impact goes "poof".... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like a bright show set in a dark future. Cleverly staged in the tiny temporary Ars Nova space, great singing, just a really fun night

Don't see it if you only love the big, fully realized shows; this is a fun night of futuristic musical adventure, & I'm going again

See it if you want to experience insights into an American story that is perhaps unlike your own, with a serious message about acceptance

Don't see it if you want truly professional, well-developed, worth the ticket $. While some moments resonated deeply, much felt unpolished. (1st preview.)

Also From the beginning, the play was clearly about cultural understanding, and there were many moments that worked. Loved the second and third acts. But at other moments the play became too heavy-handed, especially at the end (totally unnecessary breaking of the fourth wall).... Read more Read less

See it if You love great acting for its own sake, love Elaine May (amazing), aren’t bothered by the terrible descent into Alzheimer’s of a loved one

Don't see it if hoping for a plot twist, moral, surprise, reason for Cera’s character to exist, or reason for this play to exist (beyond Elaine May’s perf)

Also Even the best acting and staging can’t justify a linear, plodding, repetitive story. Just go ask someone with a relative who’s died of Alzheimer’s to tell you about their entire journey in 2.25 hours (it’ll be just as depressing and a lot less expensive).... Read more Read less

See it if you love HP, love magic. A perfect continuation of the stories, the staging is eye-popping and Scorpius/James incredible, the night flew by

Don't see it if you've never read or seen HP (do that first) or you're cynical about magic and fantasy (at least, don't go see it with me :))

Also I'd read the play and thought "meh, it's okay, but I'm not spending that kind of money..." and then we got tickets in a fundraiser and I was completely blown away, two fabulous nights, pure joy, sorry, I'm a huge HP fan, the special effects were perfect (e.g., the centaur, the dementors, the stairs..). By the way, they completely redid the theater for the show, it's beautiful.... Read more Read less

See it if you love small, creative theater pieces that combine history lessons with modern-day messages. Talented cast

Don't see it if you want a Broadway-style, singing, dancing spectacular. This is a drama with a little music.

Also What happens when an overly imaginative teenager goes online to learn about Russian revolutionaries, and they come to life in her bedroom? Should she tweet about them, emulate them -- or question their impact and motives? Should she even believe the things they say -- or the internet says? And who's that Russian hacker manipulating their stories?... Read more Read less

See it if you are happy with the first 4/5 of the play (the best, funniest depiction of a sibling relationship you'll see) & can ignore the last 1/5

Don't see it if you want your plays to make sense throughout; the play veers off into a sad, unlikely, and annoying ending.(Why, Young Jean?)

Also I've been debating my review for days, so I guess you could say the play is "thought-provoking!" Look, if you're going to make a political play about how straight white men don't have a clue or live unreal lives or don't know something (or someone) good when it (he) stares them in the face, then do it. But don't make your characters so beautiful, funny, touching, and empathetic and then swat them down like flies. Or if you really have to swat them down, try to make their actions seem realistic (versus a convention to end your play the way you want). Let me add that Young Jean Lee is an incredible talent and the actors here are truly stunning. Hence the intensity of the disappointment at the end (note "Disappointing" as a key descriptor of this play).... Read more Read less

See it if you want to experience new, edgy writing on an important topic; the lead actors are beautiful in their roles, with great rapport

Don't see it if you want a consistent tone and clear message; the play is full of metaphor and references to other texts; the white characters 1-dimensional

Also If you're saying, "of course the white characters were 1-dimensional, that's the point", well sure. And I admit it would be easy to give this play a high rating and move on (hello, white guilt). But the first white character was so cartoonishly unreal that it threw me right out of the play, as if Mickey Mouse had come onstage. I think the point could have been made more subtly and more powerfully. In other words, if you show me a white character that is so completely odd (or hateful) that I can't relate to him or understand him, all I'm going to do is disdain or hate him too. But haven't you then lost a great opportunity to teach?... Read more Read less