Ballerina

See it if you want to see what the critical hype is about. Get a discounted ticket, the show is short and understated--not worth Broadway pricing.

Don't see it if you want to see a big splashy, entertaining musical with memorable songs. You want there to be real stakes and drama in a story.

Also I wanted to love this so much. I missed it at the Atlantic and was so happy when it transferred, but after seeing it, I'm more upset that I missed my opportunity to see it in an intimate venue. I imagine it packed a bigger punch in a space it could fill. As it was, we paid full price for a mezzanine seat and the show doesn't translate from that far away. For a story about outsiders stuck over night in an unfamiliar and potentially politically dangerous situation, there was no sense of the conflict between the two groups. Nothing much happened at all and each time they would introduce a new possible plot devise, it came to nothing. The performers are delivering with what they are given and the musicians are very talented but its just not enough to sustain. I kept wondering why the musicians weren't being utilized more-- the story is about them after all. There is a band in the pit as well that seems to be doing most of the playing. Ultimately: too many lost opportunities.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see fantastic work by talented women. Not often to see a production with an all female cast, writer and director.

Don't see it if A story about a mother dealing with her sick child is too personal or upsetting.

Also I loved the performances. They are the reason to see this play. I found ending to be very confusing and it made it feel like the writer didn't quite know what the ultimate message was.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see the actors. You want to see an early work by the playwright.

Don't see it if You want to see a fast paced production with a clear story and thematic trajectory.

Also The play is set in England and the whole cast is American. The accents were a struggle across the board. It really took me out of the reality of the world. The first act is better, second goes nowhere despite being longer. Could've easily been 90 minutes with no intermission given where it did go.... Read more Read less

See it if you've always wanted the plot of a Shakespeare play explained to you in voiceover throughout the show so you can better understand it.

Don't see it if you are a Shakespeare purist.

See it if you have a strong interest in seeing any of the three leads. That said, none of them are doing their best work.

Don't see it if you want to see something engaging and cohesive. You don't have an interest in the leads.

Also Not much to recommend here. Hard to see what was great about the play to begin with. It had some good moments of writing but it felt dated and cliched at best. The actors speak so quietly it was hard to stay awake and the design is ugly and not well-utilized.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a near-perfect revival of an amazing classic play.

Don't see it if you want to see something experimental. You can't sit for three hours.

Also One of the best of the year, in my opinion. I saw Linney as Regina and Nixon as Birdie and I can't imagine it being any better the other way. Although, it was so good, I may go back and see it again the other way before it closes.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Shakespeare with a gimmick. You will be sad to skip enjoying the Delacorte for a summer.

Don't see it if you love Julius Caesar. The Trump reference doesn't serve the text at all. Richard III would have been a more accurate parallel.

Also An incredible cast, but they all seem confused by the concept.

See it if You want to see a few talented actors in an important story. You are moved by the story no matter how flawed the adaptation.

Don't see it if You want to see the play done in its original period/style. You need a lot of production value.

Also Short of a few talented young actresses, this production and adaptation really misses the mark. It's a lost opportunity given our current cultural climate. It was also way too hot in the theater and there are many scenes staged with the actors sitting on the floor and that makes it impossible to see them over the audience members sitting in front of you.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Derren Brown or psychological manipulation/hypnotism. I felt like the only person in the audience who hadn't heard of him.

Don't see it if you are not interested in the above, hate audience participation, or are looking for narrative or truth.

Also This is not usually the type of thing that I seek out, but I was offered comps. I was surprised by how entertained I was and it sparked a good conversation afterwards. While I found his abilities impressive, I never felt as carried away as many of the people around me seemed to be. If you are cynical, I wouldn't recommend it. Not for everyone. Surprised to see this at the Atlantic.... Read more Read less

See it if you love serious, political dramas and have a specific interest in the 1990s Middle Eastern politics.

Don't see it if You don't have a deep interest in the subject matter. You prefer to see shows about characters, not about an event.

Also Dull and disappointing. Talented cast and performed in the beautiful Beaumont theater but this was a huge miss for me. I am so perplexed by how much praise this production is receiving. I expected an epic play with lots of intersecting plots and even though their were lots of actors on stage, there wasn't much of a story. Felt more like a documentary than a drama.... Read more Read less

See it if you love autobiographical shows about controversial subject matter or when Shakespeare text is used in a contemporary play for emphasis.

Don't see it if if everything above doesn't appeal to you. You want to feel well taken care of at the theater.

Also Stephan is a compelling performer and his story is very interesting. Unfortunately, a lot of my issues with this production had to do with the other components of the experience. When we arrived at the theater, we were given no program or information about what we were about to see. Before the play started, there was an announcement that it was two acts with an intermission. The first act (really the whole play) is 85 minutes long and left me wondering, "what could possibly be coming in act two?". It wasn't until the crew came out during intermission to set up a circle of chairs on the stage and invited us to all sit in them for the second "act" that we realized that the last 30 minutes was a roundtable conversation about veterans' experiences. This is a completely justified component to follow the play, but it wasn't something I felt comfortable participating in. I wish they were more upfront, so we knew what to expect and walked out feeling empowered, which I think was the intention.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a relevant, well-staged, moving play. It strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and contemporary.

Don't see it if you don't like plays that explore controversial themes.

Also I will be thinking about this production for a long time. An important play about what it means to be an artist and human - gorgeously directed and impeccably performed. I hope it runs a long time!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a rarely produced Miller play. You want to see Danny DeVito steal the show.

Don't see it if A strong, unified ensemble is important to you. You want to see something with a lot of action/plot.

Also Danny DeVito is the best thing about this production. He is perfectly cast and really delivers. Unfortunately, his character is mostly in the first act, and the second act is the longer act (by a lot). Ruffalo, Shaloub and Hecht are all playing AT their roles, but are sorely miscast. The set is beautiful but underutilized. The staging is elementary and the actors seem very reluctant to interact with their surroundings. Despite what Roundabout wants you to believe from their marketing campaign, this is a problematic play (not the same caliber as 'A View from the Bridge', 'Death of a Salesman' or 'All My Sons') and needs a strong directorial vision and ensemble for it to truly succeed.... Read more Read less

See it if you love decadent period costumes and a lot of production value. You love Patti. That's about all this show has going for it.

Don't see it if You want to see something well-written and substanative.

Also These thoughts are based on last night's invited dress of the Broadway production. I was so disappointed with this show. There is a lot of potential here, both with the stars and the story on which the show is based, but as it is there are no memorable songs and the story never goes anywhere. If it didn't have stars attached it it, this show would never be on Broadway. I overheard more than one conversation last night that they have made lots of big changes since Chicago and continue to make them. I genuinely hope they continue to make improvements in previews, because it's a shame that they can't seem to make this work more successfully.... Read more Read less

See it if You love political theater. You love Anna Deavere Smith.

Don't see it if You want to have an enjoyable night at the theater. Very heavy subject matter.

Also This show is so important and Anna Deavere Smith is a genius, but I would not call this an enjoyable or even entertaining night at the theater. Requires lots of thinking and you will learn a lot about the state of our nation.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to laugh all night long. Hilarious.

Don't see it if You are easily offended by off-color humor.

See it if Want to have a fantastic night at the theater. Amazing music and the cast was phenomenal.

Don't see it if You don't like hip hop music. Will be insulted by actors of color playing the founding fathers.

Also Saw the original cast. Can't speak for the current cast.

See it if you love ensemble based, minimalist theater. Great performances, uplifting story, beautiful music.

Don't see it if You need a lot of production value. Are easily confused when a small set of actors are playing lots of characters.

See it if you love Reed Birney.

Don't see it if you want to be blown away by a great Tracy Letts play. Not as compelling as some of his later plays.

See it if You love light, frothy, girl power stories and Sara Barellis music.

Don't see it if You want something thought provoking or as refreshing as the film this show is based on.

See it if you love plays about family, realism, plays that make you think.

Don't see it if You want to see something avant-garde.

Also So timely and thought provoking. The best thing I've seen in a long time.... Read more Read less

See it if You like new versions of Shakespeare, great live music, excellent acting. You will walk out smiling.

Don't see it if You like only like traditional versions of classical plays.

See it if you like cliched sports stories. You want to see a cool set design.

Don't see it if you want to see something well-written and unique.

Also There were so many problems with this show. The best performance was by the actor playing the Russian tennis player, but unfortunately his role was a caricature. The whole "Boris and Natasha" routine from the Russian characters just perpetuated stereotypes and in an attempt to make the American characters sympathetic they were just boring and soap opera-y. Like I said above, the set was well designed and interesting upon first entrance, but ultimately under utilized and not enough to distract from the cliched story.... Read more Read less

See it if you want an enjoyable, moving night at the theater. Great play, with incredible performances. You'll laugh and cry. It's great.

Don't see it if LGBT themes don't interest you or you can't imagine anyone other than Harvey in the leading role.

Also Don't be put off by the three hour run time. It flies by! And the second act (the third part) is the best, so stick around! As Harvey Fierstein says "Everybody has a mother". This play is about all of us becoming who we are and is just as powerful now as it was 35 years ago. Michael Urie is giving the performance of his lifetime and Mercedes Ruhl is making a fantastic comeback to NYC theater. I wouldn't be surprised if this transfers to Broadway, so see it now and be able to say you saw it when!... Read more Read less

See it if you love old-fashioned, dated theater. Want to see something with a box set at a community theater level.

Don't see it if you want to see something interesting, daring or thought provoking.

Also I was so hopeful that I would love this. From all the marketing materials, this seemed like something worthwhile: uncovering lost works from a female playwright. Unfortunately, it was not the case. I can count on one hand the number of times I have left a show at intermission. This was one of those times.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a very moving story with two excellent, unique performances. You love a dark comedy about real life.

Don't see it if you want to see something happy and upbeat. While I laughed several times, the subject matter is pretty heavy and makes you THINK.

Also This play follows two storylines that eventually intersect in the final scene. I did find one storyline far more interesting and better acted than the other, so in that way this production felt uneven. However, the script is very clever and well written and provides insight into a world that many of us never see. Glad to see this get an NYC transfer.... Read more Read less

See it if you love a good family drama. You want to see a promising new play with heartfelt, moving performances.

Don't see it if you want a big flashy musical or don't want to see something dealing with heavy subject matter.

Also Another win at the Laura Pels this season! Not as polished a script as it could have been but the themes are important and the performances are top-notch. Absolutely recommended.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a very timely play with a few strong performances.

Don't see it if you want to escape the current realities of our world. You don't want to sit for over two and a half hours.

Also Very important subject matter, happy to see it win the Pulitzer. However, not the strongest production of a play this year. Indecent and Doll's House Part Two are better products overalll. The play could use an editor. The first half of the second act drags a bit and makes it difficult to remain invested through the emotional climax at the end.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support a new work by an up and coming playwright with a diverse cast.

Don't see it if you want to see a fully polished product. Some great ideas and moments of good writing but it is still a work in progress.

See it if you love quirky adaptations of classic plays. You love the source material and want to see a new take.

Don't see it if you're a traditionalist. Loved Hamill's Sense and Sensibility and are expecting the same level of quality this time around.

Also Not sure that this story needed to be told. I've never loved the source material and I got the sense the creative teams doesn't either. It's far too long for a simple story and Tucker's directing style that felt cohesive and fresh for S&S seems tired and inconsistent here. The overdone fart jokes and contemporary song cues particularly come to mind. I hope they get their footing back with Pride and Prejudice in the fall because they have proven themselves better than this.... Read more Read less

See it if You've never seen the play before or want to see a solid revival that delivers fantastic performances by a strong ensemble lead by pros.

Don't see it if You didn't like it the first time or loved the original so much you can't see others in the leads. I have to say, I loved Janney and Hickey.

Also This production is carried by he brilliance of the writing and the acting. Having seen the film, it didn't seem like much of a reimagining as it did just a solid retelling. I did find myself laughing more than I remember. They really found the humor in it. The device of breaking the fourth wall that felt so forced in the film, works in a theatrical setting and gives Janney time to shine.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a clever, well-acted, 90 minute piece of theater! The time flew by!

Don't see it if you want to see a show with a lot of production value. You don't know the source material at all.

Also All four actor give stellar and hilarious performances and are the reason to see this play! I was surprised how quickly the time flew and how much I enjoyed it. I expected it to be far more "fanfic-y". It was smart and pulled a lot from the original. I've read several reviews that say that you don't need to know the original to enjoy it, and while that may be true, I think there is another level to be enjoyed if you do. One moment in particular when the Ibsen is quoted from Nora's "novel" comes to mind. Made for an enjoyable, nerdy night at the theater! Worth seeing!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a refreshing take of a classic play at the perfect moment for a revival. Beautiful acted, directed and designed.

Don't see it if you want to see a piece of escapist theater. While entertaining, it really makes you think about the current state of affairs.

Also While everything on stage was impeccably designed, the three quarter seating made for lots of obstructed view seats. Had to twist and lean far forward for two and a half hours and still missed everything that happened on stage left. Good thing I enjoyed the show so much because otherwise it would've been miserable.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a Broadway theater fully transformed. Spending two and a half hours in a Baz Luhrmann movie is your idea of a good time.

Don't see it if you need a well-written storyline and strong character development to feel engaged.

Also The transformation of the Imperial Theater into an immersive theater space is truly remarkable and the reason to see this show. Honestly, I wish I could have explored the set (more like an art installation), enjoyed a few drinks and gone home. The show itself does not have enough story to constitute a full two and a half hours and the music is not memorable either. Also, not all seats are created equal. I had been told to sit on the stage for the best experience but because the set has many levels sitting on the stage does not guarantee a good seat. I paid full price ($162) for seats I would describe as obstructed. I wish they had more accurate images of what the view was from the seat before you purchased it. Probably would have had a better view from the mezzanine.... Read more Read less

See it if You love minimalist productions and Sondheim's work. Want to experience a beautiful show in a brand new theater.

Don't see it if You can't let go of the original production. You want high production value. You don't care for Sondheim musicals.

Also This production was about as good as it gets for Sunday revivals. I am in the camp that no performers will ever capture the beauty and passion that Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters did. Both Ashford and Gyllenhaal give strong performances and can sing the score, but I never believed them as star-crossed lovers. That said, this show is my absolute favorite musical and I am happy a generation of theater goers will be introduced to it by this very strong, respectful and well directed production. The technical elements were simple and elegant, with a big surprise with George's chromolume in Act 2. I have never seen the second act so well done. The director solved a lot of the problems and plot holes.... Read more Read less

See it if You like shows that are eye candy. You don't want to think at the theater.

Don't see it if You want to see something new and fresh.

Also This show has been running forever and looks tired.

See it if you want to run around all night trying to chase a mediocre show. You want to pay a lot of money to have FOMO.

Don't see it if You can't handle stairs. You don't like performance art.

Also So disappointing. The hype around this show is ridiculous.

See it if You like a beautiful contemporary musical theater score. You are a teenager or want to bask in teenage nostalgia.

Don't see it if You prefer traditional musicals.

Also Ben Platt's performance is worth the price of admission.

See it if You like Mamet plays. You like a slow burn or a pretentious play.

Don't see it if You are tired. I nodded off a few times. I found it to be painfully slow.

Also The play was well written but the director seemed to tell the actors to perform in an almost robotic way. It was hard to stay focused when so much was delivered in a straight tone. I wish I could see the play done with out the stilted delivery.... Read more Read less

See it if You missed Glenn Close in this role the first time and want to experience her incredible star power. You want to hear a great live music.

Don't see it if You don't have a nostalgic connection to the material or Glenn Close.

See it if You love amazing acting on a beautiful set.

Don't see it if August Wilson isn't your thing.

Also So great to see a tight knit acting ensemble doing great work.

See it if You like Plays about British people suffering. Edgy, dark plays.

Don't see it if You want to walk out feeling impowered or uplifted.