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See it if like me, you are an American Idol fangirl & have Clay/Ruben cds. You'll suffer the bad skits & flat jokes & delight to hear them sing

Don't see it if you are not in the Christmas spirit. Bad jokes, tinsel, "ugly sweaters" silly stage business abound. Ya gotta love these 2 to enjoy it

Also I saw 1st night of previews, and this little holiday show is a good idea that needs time to polish & get it right. Too much talk, jokes just don't land. LOVE CLAY, he came across as mean/mad rival & we all know they are great friends! It doesn't work. Smile more, it's a buddy show, not a competition! From a fan: cut the sketches & go right to the singing! Act 2 was WONDERFUL.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a Seinfeld episode (nothing happens) starring a 9yr old. Child actress carries the weight of 75min no intermission dramedy.

Don't see it if you are looking fwd to Richard Masur doing more than sit in a chair & drink. He doesn't get a monologue until Act 3.

Also This play has an adorable premise--9yr old & the old curmudgeon. But it's all on the kid, going on about kid things, and nothing at all about the drama--elderly neighbors facing life & death. Seems to have been written by the kids Mom as a show-piece for her precociousness. Talented child actor, will have a nice future career. But not much of a play here.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy Michael C Hall's weird career choices (Dexter, Lazarus)--he's perfectly articulate, funny, & scary good in this

Don't see it if you want a set & costumes, light entertainment. This is surreal & existential about life, love, death. You have to work at it to get it.

See it if very cute comedic cast, fantastic voices, silly version of Measure by Measure set to music. It's adorable, sharp, witty, & satisfying

Don't see it if musical theatre archetypes (virgin, whore, hero, villain, fool) light silly fun with an All is Well ending. Not for the serious or stuffy

Also Hero Peter Saide gives me Hugh Jackman vibes! I have a little crush now.... Read more Read less

See it if you thrill to see great ensemble, great direction, excellent costume & sound design, minimalist set, smart adaptation of classic Western

Don't see it if repetition, surrealism, need for plot or deeper meaning drive your theatre choices. This is art for art lovers & doesn't always make sense

Also An empty all-white stage, 10 fantastic actors, ambitious direction, dramatic tension, brilliant sound design. No intermission. I hung on every word. Kudos to this cast, this is the real deal. Recommending to all my friends.... Read more Read less

See it if you are obsessed with everything Tennessee Wms & absolutely must punch your dance card & see this lovely production.

Don't see it if Off-Bway theatre is not accessible. 1hr 45min NO intermission. Dated women's stereotypes from the 1930s painfully still true today.

Also This show has been on my list for some time, very happy to finally see it. Great set & costumes. Kristine Nielsen is such a treasure & comic genius. My 1stX seeing Jean Lichty--sick, or just very raspy voice? Hard to understand her at times. Annette O'Tolle brittle to the last. So well done.... Read more Read less

See it if you like cathartic parent/child stories about illness, aging, & death. Similar to "Marvin's Room." Many tears & sniffles in audience.

Don't see it if you dislike "Hallmark Movie of The Week"/"Lifetime for Women" type stories. Great script, important topic (Mom dying), acting was just ok.

Also Thanks & gratitude to this playwright & development team for a bringing the important topic of caring for the dying parent to stage. So many light, frivolous things out there--this is actually important & absorbing. The daughter role is cliched (uptight left-brain scientist), I did not believe the chemistry with romantic partner, and by the end of the play wanted to slap the daughter & say "Grow up! Take responsibility!" I think this piece would be very successful in educational forums--helping adult children recognize when it's time to find help, how to grieve & process their loss.... Read more Read less

See it if you liked Something Rotten, you enjoy clever iambic pentameter, a Shakespearean plot, GREAT dancing chorus, & the GoGos are your jam

Don't see it if light comedy, gender-bending, strange symbiosis between Elizabethan plot & 80s pop music befuddles you

Also I am all about cross-dressing mistaken identity plots--still, it took me a bit to warm up to HOH. But once I did it just got cuter & cuter. Some wonderful leads, GREAT dancing, & by the end we were all on our feet celebrating love, LGBTQ community, & Belinda Carlisle... Read more Read less

See it if you like clowning & theatre of the ridiculous. I do not. I thought I was going to see a romance, not a surrealist pastiche a la Magritte.

Don't see it if cut & paste of surreal images, insufferable dialogue, & awkward performances makes you squirm w regret & embarrassment. No Intermission.

See it if you ❤️ feel-good Disco era, 70s/80s radio, Diva-worship, woman-centric stories. Great performances by LaChanze, Ariana Debose, Storm Lever

Don't see it if you are looking for a movie-of-the-week "bio pic". This skirts through her childhood abuse & relationships, focuses on survival & the songs

See it if you like real-life solo storytelling, you grew up in the 80s, you want to reminisce about teen drug use & rock 'n roll living

Don't see it if you don't like small fringe theatre, no set, disappointing video/visual effects. Overall lacks emotional depth, played for shock value

Also Dynamo actress has great energy, and using only jackets & a hairband takes us from NYC to Alaska to San Fran to WY all in the span of....2yrs (?) ages 15 & 16. Cute & interesting story with sense of impending doom, but no insight from the adult about being jail-bait girlfriend of the Grateful Dead & drug dealers. Feels like this is one piece of a much larger story/memoir... Read more Read less

See it if you want to explore the after-math of school shooting & it's affect on a whiny, self-absorbed, sheltered teenager.

Don't see it if whiny teens grate on your last nerve. Young lead actress has potential but her voice & mannerisms are excruciating. 1.5hrs no intermission

See it if you need multi-media inspiration from a kind hearted visual artist & musician... a reminder of the connection btwn all things great & small.

Don't see it if you are impatient that it seems geared to school children--simple & absorbing. It's lecture style, with interspersed music & slides.

Also This little touring show gives me hope. The creator has taken this show cross-country 77 times, and reached thousands of people who are now part of "the project."... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy family drama, insight into the immigrant experience, Muslim culture, examination of fear, prejudice, and stereotypes

Don't see it if you are bored by family drama issues (elders, abuse, adultery, secrets, etc), are looking for a big conclusion or "reveal"

Also Long play! 2hrs 40min. Kind of a British/Muslim "Death of a Salesman" or "Long Days Journey..." Not the most comfortable seats in town. Good show, much to think about, but even more enjoyable if it came in at under 2hrs.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Enda Walsh, delicious spoken word, masterful acting & movement, dynamic duos, existential mystery

Don't see it if you are confused by abstraction, don't want to read between the lines, need an intermission

Also I rushed to see Ballyturk at St Ann's after seeing Disco Pigs at Irish Rep --both by Enda Walsh. Have seen many of Walsh's "strangers in a room" plays now & *suddenly they all make sense*! Thrilling Enda Walsh double-header theatre weekend :)... Read more Read less

See it if I adore Hayley Mills--who doesn't? But it's so excruciating to see good people in a bad play. I left at intermission.

Don't see it if you are bored by cliches & realism-without-revelation. Characters standing around talking, saying nothing.

Also Wanted so much to enjoy it, went with an open mind. 1/2 the characters are in a sad Chekhov play, the other 1/2 in a zingy sitcom. No flow of energy or intention--and not an interesting story. As one character put it in Act One, "I'm allergic to beige."... Read more Read less

See it if you like upbeat fun, colorful pop art, innocent humor, & the "journey of the hero"

Don't see it if you don't like an enthusiastic audience! All around me fans were laughing & clapping through the show. It was inspiring & cute.

See it if seeing Tyne & Tim Daly onstage together is rare. They masterfully pluck at the heart strings. The play? Eh. But worth it for them.

Don't see it if dysfunctional family drama with characters trapped in dilapidated basement with a No Exit feeling overwhelms you.

Also Writing this weeks after seeing it, feeling now that I enjoyed it more than I thought I did at the time. Real human issues here--mental distress, gender stereo-types, abusive relationships. And the two of them--so present, so responsive. So sad. They are both WOW.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be sure it lives up to the hype. It DOES. Very satisfying writing, music, & performances. Lin Manuel Miranda instant legend.

Don't see it if Rapid-fire dialogue & music make you dizzy. Very simple set & basic costumes only--the real feature here is the writing & ideas put forth.

Also Tip: No matter your age, rent the Assisted Listening Device (for the hard of hearing) in the lobby so that you don't miss a single word. It's the difference between listening to FM radio or stereo in high-def. You can thank me later.... Read more Read less

See it if you care about old, white, WASPy dinosaur playwrights. You love Cherry Lane, light sit-com/rom-com, & want to go to Chumleys after

Don't see it if you crave new, relevant, modern, progressive dialogue in theatre. You are easily offended by gender norm stereotypes & rape ref

Also Act 1: Final Follies was unproduced before ARG's death, with good reason. Attractive actors seemingly lost & un-directed. Very bad, wanted to leave after. Act 2: Rape of Bunny....great work by cast (Deborah Rush, OitNB) & painful resolution given recent He Said/She Said events (it was written in the 70s). Act 3: The Love Course Glad I stayed for Betsy Aidem & Piter Marek. Hilarious classic rom-com. A very un-even evening, if you can make it past Act 1 it gets better.... Read more Read less

See it if you love poetry, Bohemia, women writers, chamber musicals, Downtown theatre, exceptionally talented cast with soaring voices, & surprises.

Don't see it if no set, no costume changes, way Downtown LES theatre is not for you. This bio piece centers on her most famous work--not her whole life

Also This charming piece was utterly beguiling. The Finale was breathtaking. I'm so glad I saw this, it made my heart sing.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to bring a child to a show with clowning, mime, shrill voices-- that devolves as most of these types of shows do...into fart jokes.

Don't see it if you expect Mummenshantz or Cirque du Soleil, or hate performers breaking the 4th wall & shining a light in your face.

Also This is definitely a fringe-type show. It plays like an extended improv exercise around the words "Ready!" & "Are you there?" Very simple, not sophisticated. Waiting for Godot it is not.... Read more Read less

See it if you agree Janet McTeer is the British Meryl Streep. Flawless. Terrific Theresa Rebeck look inside the backstage life of the Divine Sarah.

Don't see it if if British accents, Diva worship, and the cult of theatre are not your church of worship, this is probably not for you.

Also After seeing some super dumbed down shows last season, THIS was SO refreshing! It helps to know something about Sarah Bernhardt. Great sets, strong ensemble, and Janet in command. Loved it, loved it, loved it.... Read more Read less

See it if you need an antidote to fluffy entertainment &The Dumbing Down of America. Funny, witty, thoughtful, insightful, with masterful acting

Don't see it if The hilarious self-centered saga of a 14thc. female mystic, feminist, & maybe saint has no resonance for you & you'd rather see Sponge Bob

See it if you can justify squandering the gifts of brilliant Carey Mulligan in a plodding exploitive story that drops the F-bomb every other minute

Don't see it if profane script (F-ing this & that EVERY other line), bad parenting, Greek Tragic "event" after excruciating 90min no intermission galls you

Also I adore Carey Mulligan. I love her films. Are there really no better scripts for an actress of her talent? It's impressive to watch her hold the stage for 90min alone. But the story, language, and exploitive final act were absolute torture to bear. Sorry Carey. Hope to see you in a better play or film soon!... Read more Read less

See it if you are obsessed with Tennessee Wms...it's FABulous. Funny, reverent, outstanding performance by Juan Francisco Villa as TW.

Don't see it if you don't already love Glass Menagerie, Streetcar, Cat...lots of TW character & play refs & "Easter Eggs" + gay themes & seduction.

Also This play reflects so much care about Tennessee Wms-- the set, the costumes, styling of actors, rhythm of speech & 40s vernacular...as well as the most hilarious & astonishing seduction scene I've ever seen onstage!... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy exquisite acting & simple staging. Gorgeous language & emotion with echoes of Orpheus, Streetcar, & short "The Yellow Bird"

Don't see it if you can't sit still & quiet & absorb the language, archetypes, and angst of Williams. It's an emotional workout.

See it if Jimmy Buffet Parrot Heads are your people. You enjoy (or miss) vacation tropical island life. Stock characters, classic romantic plot

Don't see it if you want a challenging, thought-provoking musical about climate change. This is as deep as a Hollywood romcom/ buddy flick or Elvis movie

Also PS: Paul Nolan barefoot in blue jeans was enough to sell me! $16 margaritas in souvenir glasses for sale in lobby. Also: (2) Musicals this season about pineapples & volcanoes? Pretty much EXACTLY the same story as Sponge Bob--which had better sets & Top 40 music.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy blonde hating, bullying, gay-hating, fat-shaming. It was not as funny onstage as seeing the movie 15yrs ago.

Don't see it if your time is precious & you have so many other choices this Spring. You can skip this one & watch the video highlights.

Also Great digital sets--lovely leading lady. Chorus of many shapes & sizes defying typical Bway casting.. Kudos to the male chorus who don drag. You know you're old when Kerry Butler is playing the MOM. It moves quickly, but too long & no hummable theme songs. Love musicals, was really looking forward to this but disappointed.... Read more Read less

See it if you ❤️ Billie Piper--she tears it up! Brilliant adaptation of Lorca for 21st c. Stunning, impossible set changes. Emotional rollercoaster

Don't see it if You are frightened or upset by non-traditional staging, intimate emotion, loud noises, frank exploration of sex, partnership, & motherhood.

Also Saw the NT Live film broadcast of this last year--stellar. Same cast here in NYC. Have been telling friends it will be THE theatre event of the year. Am sure I am right!... Read more Read less

See it if you grew up on Bway classics and want to see an impressive, stellar, completely off-book, dizzying Encores spectacle recreation!

Don't see it if you just don't "get" audiences obsessed with musicals and wonder "why are they clapping before the # is over?"

See it if you enjoy May/December friendship, marriage, well-written, performed, & directed new musicals, Yiddish humor, gay history, memoirs

Don't see it if you forgot to bring tissues. You will cry at this one. This is not a history play. It's inspired by Harvey, not about Him

See it if you liked Three Billboards film, Martin McDonagh's plays, Brit culture, the 60s, ensemble acting, dark humour

Don't see it if you have difficulty with Northern English accents, menacing characters, capital punishment, gender stereotypes

See it if you like experimental theatre, Joyceian poetry, new forms, dance/movement, 90s time period, club kids, Irish writers, intense performances

Don't see it if you want linear plot, have difficulty w Irish accents, can't relate to teenage love & anger,

Also Blown away by how intense & amazing this show was--2 actors, no intermission--all movement & dialogue like spoken word poetry. I was drawn in by the intensity of their chemistry & connection... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy a masterful One-Man show. Lithgow weaves storytelling, nostalgia, smiles, surprises, imagination & emotion. Truly mesmerizing.

Don't see it if No set or costumes here...just one American theatre, TV, & film treasure taking us on a journey with his voice, characters, & kindness