Barbara 6

See it if You're a fan of the actors, both excellent here, and don't mind a conventional dramedy about father-son and aging issues

Don't see it if You want something edgier or more original, or if you're upset by discussion of issues around aging and cognitive decline

See it if You enjoy well acted one person shows about childhood experiences. Washington is personable and likable.

Don't see it if You want a tightly constructed show with a strong backbone. Show struck me as meandering and overlong (at only 90 minutes). Disappointing.

See it if you like challenging family stories; edgy musicals; great staging and performances; dark yet somehow optimistic theater

Don't see it if you don't enjoy shows with dark subjects (suicide, confused sexuality), or if you think musicals have to be frothy and light to entertain

See it if you like plays that examine racial discrimination. Great acting, interesting staging, especially of the boxing matches

Don't see it if you're not in the mood for something thought-provoking.

See it if you enjoy solid, well-made plays, and appreciate great ensemble acting

Don't see it if you think anything written in the last century is dated

See it if you love slamming-doors farce, and actors with great comic timing

Don't see it if you need something more substantial than just funny; it gets a bit tiring after a while, as there's no plot or characters to care about

See it if you like Linda Lavin, or have never seen her before on stage; or if you enjoy clever, witty dialogue even if it doesn't add up to much

Don't see it if you need the play to say something worth listening to for 2 hours, or if you don't like plays with a lot of narration, rather than action

See it if you love tap dancing and old movie musicals, and if you like to laugh

Don't see it if you need big production numbers or a large cast

See it if you enjoy witty, gender-bending explorations of sexual politics; written in 1979, the play feels as fresh today as then.

Don't see it if you can't sit for nearly 3 hours on an uncomfortable bench in a too-hot theater. Sit in the first row for leg room (it's cooler there, too!)

See it if You love highly theatrical shows, something that can't be experienced on tv or film

Don't see it if You don't like to be challenged or have a problem with depictions of autism

See it if you like great acting and laughing a lot, especially about religion and sex

Don't see it if you don't have a sense of humor about religion, or don't like off-color language

See it if For Gurney completists, but not a good introduction to his work for those unfamiliar with his other, better plays. Decent acting, nice set.

Don't see it if It feels underdeveloped; a slight idea that isn't worked out in an interesting way.

See it if You want to be entertained and challenged (but not too much). Moving, funny, smart, touching ... Just see it.

Don't see it if You want mindless entertainment (not that there's anything wrong with that). This will stick with you a little.

See it if You like one person showa, backstage gossip, masterful acting, with a thought provoking, emotionally wrenching twist

Don't see it if You have a problem with homosexual content, or are just looking for uncomplicated laughs

See it if Phylicia Rashad is astonishing -- it's worth seeing just for her. The play is a bit messy, but the payoff of the second act is worth it.

Don't see it if you need plays to be neat and tidy.

See it if you like one-person biographical shows; are interested in the history of cabaret; are a fan of Mabel Mercer; or want to know more about her

Don't see it if you don't like the things listed above, or need a bigger, broader show

See it if you're a fan of Cariou, Shakespeare, and/or show tunes; an interesting pairing of songs and soliloquies, though some work better than others

Don't see it if you're looking for a really deep exploration of the subject, or are bothered by Cariou's less-than-perfect vocal technique at almost age 80

See it if you love the show, or you've never seen it before; Danny Burstein is a moving, human-scale Tevye; Jessica Hecht is delightful as Golde

Don't see it if you need Tevye to be larger than life (Zero Mostel style), or if you don't want to both laugh and cry at one of the best musicals ever

See it if you like poetry, especially Walt Whitman's

Don't see it if you don't like two-handers, or you dislike plays that think they're smarter and more profound than they really are

See it if You like musicals with heart and intelligence, great performances, and an important message, without being preachy

Don't see it if You hate musicals; otherwise, go!

See it if you enjoy sweet, romantic stories without any real suspense, and enjoy (slightly overlong) two-character musicals

Don't see it if you need suspense, or big production numbers, or tap dancing

See it if You find the combination of deaf and hearing actors intriguing, and you like darker, more challenging musicals

Don't see it if You want escapist entertainment, or if you're easily offended by four-letter words or frank depictions of sexuality

See it if You like pretentious, painfully self-important, nonlinear, overlong claptrap

Don't see it if You like to have at least a clue about what's going on

See it if you like witty comedies of manners, with terrific acting, clever sets, and something to think about after you stop laughing (a lot).

Don't see it if you automatically think anything written before last week is dated.