Andrew 4

See it if you're attuned to current African-American issues, appreciate cutting-edge satire with uncompromising point of view, vignette style play

Don't see it if you're not interested in African-American issues, shocked by stinging satire aimed at variety of groups, don't appreciate drag queen humor

Also Funny, stinging play that takes no prisoners; often surprising satirical situations that are funny yet you can simultaneously be ashamed at laughing, and there are times when the satire could be addressed to you, or if you are not completely familiar with contemporary African-American slang and culture, some of what goes on may just go right over your head. But this is definitely a worth-seeing experience.... Read more Read less

See it if Interested in Chinese-American playwright, support Asian artists, enjoy gay stories with family secrets & tropical setting

Don't see it if don't like plays with gay characters or family struggles involving gay issues, don't like 'coming home after many years' plots

See it if you liked the film, curious about plot changes, enjoy sharp punch lines & vivid roles, fan of Fontana, good character numbers & acting

Don't see it if not a fan of the film or of drag, expect glossy sets or creative staging, want "aha!" moments or great dancing, can't suspend disbelief

Also Amiable, thoroughly professional show, can be genuinely fun at times, Fontana is excellent as Dorothy but as written his Michael Dorsey character is buzz-kill, sets seem to be deliberately made as tacky to showcase economic bracket of characters but come off as a bit too tacky, NY Skyline background is uninspired and seems to root the show in the past, talented ensemble left with not a lot of originality to perform. The last several scenes are disappointing, as they do not resolve all of the plot strands to any satisfaction SPOILER ALERT:(what happens with the show within the show, what happens with Dorsey's reputation--is he blacklisted forever? Does he get the play and his agent? Does Sandy get a chance at the part? Also the show is just too long, things should start wrapping up and being resolved earlier!... Read more Read less

See it if Enjoy bizarre humor & situations, shows that come together in stunning last scenes, verbal contradictions, fresh plots, beleaguered heroines

Don't see it if need realistic behavior & motives, no patience to await final revelations, disturbed by office situations, can't laugh at absurdity

See it if You enjoy clever playwrighting, genuine laughter and believable characters with a undercurrent of social justice issues

Don't see it if you don't like to think and listen to what playwrights have to say, don't like comedies with a message

See it if You’re a fan of Sondheim, curious about how a pared down cast can fare & a reverse timeline works on stage, enjoy plots of hope, cynicism

Don't see it if Not a fan of musicals, expect large casts & athletic production numbers, confused by a reverse timeline, failed dreams cause pain

See it if you're a fan of John Guare or Laroquette, like slightly odd but clever scenarios, enjoy glimpse into writer's psyche & sense of mystery

Don't see it if you expect aspects of plot to be revealed in linear fashion, don't like flashbacks & if they can be trusted, not a fan of Guare's humor

See it if you're a Lane fan, enjoy absurd, risque humor, appreciate jokes about dead bodies & bodily functions, feel for the plight of abused workers

Don't see it if Can't stand stage blood, representations of dead bodies, humor about death, nudity & body functions after death, seemingly purposeless play

See it if curious about how a contemporary "boulevard" comedy could be done, enjoy comedies about couples who mix things up, can suspend disbelief

Don't see it if you want realism in your comedies, don't enjoy plays about romantic entanglements among two mismatched couples or with unlikable ccharacters

See it if you enjoy new playwrights, LGBT subject matter, reflections on the AIDS crisis & its reverberations today, younger vs. older activists

Don't see it if don't like LGBT subject matter, esp. regarding AIDS, angry & frustrating protagonists, key action that happens offstage, political arguments

See it if you enjoy plays about dating & relationships among modern Muslims in today's USA, like 2-handers & intense confrontations

Don't see it if don't like 2-character plays or subjects about young American Muslims' professional ambitions, put off by the "Women's Project" label

See it if you like intense, contemporary dramas dealing with interpersonal relationships in surprising, realistic ways as relevant as today's news

Don't see it if you don't like 2-character one act plays that deal with #MeToo and R. Kelly-like issues with confrontations and personal anguish

Also You get enough theater to last you a week in this play's 70-minutes, believe me. The two actors are amazing.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Huppert & Noth, enjoy plays that challenge in style & topic, like fascinating plots and structures

Don't see it if you have mother issues, have trouble understanding French accents, don't like non-linear storytelling & unreliable "narration"

See it if you enjoy Cumming & the exquisite Woodard, on-stage swimming pools, gay vs. Bible, love vs. career & mother/son issues, nudity

Don't see it if uncomfortable with full-frontal nudity, mother/son arguments on the Bible, love, art and older/younger coupling, adult thumb-sucking

Also The playwright does address some interesting issues, including questions regarding who is exactly using who in a relationship, what someone will do to advance one's career, the notion of artistic superiority, the clash between art & sex with the Bible, some-town religious values vs. urban sophistication, but the writer veers into overstatement as the puppets get menacingly larger and the protagonist's behavior gets more and more bizarre and infantile and then takes a turn that is not completely justified by the action we've seen but would be thoroughly be within the realm of possibility if some of those last odd scenes were not included... Read more Read less

See it if you like new musicals, enjoy mother-son & mentor-protege stories, accept supernatural explanations, fan of Baldwin & Pinkham, see new talent

Don't see it if don't like injection of supernatural into naturalistic stories, sappy happy endings, poor resolution of key plot strings, meh CGI

Also There are some strong voices here, not only Kate Baldwin and Bryce Pinkham, but young Kyle McCarthy as well. Plot is minimal but profound, but doesn't resolve completely satisfactorily especially in fate of title character, focus on the mother-son grief relationship is rewarding but hardly cosmic Kitt has written some fine music elevated by a great case, Jason Moore and/or choreographer Lorin Latarro have created some interesting scenes (although one resembles "Spiderman" choreography, with red hoodies standing in for Spidey suites... Read more Read less

See it if You loved Van Halen & are curious about the group’s history & various comebacks, How bands break up &!whatever happened to David Lee Roth?

Don't see it if You don’t like cross gender casting, not a fan of rock history or music, don’t care about Van Halen or Roth, don’t like absurd comedy

Also One of the more enjoyable theatrical experiences I have had in quite a while. The cast is terrific, including the women playing the Van Halen brothers and Roth, and the guy who plays Valerie Bertinelli, Giddy, loopy, ultimately regretful tale accompanied by snippets of Van Halen’s catalogue... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy family sagas, here about a Japanese-American one, love stories between interracial parents & the children opening up to them

Don't see it if you don't like family stories dealing with disease & non-communication issues, coming home again after 20 years stories, strong women story

See it if you enjoy coming of age stories, problems gay guys encounter in a black private school, great a capella choir routines, resilient heroes

Don't see it if you're not a fan of gay stories set in high school milieu or into male choir singing, somewhat predictable plot line, bullying plot lines

See it if you're interested in forgotten history, slavery & medical experimentation with human subjects, fan of EST's science commissions,

Don't see it if you're not a fan of historical plays, upset by depictions of pain, blood & slavery, easily confused by multiple locations in a single scenes

See it if you're curious about the title, to discover the work of a composer-lyricist-librettist, enjoy nonsense plots & overwrought characterizations

Don't see it if you like musicals with peppy numbers, memorable music & mature lyrics, don't like foul language & broad depictions of Satan & Charles Manson

See it if you're a fan of Ireland, enjoy addiction stories about clients & caregivers, appreciate slow revealing of reasons for characters' behavior

Don't see it if don't like or can't relate to addiction stories, can't tolerate difficult behavior not being overtly explained or misbehavior by clergy

See it if you're a fan of Nottage, enjoy social satire, enjoy seeing the great fall and then learn to redeem themselves, original unpredictable story

Don't see it if not fond of actors playing multiple roles or story focused on powerful black woman's success & fall, don't like addiction subplots or satire

See it if you like Irish plays, follow this playwright, enjoy gripping, rambunctious family tales, like romance, suspense and realistic stories

Don't see it if you're not fond of Irish plays, plays with many, many characters & atmosphere, having to pay attention, don't want to recall "the troubles"

Also This is a genuinely moving play that pulls you into a realistic environment that commands your attention. Despite the many actors on stage, you can easily keep track of each character, including the children, who all create quite specific portraits. Plus there's a real live baby on stage, along with a goose, dog, etc. One of the most rewarding theatrical experiences of my year.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Stockard Channing fan or interested in new plays, enjoy complex family relationships, original linear plot, well-directed

Don't see it if don't like family dramas, esp. one set in England, have absent mother issues, plots that take their time getting started

Also Hugh Dancy is also quite impressive in two roles

See it if you like relevant works that explore racism, class-ism, misogyny, the pains of adolescence,multi-culturalism, women's issues, 1-act

Don't see it if don't like stories told from a woman's perspective, or trigger issues depicted on stage, or the claustrophobia of Roundabout Underground

See it if you like Shakespeare well-spoken, with little gimmickry except lots of testosterone, dynamic movement, & sharp visual images & casual dress

Don't see it if Julius Caesar & the history plays are not your favorites, don't like emphasis on ritualized battles or play not set in a specific time

See it if Touching modern drama about 2 12-yr. old students connecting, themes of child abuse and class, adult-youth relationships, feeling ignored;

Don't see it if you don't like young adult actors playing 12-yr olds, abrupt scene blackouts, a bit simplistic in story, unclear relationships at first

See it if Fan of Metcalf/Lithgow, interested in playwright's take on recent history, Peter Francis James as Barack, see how deck stacked anti-Hillary

Don't see it if expect play with meat, revelations, or a lot of insight into Hillary's loss, don't want to relive '08 primaries, don't regret Hillary's loss

See it if for a glimpse into little known American history, different take on women's issues & racism, non-linear but thematic narratives

Don't see it if Need linear storyline & actors playing same character or be guided through themes, don't like feminist plotlines or ingenious chaos on stage

See it if You enjoy spirituals & folk music even if unfamiliar, learning how Negro prisoners endured conditions, see how an actor developed this show

Don't see it if You don’t like plotless, short shows or all-singing, particularly to a record, very little action or limited set

See it if You enjoy Fugard, like plays about apartheid in South Africa or intense character studies about those impacted by apartheid

Don't see it if Do not like Fugard or plays about apartheid, unfamiliar with South Africa’s class system, dislike loud arguments, violence against women

See it if enjoy one-man, one act plays, curious about the Hollywood blacklist, learn how writing partners work, feel for movie business in the 50's

Don't see it if don't like one person plays, want a play that delves really deeply into the Blacklist, don't like plays where most action occurs over phone

See it if fan of the film, Cranston or von Hove, clever stagings, creative projections & video, a live outdoor scene, relevant subject matter

Don't see it if don't like media stories, didn't like original film, don't like extensive use of videos, long 135 min. intermissionless play

See it if you're a fan of Gyllenhall & Sturridge, enjoy short serious monologues, can deal with themes of death & grief, willing to listen

Don't see it if Don't like one person acts, have trouble dealing with subjects of death and grief, don't enjoy plays where you have to listen carefully

See it if you're a fan of the Mint & enjoy the discovery of forgotten plays from the early 20th century, linear, socially-relevant plots

Don't see it if plays from early last century are not your thing, prefer less talky, more action plays, don't enjoy linear plots

See it if you're a fan of Cole Porter and this musical, enjoy Kelli O'Hara & Will Chase, conventional staging, adequate dancing, a few unique takes

Don't see it if you expect a new take on the musical & a lot of inspired dancing or real tension between Lilli & Fred, don't enjoy classic musicals,

Also Saw this early in previews, but found that Kelli O'Hara is just too NICE as Lilli! Even though there are physical "bits," she doesn't deliver the lines with subtle viciousness necessary to believe that there is tension, and even Will Chase's Fred fails to deliver on his character's ego. Corbin Bleu is a blah (he may be a gambling rotter with a heart of gold, but you don't catch that here).Stephanie Styles is quite an effective Lois Lane and John Pankow & Lance Coadie Williams shine as the two gangsters. But there is really nothing new in this revival, except for Ellis's fun with "Tom Dick or Harry" capitalizing on Porter's inside jokes (" I Need a Dick" and "Any Harry (sic) Dick or Tom) just a bit too obviously, but glad someone has taken Porter up on his "challenge." "We Open in Venice" is not so strong or exhausting as often played, though Ellis tries to be creative in his staging ideas for it. (I think we have run out of ways to restage that number dynamically!)... Read more Read less

See it if you're curious about the musical & a fan of Lerner or Barry, you want to see how novel was adapted, you enjoy the York's Mufti series

Don't see it if turned off by the subject matter & peppy" songs in a serious musical with serious subject, don't like minimal sets, costumes, single piano

See it if to discover a rising playwright, see a clever take on African folk tale, how great beauty/parental protection impacts a whole community

Don't see it if you have trouble understanding African-inflected English, with slow-starting plots, African-infused music, interruptions for dances

Also The production is lovely to look at and once the main plot kicks in, it becomes very engrossing. The cast is uniformly excellent, with frequent costume changes to create various ensembles, the early plot is a bit hard to follow, but the evening is ultimately rewarding as it explores the dynamic of parents (particularly African-American parents) trying to raise children in a protective environment which results in other complications from the outside community and the child's own naivety and longing.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy new work, time-jumping plots, family secrets, military experiences, gay coming of age tales, mother-son relationships,

Don't see it if expect full-scale production values, uncomfortable with gay story lines, non-linear plotting, frustrating military stories, naive hero

See it if you enjoy Irish plays & O'Casey, like linear plots filled with well-developed characters & action, interested in Irish war of independence

Don't see it if you have trouble understanding Irish dialect, bothered by suspense and impending gun fire & explosions, not into Irish & IRA history

See it if You like new plays with an environmental conscience, dilemmas with no easy solution, impact of physical attraction on ethical matters

Don't see it if You’re not a fan of environmental consciousness & messages, feel 80 minutes is too short for a play, disturbed by depictions of explosives

See it if you're interested in the abortion debate, curious about a historic figure in the birth control/abortion movement in NYC, strong female lead

Don't see it if you're not interested in a play about a proficient abortionist in late 19th century or biographical works that are repetitive or strident

See it if you're curious about South African adaptation & its relevance to apartheid history, enjoy raw depictions of violence & manipulation

Don't see it if you only accept the Strindberg original, have trouble with broad accents, dislike depictions of sex & violence on stage

See it if you like Sam Shepard, Hawke or Dano, enjoy plays about distant brothers reuniting, sibling rivalry & character transformation

Don't see it if you're not a fan of Shepard's work, don't like slightly over the top plots, have brother issues, can't endure lengthy, slow first acts

See it if you like family sagas, curious about Iraqi Christian immigrants, plight of women in Iraqi culture, forgiveness & blame, writer as lead actor

Don't see it if not interested in Iraqi culture & how it follows immigrants to this country, or in woman's struggles or in dialogue that must be listened to

See it if you're a fan of Lee's novel or the film, enjoy trial stories, fan of great acting, esp. by Daniels, Keenan-Bolger & Jackson,

Don't see it if you're not happy with idea of Lee's novel adapted by Sorkin, don't like plays that jump around in chronology, don't believe in racism

Also Quite an impressive adaptation that brings you fairly quickly into the drama of the trial then fills you in gradually as the play progresses> I liked how the three young people were used a narrators, the racism comes across as still relevant to today, Atticus portrayed as a quiet realist dedicated to justice but not as a loud crusader, father's love for children is obvious throughout--though the children's independence from living without a mother and having a busy, often pre-occupied father is also evident, Sher's staging does allow for suspense even if you are familiar with the book, set is relatively simple, yet just suggestive enough... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Michael C. Hall & Will Eno, you like being challenged & get the humor in "Zippy," you're amused by life's contradictions

Don't see it if you don't like 1-person shows or plays without plots, wandering monologues that seem to go nowhere, quirky humor, nebulous character studies

See it if enjoy musical "comedy" with a touch of farce, stories with LGBT characters and issues, clever lyrics & creative numbers, exquisite acting

Don't see it if don't like plots with several LGBT characters & gay humor, same-sex kissing, prom memories, overripe performances, fish out of water plots

Also Also, you should not see it if you don't like people from Indiana to be satirized or worse, especially if you are from Indiana.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Brecht or Esparza who is great, enjoy social satires connecting America of today to fascism, pared down casts,

Don't see it if you're not a Brechtian, don't like heavy-handed symbols, find it hard to discern an actor switching characters, bright lights or loud noises