BonnieO

See it if You’re open to a rebirth rather than a revival of KMK. I’ve never scored 100 before. O’Hara is as a great a physical comedian as a vocalist.

Don't see it if You really, really hate musicals - even smart, funny ones. You really hate dance. Corbin Bleu dances on the ceiling! Breathtaking

Also The script is masterfully tweaked to make it more about 2 equally strong, exasperating personalities learning to compromise for love than about a woman’s subservience.
The chemistry between O’Hara & Chase is electric. The songs and dance numbers sublime.... Read more Read less

See it if You’ll like the story of how a Jewish immigrant family & America impacted each other & how the financial industry came to be.

Don't see it if You don’t like plays over three hours. The Jewish immigrant story holds no interest. You don’t like seeing 3 actors playing many roles

Also The financial industry story is interwoven & no less fragile than the referred to 1920s tightrope walker who continually succeeded until he didn’t. The story begins in 1844. While history changes the family with the assimilation of later generations, it also repeats itself. The set, a revolving glass box reflecting light in front of a half circle video projection screen, affected me more than any 3D or IMAX. And a single pianist creates a poetic ambiance. Three brilliant actors play not just the original Lehman Brothers but assorted men and women from infants to seniors with remarkable believability. And they constantly move around cartons to reflect setting, mood, and action. I’ll continue to process this journey for some time... Read more Read less

See it if You want a masterclass in acting. Despite the dark humor, though, it's not a happy or particularly optimistic play about self-destiny

Don't see it if You don't like dramas with multiple themes & open ended questions. There's a lot to digest here. Are we our brother's keeper, for one.

See it if You like real drama about real people that hits you in the gut. This is not a play you enjoy so much as feel intensely.

Don't see it if You don't like contemporary drama that mirrors our times or if you don't like plays about race.

Also Sadly, Steven Pasquale wasn't in the play when I saw it. I stayed anyway since he's been out ill a lot and I didn't know if he'd be back before the play closes. If that's important to you, check first.
It's ok, I'll see him in it when it's on Netflix.... Read more Read less

See it if you’ll enjoy a brisk comedy about fact based reporting v fudging facts in service of story. In another time, it would play quite differently

Don't see it if .you’re not prepared for a thinking piece on how to relay current events. There’s a lot of words & concepts. Also, no definitive conclusion.

Also This story comes from 2 actual written pieces. Knowing that helps clarify things. But I also think the essay at the core could have gained clarity with the simple proviso that it was “based” on fact.
But then we would have missed out on the erudite debate on the nature of truth.
My one regret is some personal motivations of the editor are only hinted at. That would have made this play richer just as the writer believes his liberties with detail made his essay richer.... Read more Read less

See it if For Stockard Channing! Otherwise, the writing wasn't my taste & the message blurred. Lots of monologues & mannered staccato responses.

Don't see it if You like a plot. This family drama hammers the lead for putting her humanitarian work over family. But she's just mean & self-righteous.Why?

See it if You like family dramas and Kenneth Lonergan. The writing is so deft it pulls you right in for better or worse. But be prepared for worse

Don't see it if You prefer more of a plot. The story of the decline of an Alzheimer’s patient will be too upsetting.

Also If you thought the movie Manchester by the Sea was a real happy time, you’ll love this. I’m sure I’m an outlier and it’s going to get raves. Joan Allen & Elaine May most certainly deserve them. But it’s brutal. In fairness I totally enjoyed Act I. A family tries to cope with life’s travails with humor & warmth. But Act II ? There’s basically no hope. Not a glimmer of light. For any of us. If the goal of the play is to encourage empathy & growth, how about a lifeline to happiness, coping and dignity. Or are we all just doomed to struggle with despair. #dontbringthekids #broadway... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like a novel "play-within-a-play" by an early (unrecognizable) Shaw. Sets & acting r great but too long & plays' themes don't meet.

Don't see it if You don't like very talky long shows. Also, in the spirit of the times, it is Acted with a capital A. There is humor. Oh - and singalongs.

See it if you want to see a moving and beautifully acted play about this painful piece of American history.

Don't see it if you want to see something more polished & gripping, which this has the potential to be.

See it if you like upbeat musicals w/a positive message that doesn't take itself too seriously. Actors are great & infectious music leaves u humming

Don't see it if you don't like musicals or only like them if they're Sweeney Todd or Les Miz.

See it if If you're a fan of Joshua Harmon's plays. I gave it 65 for the splendid performances & witty dialogue.

Don't see it if You're not interested in another take on how we're an age obsessed society.

See it if You want to be overwhelmed with beauty. This production created a new way to stage a musical. Its power still holds w/luscious music & dance

Don't see it if You won't be charmed by the beauty of the actors as animals. I returned to take my 7 year old nephew. He was mesmerized. Sit by center aisle

See it if You're at least somewhat familiar with Potter. If you are, it will be like the books opened & everyone came to life, powers intact.

Don't see it if You can't make the time commitment. Also - review book or movie 4 first. This represents the books better than the films did. I loved it.

See it if You like Stoppard & know “The Importance of Being Ernest” from which this borrows. You can get the jokes & themes while the rest washes over

Don't see it if You don’t like wordy plays. You don’t like absurdist humor. You don’t like plays with a lot of historical & artistic references.

Also Having said all that, I also loved the dialogue around what art should be. It was just work sifting that out from all the rest. It felt like members of the audience laughing just wanted to show they “got
the references.”... Read more Read less

See it if You’ll like a well-acted story about one family’s struggle with liberal principles vs self interest. A few new perspectives are offered.

Don't see it if You’re already aware of the issues around affirmative action & plays that tackle them wo innovative ideas for dialogue & solutions

Also While the play does go deeper in examining a case of well-meaning, liberal, white privileged hypocrisy, it doesn’t say much that’s new.
The classic film “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” comes to mind.
Many of the same points are made but faster, funnier and louder.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy dramas that raise issues of family responsibility, guilt, & loneliness, & ask what makes a person good or bad/happy or sad.

Don't see it if You’re expecting laughs. This “dark” comedy is intense & devastating & haunting. But the acting is brilliant - especially by Ms. Brewer.

See it if this is a favorite. The music & sets are as glorious as ever. The cast is very endearing.

Don't see it if you can't get Audrey Hepburn (or Marni Nixon or Julie Andrews) out of your mind no matter how much Ambrose tries to do so.

See it if You like non-traditional, immersive musicals, Caribbean music, & innovative, detailed sets. It extends all the way to the 1st row of seats

Don't see it if You don't like fables, stories of myth & adventure, a straightforward happy ending, or sand. See it anyway. The singing is heavenly.

Also I really loved this. It was made all the more special with a Show-Score "salon" with producer Ken Davenport providing insight and answering questions.
I've written more here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/once-island-bonnie-optekman/?trackingId=O0EMzbUKNHILyJbt0NZAVg%3D%3D... Read more Read less

See it if You like sketch comedy. You’re concerned about our nation today but need a laugh. You’re a feminist & don’t get those who say they aren’t.

Don't see it if You’re offended by: risqué humor, crude language, x-rated jokes, criticism of the current White House. You need a linear story

See it if You love tennis & plays that make you fill in the details. Amazing how you find yourself immersed in a game wo a ball being bounced

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy thinking/analyzing message plays. Not just about tennis but doing what you love & sticking w/it through life’s ups & downs

Also A diner menu is overwhelming. When they have a special, order it!

See it if You like a new spin on the Jane Austen classic.The story’s still there but w/actors playing multiple roles, inventive staging & comic bits

Don't see it if You’re a purist or if you don’t like slapstick comedy. Sometimes it’s a little over the top.

See it if You don’t mind a show that takes a while to make its point. You enjoy pondering the nature of time. You want to see exquisite costumes.

Don't see it if A slow moving drama is not your cup of tea.

See it if You like rom-coms with a dash of message and you like Jason Alexander. There’s many laugh out loud moments & the entire cast is wonderful

Don't see it if You don’t like sitcom-like plays or if you don’t want any politics mixed in with your comedies. There’s quite a bit here.

Also There is a hint of darkness under the laughs. Each character is trying so hard to find happiness yet doesn’t trust themselves enough to know it when it makes an entrance. They’re insecure and all feel they’ve gotten a raw deal.
I don’t think I’m over-analyzing too much to have seen Alexander’s second tier lawyer written as an archetypal as well as literal Trump voter.
Also - it’s not for the kids.... Read more Read less

See it if Talented singers/actors can surpass story for you. It has some clever moments but not much story.

Don't see it if It was surprising to me that this was based on truth since the events were unbelievable to me. Made more sense after author talk back

Also It wasn't my taste. The music/lyrics sounded a little like they were from a "senior show" but a long way from high school.
The plot, what there was of one, revolved around Bobby's romantic life after becoming a widow. But while some of the online dating experiences she describes are funny, most seem either dated or unlikely. She goes on "Ashley Madison" because she doesn't have to post a picture? Oh.
The actors were great. And if was fun for the author to come out for a Q&A. She embellished on the ending as she experienced it. Now if those details had been incorporated, that would have added a layer of truth.... Read more Read less

See it if You like the classics and don't mind a modernized, succinct version with solid acting & innovative staging in a small (too warm) space.

Don't see it if -You like Ibsen unabridged & w/ more stage elements -Actors yelling for emphasis bothers you. -You don't want reminders of today's politics

See it if You liked the movie. Want to see a star turn from Santino Fontana & a talented cast. They do a good job updating.

Don't see it if You don’t like musicals. This runs long. The dialogue is humorous, The music not memorable. There’s language not for the kids.

See it if If you like modern reinterpretations of classic musicals.

Don't see it if You’re a purist and don’t like liberties taken with the story or production.

Also The bright golden haze on the meadow was a little too bright for me exc when stage & house were plunged into darkness. There are also moments the stage is bathed in blue or green light but trying to figure out why took me out of the story so I let it go. I also gave up trying to figure out why sometimes the actors picked up mics. This is an innovative interpretation that retains a lot of the humor & joy esp in the early numbers when the audience is one big smile. (I could see this because of, you know, the light.) It’s more intimate, muscular & stripped away of pretense. This is a new Laurey, self confident & strong. But the optimism of a new nation gradually gets stripped away too esp in the reimagined ending which perhaps could be predicted by all the guns lining the walls. The cast & onstage bluegrass band are top notch. They all give pure & fabulous performances. I can’t say enough about Ali Stroker.... Read more Read less

See it if You love Sondheim. The songs & story are beautiful but don't let you off the hook. They make you think more than tap your toes.

Don't see it if You prefer traditional musicals. The plot goes backward & makes you reflect on your life. The performances are moving but the singing uneven

See it if The personal stories of a group of dancers auditioning for a show interests you. The deeply moving stories are hardly limited to performers

Don't see it if Even if you don’t like musicals, this is one of the greatest ever. The music, lyrics & dialogue are superb. This production is top notch

See it if You love Cher. The singing is tremendous, the staging innovative, the costumes glorious & the mood uplifting.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals and don't care for Cher. I'm not a big fan of jukebox musicals but this is terrific.

Also Even if you didn't grow up with Sonny & Cher, this is a fun night out. For those of us who did, it hits all the right notes without looking like mimicry.... Read more Read less

See it if You like your drama served up with generous portions of truth, humor, and uplift. The acting is superb.

Don't see it if You don’t like historical dramas or plays that reference the classics. There are highlights of Hamlet and Cyrano de Bergerac throughout.

Also This is a wonderful play. The language: rich but relatable. The acting: first rate. The story: funny but serious. Janet McTeer is a marvel. While I’ve seen Dylan Baker & Jason Butler Harner before, never like this.

There are several timely themes in this historical fiction. The overriding one is female empowerment & the very nature of femininity. Must a woman always be the weaker human who is more superficial & fragile? Can she not speak truth more powerfully than an indecisive man? The critic in the cast has a line that cuts to the quick. “A woman with power is a freak,” he says to Bernhardt. At what point does a woman with self-confidence turn into an egomaniac in the eyes of others?

They even slip in questions about Shakespeare. Did he borrow from other playwrights? Is he accessible or does the iambic pentameter of his poetic dialogue (described as “da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum, da-dum”) distract from his universal themes?

Even nurture v nature is explored.

I loved it... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in the life of Shubert & his life & don't mind an ambitious portrayal that's a little rough around the edges.

Don't see it if you won't be forgiving of these actors who give a weak script their all. It just missed the mark. Better editing would've helped.

See it if EVEN if you've never been able to get into Checkov. This production makes him completely accessible & engrossing.

Don't see it if you don't like plays w/heavy dialogue, unhappiness, or on the human condition These people lead lives of quiet desperation. It's a lesson.

Also Rarely do you get to see a production like this Uncle Vanya.

In my opinion, it is theater at its best because it:
-makes you feel
-make you think about your own life & choices
-moves you out of your own environment and into someone else’s

It is transporting. Thanks to the staging as well as the transparent acting,
I felt as if I were in the countryside with them. I wanted to console them and reassure them that they could change their fate; that they didn’t have to lead lives of despair and loneliness.

It is classic Checkov yet it never felt this accessible.

This is the first production of the Hunter Theater Project. What a launch it is. I see a bright future.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Andy Karl & Samantha Barks (Eponine from movie Les Miz) as much as I do. They & the supporting cast give the show life.

Don't see it if Catchy pop tunes wedged into the beloved but now dated take off on My Fair Lady & Cinderella doesn’t entice. FYI-very suggestive sex scenes.

Also Barks & Karl are incredibly winning. They deserved better. The music and lyrics are trite.
Seems like they were so worried about being true to the movie, they just reproduced it and stuck songs in so they could call it a musical.
The music didn’t enhance or advance the story at all. And it felt so dated with no new life breathed into it.
My Fair Lady and Carousel felt fresher.
Really disappointing.... Read more Read less

See it if You love art, you love theater and you love when they intersect. Very knowledgeable guide, Marin, took us from Ancient Greece to Picasso.

Don't see it if You don't want to learn new tidbits about favorite masterpieces. I got a new spin on messages conveyed by several masters.

See it if Great drama expressing the human experience will move you. Once in a great while, something like this comes along. It makes you think & feel

Don't see it if You don't like long shows (7 1/2 hrs total) or if the topic is too sad, although there's lots of humor. There is profanity & a nude scene

See it if You love the power of words. Even though it's all talking, the play draws you in completely. These 3 actresses gave a master class. Loved it

Don't see it if If you need constant linear action on stage. You don't want to think about your life's direction afterward.

See it if you like quirky, plot light character stories. Kudos to the actors for remembering all the non-linear dialogue

Don't see it if you need to see more plot progression and understand what's drawing two people together.

See it if You’re a big Donna Summer fan - even of her lesser known songs. And if a jukebox musical that glosses over the story won’t bother you.

Don't see it if You hoped for something more substantial. Even the highs are not high enough until the end. And the lows drag. The performers are angelic.

Also The story of her life was given short shrift here as was her music.
Some numbers, beautifully and powerfully performed, were unknown even by ardent fans. Even the well known ones were interrupted by narrative. The show came alive for the final numbers so people left singing but Ms Summer deserved better. It was no “Beautiful,” which, IMHO, sets the bar for a jukebox musical. Sign me up, though, for a LaChanze concert.... Read more Read less

See it if GB Shaw, historical plays, and/or St Joan interest you. You like C Rashad. She's at her most powerful. You like to be swept away by words.

Don't see it if You can't sit through a long show filled with lots of dialogue no matter how interesting & clever. You like more interesting sets.

See it if you like musicals & can suspend disbelief for the sheer joy of this production. The talent, sets & music are wonderful. Slate IS SB.

Don't see it if you don't like *splashy* musicals. but you don't have to like the cartoon to like this. It's likely more fun to see it with kids as I did

Also Inside the silliness of the script are positive messages of kindness, inclusivity and humanity.... Read more Read less

See it if for Ridloff's breakout performance. Her signing is more eloquent than the dialogue. Jackson admirably speaks & signs his & her lines.

Don't see it if You need a faster paced plot. This one takes its time & also glosses over how their connection becomes romantic.

Also I also wish the subtitles had remained up during Ridloff's dramatic speech. I felt its meaning but couldn't understand it very well. Maybe, actually, that was the point - to feel as she felt most of the time.... Read more Read less

See it if You like historical drama & baroque music. The play is different & beautiful from the set to the acting. It’s funny, sad, & feels English.

Don't see it if You’re not a Rylance fan. You don’t like Opera. You need realism.

See it if You want to see a master class in acting. Lithgow’s every pantomime and every utterance is believable. You can even see the parrot!

Don't see it if You want a plotted story. This is a tribute by Lithgow to his dad - a moving one - in which he tells 2 short stories his Dad read to him

See it if You’re interested in dramas recounting the financial crises of the 80’s. You like innovative sets/lighting & great ensemble acting.

Don't see it if A lot of financial jargon makes your head spin. Also if you like shorter works. Act II moves more quickly with more suspenseful action.

See it if you've ever dieted or had any food issues. You'll identify w/the talented actors & laugh like crazy. But you'll also be moved by sad stories

Don't see it if You need a linear story line. You're not interested in personal sad stories. But, these characters all live and thrive on stage.

See it if You like subtle character studies that make you care & don’t let go. You want a show with hope & humanity. You like middle eastern music.

Don't see it if I was going to say if you don’t like musicals but this is more of a play with music that enhances understanding of the characters & story.

See it if you like the Hal Prince produced and/or directed musicals showcased. They're truly mini versions with sets/costumes/lights

Don't see it if You don't like musicals or you do like a story line. His plays take a back seat & only a bit of his career links the excerpts of 17 musicals

Also It's a superlative cast of 7, (incl. 2 u/s I saw), w/3 roles each.

The revue is like a Reader's Digest condensed version of musicals & you want to see your faves in full. Karen Ziemba in Sweeney Todd? Yes!

On the night I was there, Hal Prince sat for a riveting QA:

He wanted the show to have "continuous action" to keep the audience engaged.
He likes a "black box" set to leave room for imagination & uses few doors. In each set the original designer's name is hidden.
The costumes are as close to the orig. as possible. "The Ladies Who Lunch" is sung in the same outfit Ms. Stritch wore.

He only directs now & said he considers himself a "creative" producer since he doesn't like raising $.
He saw himself as a director of straight plays but ended up doing musicals. After that, dramas were too quiet. No tuning up!

He thinks Moms introduce most kids to theater at matinees. A kid who played w/toy soldiers while opera played, he was brought at 8. (Mom brought me at 4.)... Read more Read less

See it if You loved the story previously and are open to a revival with a fresh cast & interpretation

Don't see it if You loved the story previously and don't want to be disappointed. Don't like slow moving drama. People on either side of me fell asleep.

Also I've managed to avoid Marvin's Room in several iterations. I always suspected it would be terribly sad nor did I believe people saying it was moving & funny. Yeah, right. People sick & dying - that will lift the spirits.

But since it's part of my Roundabout sub & has a great cast, it was time.

Well, it moved glacially yet there was a lot left unresolved. (Full disclosure - I like resolution.) There are also threads wo obvious connection to the main story line of Marvin cared for by his daughter who then gets sick & needs a bone marrow transplant either from her sister, who moved away, or a troubled nephew, who tried to burn the house down - why I still don't know. He was about to tell his aunt when it was his turn to be tested as a match for a bone marrow transplant.

Oh, & that awful story about the aunt's old boyfriend? How did that fit in ?

Intellectually I saw the message as the positive power of family.
But sadly, to quote another show, I felt nothing.... Read more Read less

See it if You like modern drama with people uniquely responding to tough economic circumstances. There's growth but heartache.

Don't see it if You'll be offended by coarse language. You don't want politics in your drama. You don't like flashback, nonlinear storytelling.

Also ‪Sweat is a tinderbox of personalities ignited by societal circumstances & lost opportunity. Friends become rivals & worse. So powerful.‬... Read more Read less