Beverly NYC

See it if You like the movie. I hated the movie. But loved this show. Way better than the movie.

Don't see it if You want heavy drama and pretentious acting.

Also Singing and acting were wonderful. Well paced and less cloying than the movie. The plot was actually believable. This was a good time musical.... Read more Read less

See it if you just love Nathan Lane, he really shined. As did the other amazing ladies, Kristine Nielsen and Julie White.

Don't see it if you want a real plot or Broadway caliber writing.

Also Gave it a 49 for the marvelous attempt of the cast to save a sinking ship and for the delightful set. Andrea Martin was a smart lady.
I couldn't wait for it to end. I saw people leaving the theater 1/2 thru. Stayed to see if there WAS an ending and respect for the actors.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Glenda Jackson and Shakespeare. Phillip Glass's music was terrific.

Don't see it if you rather object to being SHOUTED AT for over an your by the two older sister. Gratuitous sex, why? Didn't add anything.

Also Glenda Jackson was a beacon in spite of this mislead production. Bad direction, REALLY all the shouting. And the distracting sign language on stage directly behind the characters who were speaking. Shakespeare is not easy to follow, and the signing was just a gimmick. Shakespeare doesn't need gimmicks. All the performances the actors were allowed to give, despite the ineptitude of the director, were wonderful.... Read more Read less

See it if You like farces with a good twist. Very impressed they were easily understood with their accents. Very enjoyable and funny.

Don't see it if If you want something new. Just a mashup of all the old bag of tricks. Hated the ending.

See it if The tixs are free and you have time to waste before your train/bus arrives. Or you want to take someone for revenge/punishment purposes.

Don't see it if If you value your time and money. It's just a boring rehash of School of Rock/Full Monty/Dance of the Vampires.

See it if If you like lessons on nuclear power plants. Great acting and dialog on aging, long term relationships and trying to do the right thing.

Don't see it if You don't like jokes about old people or adultery.

Also Way to complicated to follow without a break/intermission to discuss events. Need that break to decompress and rest. When will directors and producer and writers learn WE ARE NOT WATCHING A MOVIE. They are much cheaper to attend. We are watching a live events and people are affected much differently. You already have our money, why are you worried we won't return after intermission? I think the success of this production will suffer at the BO for this reason. It is too intense and filled with much info. Many theater goers seemed to lose track of the plot.... Read more Read less

See it if like John Lithgow, how can you not....

Don't see it if you can't sit back and enjoy. Pace is slow. Would have worked MUCH better in a small house, as it was about a father telling bedtime stories

Also Only two stories told. Wonderful background on Lithgow and his father. 1st act/story was intense and wonderful and funny and scary. The 2nd act/story was a P.G. Wodehouse story. Very British and not as funny as the Wodehouse Jeeves stories. Gave this a lower rating because the act fell flat, audience did not laugh much. It was hard to follow because Lithgow didn't differentiate the voices and you didn't always know who was talking. A better director, more rehearsal and a smaller performing space would make a big difference. Lithgow is wonderful, he deserves a better vehicle for his gift.... Read more Read less

See it if love tennis??

Don't see it if you have something better to do. Played dated because nothing new or relevant was explored. Good acting couldn't save it. They were good.

Also Characters were typical stereotypes. Especially the Russians. Perhaps if the female playwright had written about female athletes the story would be relevant or new. Who cares about male pro athletes? How many times have we seen this? Sad. Also bad ending, she really didn't know how to end it and it flopped.... Read more Read less

See it if you like the story, like shows without women. Very intricate staging with athletic men.

Don't see it if you can't take the violence or hated the movie.

Also heavy accents made it nearly impossible to follow the story. Fell asleep, was kinda bored.... Read more Read less

See it if if you liked & saw the movie, appreciate subtle acting. Want to hear beautiful music & be transported to another culture.

Don't see it if If you like whinny obnoxious singers who belt.

Also This is the first musical that I've seen in YEARS where the singers sang beautifully. No pushing, ugly belting or histrionics. The story was loving and touching and universal. The instrumentals/actors were superb.... Read more Read less

See it if You like great music and singing. Crazy talented cast. Good story and wonderful musical accompaniment by all. Pure fun!

Don't see it if If you can't suspend your disbelief, crazy story.

See it if Great writing. Engaging and true story of play within a play. Wonderful actors and fun music.

Don't see it if You want fluff. This play will make you consider...

See it if You want a old/modern take on the merits of marriage. Want to think about being single or not. Excellent writing, terrific actors!!

Don't see it if Current language juxtaposed with the Victorian era. You don't want to think and just be entertained.

See it if You like a good uplifting story and relentless music, it never stops. Great characters with wonderful actors.

Don't see it if Constant music and needless movement annoy you. Would have been more profound if creators main goal wasn't to impress or be different.

See it if You are a fan of the show or like big chorus numbers and overwrought singing. Or a fan of Madama Butterfly, same story with a few laughs.

Don't see it if You hate Les Miz, it sounds exactly like it. And over singing, it's not going to end well.

See it if you like stories about WWII and strong women.

Don't see it if it you don't have the patience to listen to lots of dialogue.

See it if you like women comics/comedy writers. She one of the best and her material is for everyone. NEVER bored.

Don't see it if you don't like one women shows.

See it if you believe the hype. You don't need to look at anything on the stage. Are impressed by audio tricks. Need a bed time story.

Don't see it if you want to remember the ending, I fell asleep.

See it if you like your plays to wash over you. Great acting and chemistry from cast. Didn't blame the mother for all the troubles.

Don't see it if don't like some long monologues.

See it if you like great singing with a weak story. 2nd act pays off, so stay for the whole show.

Don't see it if same old, same old generic music.

See it if you want something very different. Wonderful staging and acting. Absorbing story. A bit too long...

Don't see it if you want light entertainment.

See it if a wondrous slice of life of a fascinating artist. Great acting, staging, writing and visual effects.

Don't see it if lack a sense of whimsy.

See it if breathtaking performance. Lots of fun and laughs. Sound guy needs his own Tony.

Don't see it if you don't want to have a good time.

See it if you enjoy Diedre O'Connel. Great acting. Interesting premise.

Don't see it if you don't like workshop productions. Needs work and re-writes.

See it if you like physical comedy, fun music and these guys; Bill Irwin and David Shiner. You tend to laugh in spite of yourself.

Don't see it if you don't like baggy pants.

See it if you like high energy, fun musicals with an interesting twist.

Don't see it if you're sick of watching shows about kids or teenagers.

Also A relief to see an original musical, not the countless jukebox musicals on the boards today.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to understand EVERY WORD and meaning of the text. Perfect casting and imagination by the directors. Beautiful voices in word & song

Don't see it if you can't sit outside.

Also A perfect production evident in the 1st preview. Well rehearsed and created by all involved. In the first 10 minutes I knew this would be a landmark production. Must transfer to Broadway. Get your free tix now or be sorry. Gave it 99 for not being absolutely true to the text. But every variance was exquisitely calculated.... Read more Read less

See it if You are fans of the leads, like myself.

Don't see it if Gratuitous sex and nudity. You can't keep in mind it written in mid '80s.

Also Love the play and McNally. Big fan of Audra Mcdonald....so she was miscast. The role of Frankie is a very average person. Audra can never exude average. She's a wonderful actress, but I never believed her in this role. Michael Shannon absolutely steals the show. No chemistry between the two. My only thought as they left the stage after their bows, was "I hope they like each other". I got a strong vibe from their body language that they didn't.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a famous show. Can sit thru the 4 same jokes told over and over. Very face paced. Actors get the same notes..faster faster.

Don't see it if You can get tixs to the Band's Visit. Or you want the histeria to wash over you. Show is tired.

See it if Cause it's free. If you like boring music and Shakespeare for tots this hackneyed production is for you. Uneven and unrealistic casting.

Don't see it if If you hate seeing wonderful and talented performers in a misguided mess.

See it if you understand the financial world. Like to see evil and greed keep their ethical outlook.

Don't see it if you can't pay attention and follow a complex story. Or you are unable to laugh at horrible people doing horrible things.

Also Steven Pasquale was miscast and couldn't really hold down the lead of this very complicated play. I didn't believe him in this part based partly on the fall from grace super trader Michael Milken. If you are mentioning many times a character is Jewish, then cast an actor who looks/plays Jewish. I'm a big fan Steven, but you are way too waspy to pull that off.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Mark Rylance, wonderful performance.

Don't see it if want to hear superlative singing. An average/good singer wouldn't be that day's rock star or cure a king.

Also Silly thrown in love affair between Farinelli and the King's wife. Contrived dialog and hogging of stage time by Rylance in playing the old man in the end. Another actor lost a job. Most of all, the lousy conceit of an actor reading the lines and then having a singer walk on stage at the same time and sing. This should have been the same person. Music chosen was average, because the singer was average...which negates the whole point of the story, an amazing voice helps to cure the King's melancholy. He didn't even have a trill and you don't sing Baroque music without one. A countertenor is the wrong voice anyway, a contralto or mezzo would have a closer sound quality. https://youtu.be/KLjvfqnD0ws
A woman would have also given a more androgynous look to Farinelli. The writer, Rylance's wife, may not have wanted her husband to be upstaged by the singer. Dumbness, Rylance is wonderful in everything he does. Great concept for a play that failed miserably because of casting.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Michael Moore.

Don't see it if you don't like Michael Moore.

Also Would have been better in an off Broadway house.

See it if you like family dramas, great acting and a touch of time bending. Very layered.

Don't see it if you have a ADD or a short attention span.

Also I fell for Anna Camp and Gabe Ebert and their characters after about 10 minutes. So well directed. Great ensemble piece. Written in the late 30's but very relevant to today.... Read more Read less

See it if You like period pieces and enjoy some fine acting.

Don't see it if You don't like loud explosions.

Also Luda (Alyssa Bresnahan), a wonderful actress, was miscast. Her accent was so horrible I couldn't stay in the story it was so distracting. At one point she picked briefly picked up an Irish accent from the butcher. Her part was also poorly written and unbelievable, which may have ultimately been the downfall of the play. The girls were well cast and their acting was superb.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy Shakespeare and Central Park. Appreciate a timely production of a classic story that is an important cautionary for all of us.

Don't see it if You can't appreciate the ending. All the crazy killing is for nothing. You love Trump.

See it if you like to see the richy- rich skewed and 1990s nostalgia. Directed more as a farce than original which made the ending more poignant.

Don't see it if you don't like naked men running round.

Also Took a little for Allison Janney to warm up but worth the wait. The kids rocked and earned their exit applause.... Read more Read less

See it if You like a capella singing (albeit out of tune) and high energy staging. Entertaininng fluff. Stereotypical, clichéd characters all under 30

Don't see it if If want a realistic portrayal of our subway system. Why use the subway? Could have been set at any college.

See it if You liked the movie. Good acting and directing. Very mediocre musical score. Was never bored! Nick Cordero (Sonny) stole the show.

Don't see it if you're looking for something new.

See it if you want to laugh and laugh hard. These two guys are ON every second. Its silliness and NYC quirkiness at its best.

Don't see it if are expecting great theater. Its a silly show, just sit back and have a good time.

See it if you like "kitchen sink theater". Or need to follow the crowd for the hottest show. Tried so hard to be hip & new. Banal music.

Don't see it if you're annoyed at excessive flash to distract from lack of good or mediocre writing. Ending put me to sleep. Not enough Groban to save it.

See it if you can get tixs. WONDERFUL story telling of historic events and real people.

Don't see it if you like old fashioned musicals.

See it if you are a van Gogh fan. Lovely and touching story. Wonderful show and splendid theatrical experience.

Don't see it if lack patience.

See it if you want to see a FAB production before it goes to Broadway and you can't get tixs. LOVED IT.

Don't see it if you are a Shakespeare purist, they went off script at times.

See it if want something different. Well acted, staged, great folk dance.

Don't see it if you are a purist, don't think they stuck to the facts.

See it if brilliant "she said, he said" piece of writing. Great acting, good ending.

Don't see it if you can't rub two thoughts together.

See it if you like the book. Needless, gratuitous, distracting large ensemble dancing during key scenes. Young girl adorable.

Don't see it if you want something new. Music/lyrics pretty forgettable.

See it if you want to have a fun time and listen to Steven Pasquale sing, oh yeah. Most of cast not up to his standard. BUT Leslie Kritzer rocked!!!

Don't see it if you don't like silliness.

See it if you like silly and entertaining shows and and great 70's songs and wonderful singers.

Don't see it if if you don't like juke-box musicals.