Andrew 4

See it if interested in Studio 54 history or Rubell & Warhol shown on stage, fondly recall disco era as age of innocence, see Darko & Trask's latest

Don't see it if expect disco music or deep characters & honest history, care about dark side of 54, expect Trask to offer a Hedvig quality score

Also This is like a children's version of the disco era, simplified, wholesome with just a hint of bad behavior ending with the creation of a new, larger multi-racial, hetero and LGBT inclusionary family. Not a lot abut transgendered folk... Read more Read less

See it if fan of Tracy Letts, Tatiana Maslany, Blair Brown or any of the cast, enjoy concept of multiply-cast main character & creative time jumps

Don't see it if don't like non-sequential tales with 6 actors playing title character at various times or plays requiring one to think to fit it together

See it if you're interested in LGBT issues, especially transgender issues, like stories about makeshift families and seeing diversity onstage

Don't see it if Not comfortable with LGBT issues on stage or with a transperson in a major role, have trouble with babies talking out loud, resent diversity

See it if you enjoy the creation of a suspenseful, foreboding atmosphere & magic, easily distracted by well-refined tricks that can sometimes awe

Don't see it if you want magic shows to have lots of magic & less distraction, don't like lengthy anecdotes that postpone the magic, don't like being fooled

See it if you're a fan of Idina Menzel, enjoy the work of Joshua Harmon, like family plays with gay characters & father-daughter relationships

Don't see it if don't like plays about complicated family histories and gay relationships, not a fan of exasperating characters or partial male nudity

See it if enjoy dance used to tell a story, with live musicians, like outstanding dancers led by Tony Yazbeck. & created by Susan Stroman as a romance

Don't see it if Don't like stories told entirely in dance with hardly any dialogue, expect singing in musicals, not a fan of Tony Yazbeck, not a romantic

See it if you like Irish plays, seeing a playwright in her NY debut: a tragic predictable tale of a long-suffering wife & mother figuring out her role

Don't see it if don't like talky plays with two actors playing the same character, frustrating back and forth dialogue, element of the supernatural

See it if you're a fan of Gurney & never seen this play before, support TBTB's mission and programs, enjoy pop culture references

Don't see it if you're not a fan of Gurney, don't like comedy that is not really funny, expect livier, peppier shows

See it if you enjoy comedies with gay humor & thoughts on writing, curious about Williams & Inge's friendship, like quick moving plays,

Don't see it if uncomfortable with gay humor & situations or speculation about Williams & Inge's relationship, unbalanced casting

Also Set is clever....have not seen Terry Teachout's play on the same subject so I don't know how this one compares (imagine that Teachout will not review this one)... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy new plays and support new female writers, interested in concerns of young teens, enjoy innovative casting & unusual digressions

Don't see it if you don't like female nudity on stage, young teens played by much older women, linear plots interspersed with odd musical numbers

See it if you enjoy musicals with pop-rock scores about families with LGBT & religious issues, sweet cast with hearts in the right place

Don't see it if you don't like musicals or stories with favorable gay content, don't like pop-rock scores, not a fan of new musicals

See it if you like plays about gay men, interested in how TBITB would play 40 years later, see an all-gay cast, like gay humor & recall a sad history

Don't see it if you don't like plays with gay content & witty, lacerating dialogue, an all-gay cast or relevance to today bringing up painful memories

See it if you're a fan of Ayckbourn, enjoy plots that occur over 50+ years, like comedies with a serious heart, enjoy tales set in rural England

Don't see it if you don't like plays set over multiple years or touching comedies that aren't hilarious, actors in multiple roles is confusing,

See it if you're a fan of Shaw or Condola Rashad, enjoy witty but lengthy discussions on faith, devotion and religious politics,

Don't see it if you don't like lengthy, talky shows, have no interest in Joan of Arc or the religious and political arguments of the time or male power

See it if you're a fan of the playwright, enjoy slice of life comedies with salty language, deliciously decadent characters & unexpected heart

Don't see it if you don't like plays with multi-cultural characters who don't make the best choices or large casts that make you wonder where plot is going

See it if For a portrait of autism through eyes of someone with autism, for good but troubled people connecting, enjoy live musical accompaniment

Don't see it if You're easily confused by imaginary characters, disturbed by autism depictions on stage & loud live music, or emotional manipulation

See it if you like witty, smart dialogue, mistaken identities, judgmental fathers, all the tropes of French farce, actors having fun,all in verse

Don't see it if you don't like plays entirely in verse, not a fan of verbal-style farce, don't like contemporary takes on old plays or convoluted plots

Also David Ives is a national treasure with his verse adaptations of forgotten French and European plays. This one's humor grows as the play progresses--the characters are rascals yet attractive and endearing as played by this excellent cast... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Basil Twist & Berlioz's Symphony, want to see a wild concept realized, curious about puppetry used to make abstract images

Don't see it if you are expecting a traditional style puppet show, not a fan of the abstract, not into color and light spectacles or plotless shows

Also This show is both exquisite and frustrating at the same time. It is worth seeing to see how Twist's mind put this all together and to try to imagine the hard split-second work of the puppeteers with all the water, but though it is beautiful to look at there seems to be no other point... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Rodgers & Hammerstein, like clever dancing, want to hear Fleming sing, fan of this show's songs, curious about stagngi

Don't see it if you expect an innovative approach, looking for warmth and connection, expect Mueller to act like a lead, don't like large scale musicals

Also There are many lovely things about this production, such as the costumes, the orchestrations, and especially the choreography in the "Blow High Blow Low " which does go on for a tad too long (but is dazzling nonetheless), Renee Fleming is in great voice, but she really doesn't connect with the othe r characters, even when she is comforting Julie, it is like she is waiting for her next big aria, I mean number, Julie and Billy are more at odds than ever in love, in fact the most connected relationship is the one between Billy and Jigger. Mueller doesn't seem happy to be there, there is even a great distance between her and Louise, the character of Amos Snow is warmer than usual but Lindsay Mendez allows her character to be desperate and falls into line as Mrs. Snow. Louise and her barker have great chemistry, even when he turns into the eldest Snow son,the Starkeeper is annoying as he pops up in the middle of scenes between characters.... Read more Read less

See it if you like new plays touching on controversial issues with unexpected twists, commentary on failed education system, great young actors

Don't see it if you don't like controversial issues depicted on stage, you believe that the American education system is fair to all,

See it if you're a fan of Lynn Nottage, concerned about the ivory trade & big game hunting, like viewing an actor's amazing physical transformations

Don't see it if you would not be happy with a somewhat repetitive narrative or a rather glum story that is hardly hopeful

See it if you are a fan of Gurney, you enjoy light comedies that contain an underlying thread of seriousness & believe love late in life is possible

Don't see it if Gurney's WASP, upscale characters do not appeal to you nor do cerebral comedies, you don't like plots about people too set in their ways

See it if to see the final show of the closing TACT Theater, fan of Damon Runyon stories & '30's New York atmosphere, see new adaptation of 2 stories

Don't see it if you expect a laugh out loud who, if you don't enjoy ponderous but amusing work, not a fan of TACT

Also I wish TACT had gone out with more of an impressive, memorable final show. The theatre itself did decide to close, saying that 25 years has indeed been a successful run that has attracted positive reviews and a loyal following. The Artistic Director feels that 25 years at the helm has been enough and needs to move on to other ventures.... Read more Read less

See it if to learn about the aftermath of school shootings & some of academia's failings, see a good father-daughter play & role of music in a life

Don't see it if you don't want to be reminded of school shootings, the grieving process or insensitive parents, don"t like plays featuring adolescents

See it if follow 3 adult children suddenly orphaned & their relationship with their sister who has Down Syndrome, & discover secrets held from them

Don't see it if don't like presentations of of a mental incapacity on stage or family plays that bring up growing-up issues & offer inconclusive resolution

Also The actress playing the daughter with Down's Syndrome actually has Down's Syndrome IRL and she is absolutely endearing and transfixing.She contributes so much to the play.... Read more Read less

See it if Melissa Errico fan, curious about the musical and like some of its songs, have never seen the "straight" (non-Connick) version

Don't see it if don't like shows about reincarnation, expect elaborate dancing & sets esp. for flashback sequences, repetitive, too congested

See it if you like magic and delight in being fooled, want to see innovative tricks, enjoy the company of 1 person on stage and audience participation

Don't see it if not a fan of magic, expect a lot of special effects, not a fan of audience involvement,

See it if you enjoy discovering forgotten plays of quality & the Mint's productions, interested in historical political themes

Don't see it if you're not a fan of older plays that have not enjoyed modern popularity, not interested in issues of 100 years ago

See it if you follow playwright Charles Mee, enjoy surreal setting & absurd dialogue charting course of a relationship seeing senior citizens in love

Don't see it if not open to depictions of senior citizens in love, prefer realistic, linear plot lines, don't enjoy 2-handers or satire

See it if you like comedic riffs on Shakespeare (Richard III set in high school), support diversity in theater (esp. disabled), like acerbic humor

Don't see it if you don't care for any Shakespearean satires, don't like plays about high school, uncomfortable with disabled characters

Also Greg Mozgala and Shannon DeVido are marvelous!

See it if you are a fan of Ensler or feminist work, you enjoy an all-female cast, you enjoy lengthy monologues & partial surprising nudity

Don't see it if need to know what is going on, cannot relax & allow ideas to wash over you, don't like one person mini plays or feminist theory

See it if you're a fan of the film, you've heard music from the show & liked it, you're curious about how the show would be staged. like Disney shows

Don't see it if you're not a fan of Disney shows, don't like shows that are too sleek & mechanical, didn't like the film, all this sappiness is too much

Also There are, however, some isolated moments of ingenuity in the show, such as Patty Murin's early scenes, how the puppets seem real (Sven surreptitiously kicking around the snowman's midsection is amusing) and replacing those elf rocks with a shirtless Inuit tribe works much better, including the guy who reminds us of Jason Momoa, plus a few of the dances are creative, although the icing effects are created predominantly through projections & some of the characters are slightly different from the film (Weselton is not a villain) and there are no back from the dead characters at the end.... Read more Read less

See it if you like classical music live on stage, curious about Tchaikovsky & his patroness, enjoy mix of music, solo dance, solo voice & play

Don't see it if don't like plays pausing for classical music interlude or based on letters between parties no interest in composer's chamber music or songs

Also The performance by the onstage chamber trio is remarkable. This unusual mix of music, dance and live drama really works in this production.... Read more Read less

See it if you love classic musicals, enjoy sumptuous costumes, fan of Norbert Leo Butts & Diana Rigg, large orchestra, great dances

Don't see it if not a fan of lavish musicals, don't like subtle but significant changes to traditional ending, expect more involving main characters

See it if you're an O'Neill fan, enjoy great acting, for a clear understanding of a classic play, feel the New England setting & the caustic wit

Don't see it if 3 hrs, 20 mins seems too long for you, O'Neill bores you, hopelessness upsets you, don't like a lot of repetition for character development

See it if you're a fan of the playwright, curious about Detroit's jazz clubs & ambitions of black people in late 40's with great character profiles

Don't see it if you have no interest in Detroit or African-American history, don't like jazz, uninterested in sharp, authentic performances

See it if you want to see fantastic acting, delicious humor, in a slyly mysterious but rewarding plot, precision staging, a beautiful set and Glenda!

Don't see it if you're not an Albee fan, you don't like plays that have slightly unusual plots or 1 hour 40 minute intermissionless shows

Also One of the most exquisite productions of this play, and one of the most exquisite productions anywhere in New York... Read more Read less

See it if you like creative dance & the sound of basic metal objects banging together, imagined a broom as a dancing partner, appreciate percussion

Don't see it if you don't like plot-less, voiceless shows, loud banging noises disturb you, dislike precision movements or having to keep eyes on stage

See it if you're a fan of Stoppard or Hollander, like intelligent & absurd vocal farces, curious about DADA, Lenin & Joyce's time in Zurich

Don't see it if you're afraid of intellectual wordplay, verbal farces are not your thing, uncomfortable with British witticisms and puns or Stoppard

Also Hollander is exquisite, his facial expressions are priceless. Director's touches bring music and dancing into the production, Seth Numrich also excellent, lovely sight gags to complement Stoppard's feisty text... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Churchill, enjoy group-created plays, seeing actors play multiple roles, learn about the interregnum,

Don't see it if Have trouble following multiple characters played by same actors, unexplained scenes in darkness, lots of religious & political detail

See it if you like clever adaptations from novels or have an interest in Kafka, want to see the work of a new company, enjoy harrowing tales

Don't see it if you have no interest in Kafka or his bleak take on society's manipulation of its people, don't care about a new company testing its wings

See it if you like discovering new musicals, a fan of Daphne Ruben-Vega, enjoy small-scale shows, simple characters, & politically-relevant situations

Don't see it if Not a fan of intimate musicals, uncomfortable with immigration issues, don't like overuse of coincidence & too nice to be real characters

See it if you are a fan of Shakespeare done traditionally, want to see a production of Lear, like the actor Anthony Sher & English actors' voices

Don't see it if 3-1/2 hours is too long to sit, you can't understand the Bard's English, find it difficult to keep track of actors in multiple roles,

See it if you're a fan of the play or the cast, you are curious about Roy Cohn, the AIDS crisis, gay self-acceptance, Mormonism & self-empowerment

Don't see it if you don't like 2-part 8 hour plays, are uncomfortable with plots about gays or AIDS, you once admired Roy Cohn, don't like surreal elements

Also Terrific production that just sweeps you right along. Garfield's transformation is amazing (who knew he could master this character), Lane of course is delicious (along with the scenery he is munching), and the direction has many clever and stunning visuals.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd have liked to have grown up living above a library, enjoy people sharing family stories, like one act, one person shows at 80 minutes

Don't see it if You're not a fan of one person shows, want meaty shows that cover critical issues, don't like autobiographical or family history plays

See it if you like Irish ghost stories, character-based plots that can be quite funny, great ensembles, delicious plot twists, fan of Conor McPherson

Don't see it if you are a fan of Mathew Broderick who disappoints significantly, don't like plays about the devil, have trouble with thick Irish accents

See it if you like sagas of midwestern small towns spread over multiple years about a murder by a 14-year old boy & its aftermath, to see town react

Don't see it if you are expecting answers to its mysteries, don't like quirky characters that make fun of such locales, can't relate to troubled young folk

See it if you like stories about couples coming to grips with their lives, plays about camping out in the woods, tales that offer hope amidst disaster

Don't see it if you don't like gentle slow-moving shows, plots about couples dissatisfied with their lives who have problems communicating

See it if you are interested in Irish plays & history, want to learn more about Synge, Yeats & Lady Gregory, hear grand Irish accents

Don't see it if you don't like one act plays especially an evening of them, have no interest in Irish theatre or history, or don't like Irish humor

See it if you like tense, dynamic acting, older classics adapted to up-to-the minute environments, unique stagings that will be recalled for years

Don't see it if you don't like blunt, devastating plays that focus on a womans' descent into maddness, messy surreal sets, & people withholding information