andyboy

See it if you like politically thrilling (and intense) stories filled with heart, stakes, and social reverberation. Very smartly told and designed.

Don't see it if you want something light and fluffy without cultural relevance.

See it if you like serious theatre with some laughs, great acting, & great production values. While the writing is truthful, it's also small in scope.

Don't see it if you want a play that resonates beyond the lives of its characters. This is beautifully rendered, but lacks greater social relevance.

See it if you want an erotic, atmospheric, burlesque (with a European flair) alternative to the regular Nutcracker. An adult xmas show.

Don't see it if you're bothered by the occasional bare buttock, sexual innuendo & erotically charged atmosphere, no matter how stylish & opulent.

See it if you like naturalistic plays where acting, direction & writing are all first rate. It's always absorbing, even if its message is muddled.

Don't see it if you find issues of pedophilia (particularly when mixed with as much humor as this show has) & non-remorseful perpetrators triggering.

See it if you like whip-smart monologues blended with stand-up comedy, appreciate how details of an ordinary life can have a universal profoundness.

Don't see it if you don't like solo shows, don't like comedians. But man, you'll be missing out on an absolutely excellent evening. 90 minutes fly by!

See it if you're up for a terrifically conceived & acted one-man telling of the classic xmas tale in an intimate Victorian setting. Quite moving!

Don't see it if you don't like one-person shows, aren't interested in the Dickens classic, don't want to see theatre in a Victorian room downtown.

See it if you like smart two-handers. This is a romantic comedy that doesn't conform to formula. Every word rings true & the acting is terrific.

Don't see it if you don't like small, intimate slice-of-life plays. This is very well done, but is generally quiet and well modulated.

See it if you like emotional monologues that deal with social / political / personal themes. The acting is topnotch, as is the writing.

Don't see it if you don't like monologues, or have issues with the singular, exacting focus they can demand. I sometimes wished for more clarity.

See it if you like smart, layered, gay-friendly plays. This cast & direction is even better/more balanced than the original Bway production.

Don't see it if you're bothered by LOTS of male frontal nudity and/or prefer a musical. This is a drama, but nearly equal parts comedic. Very accessible.

See it if you find the shallow & often-dramatized idea that Nazis are normal impressionable people who just got sucked into a bad movement revelatory.

Don't see it if you hate cliches, laughably bad dialogue, unmotivated character's actions, & muddled plot points engaging. Um, it DOES have a great set...

See it if you like intimate shows. 2 inter-related monologues punctuated with great (live) songs by The Bengsons. Quiet, smart, & moving.

Don't see it if you have no patience for monologues that are equal parts forward-moving & reflective. Or for gay & family themes. Human & emotional.

See it if you like musicals with fantastic scores & staging. This show is still in great shape. Cynicism & corruption were never so much fun.

Don't see it if you want an opulent production. Though this delivers in staging & writing, the production elements are minimal.

See it if you want an engaging, tough drama with humor. Very human with much to ponder. Well acted & written.

Don't see it if you want something simply light & diverting.

See it if old fashioned book musicals, romance, humor, & drama are your thing. Julie Benko & cast are terrific.

Don't see it if you don't like rags to riches bio-musicals. The story doesn't steer clear of cliches, but the leads are so winning, you buy into it.

See it if you like stylish multi-media productions where pretentious, presentational acting & direction take place of real human interaction.

Don't see it if you have no patience for characters with no clear objectives & vagueness masquerading as poetic mystery. I couldn't get out fast enough.

See it if you like romance, fantasy, comedy, fairy tales, or have a tween who does (this show is pitched a bit toward the young)

Don't see it if you get impatient with formulaic structure, don't like fantasy, fairy tales, or fun musicals

See it if Sexy, atmospheric, stylish -- as if you've stumbled into an intimate European burlesque. Smart, erotic, beautifully done.

Don't see it if you're bothered by partial nudity, sexual situations, only a conceptual plot.

See it if You like old fashioned dramas that present heart wrenching quandaries and then don’t resolve them. Beautiful production of middling writing.

Don't see it if You have little patience for a drama that takes its time getting started and then abruptly ends without a resolution and without warning.

See it if you're a fan of the classic show & are interested in seeing some of the genders swapped for this production. Most of it works.

Don't see it if you like a more traditional book musical; the structure here has more in common with a revue -- but with character arches.

See it if you can handle being uncomfortable as an audience member. This is tough territory & is well done, but won't be for everyone.

Don't see it if stories of sexual abuse are triggering or you're looking for something that is STRICTLY entertaining / light / fun.

See it if you like quirkiness, comedy, deeply felt drama, and the little moments that make up a full life. This is a beautiful & moving play.

Don't see it if gosh, I have no idea who wouldn't fall for this lovely show. I went twice.

See it if you like intimate dramas with finely drawn characters & organic plotting. The writing, acting, direction are beautifully human throughout

Don't see it if you want something light & comedic with opulence. This is a pared down drama that is deeply felt.

See it if you like a family drama with political and social ramifications. The plotting is smart and the characters are well drawn.

Don't see it if you want simple fluff. This show has some heft.

See it if you love Christmas spectacle, dance, dazzling opulence. This is a splashy holiday perennial filled with fun.

Don't see it if you're not into holiday-themed spectaculars, prefer intimate shows with substance, don't care for family fair

See it if you want an entertaining spectacle loaded with opulence, style, pop music references, & volume. It's not deep, but it's impressive.

Don't see it if you hate jukebox musicals that switch songs as quickly as a radio dial, or if you're looking for substance.

See it if you're into 1-person autobiographical shows about overcoming personal struggles that are ultimately uplifting

Don't see it if you don't like 1-person shows or are offended by rough language

See it if you want to see a somewhat experimental high-tech overhaul of this dated show. New distracting elements rarely deepen the script/score.

Don't see it if you want a traditional staging of this musical.

See it if you want to see a reductive adaptation of a classic (2 actors, bare set) with much of its narrative traded for philosophical musings.

Don't see it if you have a low tolerance for ponderings about identity / creation. Unfocused writing & confusing role-playing make these 80 minutes drag.

See it if you like military dramas, whodunnits, plays about race issues, like to see great actors doing great work. Well done for what it is.

Don't see it if you don't care about military murder mysteries or dramas about race. I found this slow & curiously uninvolving.

See it if a tight drama about the aftermath of a school shooting with themes of judgement & forgiveness seems like your thing. Excellent production.

Don't see it if you want something light and less intense or prefer pure entertainment that doesn't challenge you

See it if you want to see a throwback to the 1960s Neil Simon style of comedy. Broad, yet somehow also mild, and rather unsurprising. Great cast!

Don't see it if you want a challenging work. This is a safe, sitcom-ish, totally conventional comedy one might find in regional theatre. Competent, though.

See it if you're into every hot button issue of the day being dealt with shallowly over several characters through Alanis Morisette songs.

Don't see it if you value original musicals with individual characters who express themselves through songs written specifically for them -- not jukebox!

See it if you're into high-concept, low-narrative shows. What was intriguing to me may wear thin & annoy those seeking more traditional fare.

Don't see it if you're easily confused. It can be hard to keep track of who's who as characters get shuffled among actors of varying genders/races/ages.

See it if you're up for another rehashing of the familiar tale. This one takes considerable liberties with the original, but to little added interest.

Don't see it if you've seen hundreds of adaptations of this tale already & don't have any interest in seeing another that adds no special approach.

See it if you like pretty, but unchallenging modern dance. The choreography lacks any special voice. The "story" is thin & lacks subtlety or depth.

Don't see it if you don't like modern dance. This felt long & padded at a single hour. A too-obvious comment on climate change.

See it if 2 interrelated one-act solo musical dramas with racial/social issues appeals. Rich score & gorgeous orchestrations deserve a better story.

Don't see it if you don't like slow solo-moving musicals that are somewhat dramatically inert. Go for the gorgeous score & performances, though!

See it if you're interested in gay stories, soap operas, and want an emotional experience. At times too sentimental, but all 7 hours are riveting.

Don't see it if you don't care about gay history or characters, don't want to spend 2 nights & 7 hours on an emotional drama. Minimal design/maximum punch.

See it if you're a Pinter fan, like psychological thrillers, are a fan of stylish staging, spare design, & great acting. Fantastic production!

Don't see it if you want fluff, an outright comedy (though there's lots of humor), or a show that moves quickly.

See it if you like Tennessee Williams, Marisa Tomei, dramas with a fair amount of comedy, can handle a slow-moving plot that's somewhat unfocused.

Don't see it if you hate long old-fashioned style plays that lack focus at times. This is part tedium, but also part joy & rewards those with patience.

See it if you like an intimate, funny, but also dark & very human drama that is constantly surprising, moving, beautifully written, acted, & staged.

Don't see it if talky, dark plays aren't your thing. Only 2 actors, sometimes uncomfortable themes, a lot of quiet moments, this is not flashy or light.

See it if you're a fan of musical theatre-ish pop music, don't mind plot logic issues or shallow characterizations, don't mind wild tonal shifts.

Don't see it if you're bothered by blood, insufficiently motivated characters, bald plot contrivances, & being asked to care about cartoonish characters.

See it if you want to see an excellent & versatile actor inhabit the stories of Edgar Allan Poe in an extremely intimate setting. Very special.

Don't see it if you don't like one-person events, don't like Poe, & want spectacle. This is stripped down & intimate, but very rewarding.

See it if you're interested in a deeply human approach to questions of anger, forgiveness & our navigation of these impulses in society. Recommended!

Don't see it if solo shows turn you off or you want something superficial. This has LOTS of humor, is very accessible, but it does go deep -- in a good way

See it if you like challenging work about race & sexual politics. I found some interesting ideas were undercut by cartoonish characterizations.

Don't see it if nudity, race issues & simulated sex are turn-offs. If in-your-face arguments about sex & race aren't your thing, this isn't for you.

See it if you're up for a sentimental, overlong, dramatically inert history lesson about St. Vincent's hospital. Tedious, but Chalfant is luminous.

Don't see it if you have little patience for touchy-feely audience participation, lack of narrative, or the AIDS era being given a romanticized once-over.

See it if you're up for a play dealing with issues of anorexia & dysfunctional family dynamics. After a slow start, it finds its way & really delivers

Don't see it if you don't want to deal with family dysfunction & anorexia -- though this play is so much smarter than that sentence would have you think!

See it if you like shorts of varying quality. 1st is tedious, 2nd somewhat disappointing, 3rd very odd but absorbing & disturbing. A mixed bag.

Don't see it if you prefer a full-length play or aren't interested in challenging or potentially disturbing material.

See it if you enjoy slightly challenging material that is still funny and accessible. Not as profound as I imagine the author intended, but worth it.

Don't see it if you don't like child actors; 3 of them carry the bulk of the play (very well). It's a bit unconventional, structurally, if that's a concern

See it if you like short one-acts of varying quality. 1st play is a slog, but the 2nd & 3rd are comedies with thematic focus + good writing & acting.

Don't see it if you prefer full-length plays and not a mixed bag of shorts. The last play takes on issues of race, so if that's not your bag, so be it.