See it if sophisticated view of ambivalence of marriage; amazingly witty lyrics/book; marvelous sets, scenes inventively restaged; 1st class cast
Don't see it if show about pain of not being married by 35 is somewhat dated; Katrina Lenk as Bobbie/lead, singing/acting struggles in role
Also "Bobby" or "Bobbie" is a tough role 2 play. Some have described it as ... Read more Read less
See it if punch to gut; captures ethos of mining community & sense of loss/anger after explosion; fine cast; Earl's folk tunes provide authenticity
Don't see it if never reaches potential as rallying cry vs corp greed; doesn't build 2 dramatic moments; music too unvaried 2 heighten emotional impact
See it if interesting aesthetic as story channels pulpy detective novels & video screens evoke film noir; humor leavens; solid cast
Don't see it if takes implausible left turn at end; ultimately w/o crisp plotting or deep insights into behavior of son/family, lets you down
Also Let's play the "name game". The title "The HEADLANDS" refers to (1) th... Read more Read less
See it if acutely shows banality of evil in Khmer Rouge mass killings; fine actor-musicians; Cambodian rock/Dylan fill scenes w emotion
Don't see it if broad & jokey; contrived plot; still works as entertaining vehicle 2 bring alive chilling historical chpt
Also Imitation is highest form of flattery. This vehicle is redolent of a n... Read more Read less
See it if community ripped apart by violence; perceptive study of how deputy scapegoated for society's ills; script surprises/gripping final scene
Don't see it if hollow response of deputy w/o PTSD strains credulity; static staging; no payoff or catharsis, only numbness, by end
See it if joyously embraces carpe diem 2 deal w life's inevitable disappointments; Janelle McDermoth dynamic narrator/lead singer w virtuoso rock band
Don't see it if not fully realized musical; rapturous ending feels unearned as too-short vehicle @ 55 minutes skims surface of narrator's life
See it if Kathleen Marshall provides charming choreo; Malone acts/sings/dances up a storm; pro-immigration message gives middle finger 2 Donald T
Don't see it if cornball; not enough great tunes; tho revamped as feminist, Molly remains cartoon saint; missing sizzle & polish of Bdway production
Also This musical by Meredith Willson/Music Man draws inspiration from a co... Read more Read less
See it if a total hoot; clever send up & bracing feminist indictment of toxic masculinity; Matthew Amendt campy & terrifying as Dracula
Don't see it if hits u over head w feminist view; abrupt tonal shifts w combo serious-feminism/Darwinism/Dracula as quasi-religious "father" & camp
Also Matthew Amendt, playing Dracula, exemplifies difficulty in finding gro... Read more Read less
See it if brilliant theatrical form: concurrent stories of 3 gens of women on stage together allow u 2 see inter-gen patterns; sharp Mametian dialog
Don't see it if confusing interplay of sep scenes; characters speak on top of each other; few answers provided re hereditary nature of mental illness
Also I suggest that you try to view the play in the same way you experience... Read more Read less
See it if clever pastiches of '60s music esp Bacharach; shows the problems with sex divorced from intimacy; hilarious abashed "orgy" scene
Don't see it if not fully realized musical/more a concept album; skims surface of '60s; unlike movie never get 2 know characters
Also This is what this show tries to add to the movie: By showing the chara... Read more Read less
See it if graphically shows how dehumanizing it is to work 4 min wage in big box store; actors work their a**es off 2 make funny
Don't see it if cartoonish & shallow; lethargic pace; characters 1-dimensional; pt-less mystery @ end
See it if rich in ambiguity; Lucas Hnath raises interesting ?s about what is real/what's not, how manipulation is key 2 effective communication
Don't see it if haphazard; story starts out strong portraying relationship between medium & subject, loses its way w irrelevant characters/plot
See it if all hell breaks loose when wife expresses desire 2 divorce; Jane Alexander funny/moving as wife seeking to be noticed
Don't see it if tame "Neil Simon"-ish humor, never raises searching questions about marriage; children's reaction 2 divorce cartoonishly overwrought
Also One of the central comedic exchanges is between Jane Alexander and her... Read more Read less
See it if thrilling propulsive performance of 80s rock n roll by skilled young musicians; hyperkinetic choreo; Brenock O'Connor's revelation in lead
Don't see it if disappointing 2nd Act; predictable cliched tale: teen rebellion thru rock n roll opposed by evil priest; needs work b4 opens in move 2 Bdway
See it if graphic portrait of despair in failed mining town; mine's dominance brilliantly evoked; Edmund Donovan shatteringly portrays mental illness
Don't see it if tho Hunter's plays are usually terse & unshowy, this one is melodramatic & contrived
Also My guess is that Hunter wrote this play, set in a small fictional mini... Read more Read less
See it if shows women in 1935 terrified by men, w gun-toting Fefu @ center; scene of friend in bed voicing her paralyzing fears makes u shudder
Don't see it if u don't like strange plotless avant garde plays; some characters extraneous; rotating diff parts of audience 2 see diff scenes a distraction
See it if 2 c amazing staging; cinematic flow of scenes; set in future when Harry has son, resonant story of father/son conflict
Don't see it if need 2 know Harry P basics 2 appreciate this update; much of the plotting is illogical; by 2nd of 2 parts, the wow factor has disappeared
Also The staging gives u a sense u are in a mysterious world of wizardry in... Read more Read less
See it if thru plot centered on Berlin artists' ineffectual reaction 2 '30s rise of Hitler, raises deep ?s about artists' duty 2 deal w Trump
Don't see it if awkward/very meta; adding new scenes w/ a talky "Kushner" character 2 original drama turns this into meh drama w commentary bolted on
Also Here's what I think happened in the remounting of this play. After see... Read more Read less
See it if strong Aidan Quinn/Kristine Nielsen as couple; shows devastating effect of loss of central thing in life: 4 Quinn his job, 4 Nielsen her son
Don't see it if not as moving as original; weaknesses in plotting exposed; few actors provide combo authenticity/gentle satire roles demand
Also This play is a tale of 2 cities: Houston & Atlanta, representing the o... Read more Read less
See it if Henry is a marvel, utterly convincing as a man crushed by system, w a voice of great emotional range; fine dancers bring action alive
Don't see it if story w little nuance; much of the music sounds the same; lyrics simplistic/uninspired; still affecting b/c of Henry
Also The music and lyrics are by Ross Golan who writes contemporary hip hop... Read more Read less
See it if Fierstein, a force of nature like Bella, is a good person to play her; reminds us of how far women have come b/c of Bella
Don't see it if broad caricature of Bella telling a lot of lame Borscht Belt jokes; need dramatic situation or foil 4 Bella to galvanize the play
See it if poignant interaction of dying woman who will not go quietly/those honoring her; dance scenes brilliantly reveal inter-generational dynamics
Don't see it if 4 some Nelson’s approach/observing everyday scenes among family/friends is agonizingly slow; I find it revelatory here
Also It's important to note that the subject of the choreography of the dyi... Read more Read less
See it if celebrates cycle of life, how day-to-day living is an evolutionary triumph, featuring lyrical script/fine ensemble/self-deprecating humor
Don't see it if no clear plot; some may c play w Chris played by 1 character after another as a gimmick, but works if u realize Chris is Every(wo)man
See it if witty 1st Act shows Macbeth character’s path to become the "Burger King;" clever songs; hilarious use of 3 witches as provocateurs
Don't see it if in 2nd Act becomes overwrought & didactic when has 2 deal w/ Mac/Lady Mac's guilt & self-destruction; Sweeney Todd it's not
See it if powerfully illustrates how US prison system mistreats Muslim w controversial political views; actors talented musicians
Don't see it if meandering; story arc predictable; music could be used more effectively/see below
Also Music is used as a central element of the story, serving as the backdr... Read more Read less
See it if scenes re crimes of establishment will rip your head off; those underscoring fatuousness of polit deliberation hilarious; strong script/cast
Don't see it if members of City Council are cartoonishly hapless; needs stronger link between 1st half farce & 2nd half indictment
Also I think there's a link between 1st half farce & 2nd half jeremiad. Man... Read more Read less
See it if raucous sitcom, fine comedic ensemble; gourmet approach 2 wings; shows healthy community of gay men, 2 in loving relationship
Don't see it if unchallenging; never rises much above sitcom genre; conclusion: gay men are like the rest of us (but more fun) is not earth shattering
See it if shows how Kor-Am playwright tries 2 find her creative identity; result-story of feisty/hilarious Korean divers that teems w life & loss
Don't see it if awkward 3-part structure moving from realism to meta-ism to absurdism; absurdist satire of white stage managers is blatantly obvious
Also My partner pointed out an arresting central metaphor in the play: the ... Read more Read less
See it if comedic whirl-a-gig; explores roots of political & artistic paralysis in Age of Trump; hilariously idiosyncratic characters esp Frank Wood
Don't see it if disjointed & rambling/too many irrelevant characters & subplots; ending that neatly wraps up things is unsatisfying
See it if wonderful score by Herman; fine choreo & dancing; w performance as Mabel, Alexandra Socha emerges as one of NY’s leading musical stars
Don't see it if weak book/show fades as relationship between M&M fades; never brings 2 life Mack making comedies or Zeitgeist of silent film era
Also Herman's great triumphs w Hello Dolly, Mame, La Cage were w shows wher... Read more Read less
See it if best thing about this study in poor black family dysfunctionality is bold performance by Kara Young as teen resisting implosion of her world
Don't see it if overlong & exhausting, ills of poverty accumulate, but 2 what end?; use of NP come-to-life as inspiration 4 Kara is a gimmick w/o payoff
See it if for O’Connell’s matter of fact but chilling performance; fascinating combo horror story & confession
Don't see it if what is pt of play? unreliability of memory; how victims of violence blame themselves/identify w perpetrator; how religion distorts vision?
Also I note the similarity between this and the play by Hnath I'd seen earl... Read more Read less
See it if interesting use of accompanying music; choreographs how the newly-created creature discovers the world like a newborn baby
Don't see it if thin production misses Gothic horror & rejection of "monster" by the community which underlines reaction of convention to the OTHER
See it if to see LLL, at the height of her powers, playing both Lucy w her open-minded artistic imagination & her irascible closed-minded mother
Don't see it if Strout's incantatory, stream of consciousness, novel is not/probably can't be replicated on stage; still LLL is worth the ticket
See it if entertainingly absurdist tale of murderous plant; hear Menken's fine music, Ashman's witty lyrics; Chris Borle masterful in various roles
Don't see it if fatuous plot; 2 much Borsht Belt humor; uneasy marriage of silliness & darkness; some music dated; anti-racism message too obscure/see below
Also Little Shop may be viewed from a number of perspectives. On one level,... Read more Read less
See it if creative set/choreo/music; commanding Kathryn Hunter/Timon; resonant allusions 2 today's income inequality; Shake's incomparable writing
Don't see it if little depth or subtlety; after high-spirited farce turns into unconvincing tragedy; secondary characters don't register
Also Tho there is sometimes an issue in having women actors play male roles... Read more Read less
See it if intriguing mash up of "Lord of the Flies" & the Scottish play shows how violence once unleashed can consume everything; shattering ending
Don't see it if energetic not great version of play; transition from childhood games to murderous actions much too abrupt
See it if shows dehumanizing racism vs black WWII soldiers; thru their work songs/choreo links racism 2 slavery; strong cast individuates each soldier
Don't see it if stodgy compared 2 today's imaginative race-based plays; flow of scenes formulaic; stereotypes abound but see below
Also Many of the characters in the play are stereotypes including the racia... Read more Read less
See it if creative staging; well-sung songs esp by J Jones/Roxanne; Drinklage's engaging; villain/De Guiche made 3 dimensional
Don't see it if songs pleasant not memorable, dumbed down 4 Drinklage who's not a singer; I've seen funnier versions; ending is maudlin/not moving
Also Spoiler/Not on the nose: In lieu of having Drinklage bear a big probos... Read more Read less
See it if urgent cry for help; graphically shows misery under AIDs threat/homophobia but shot thru w humor; talented cast
Don't see it if play hits you over the head w message, employs perplexing absurdism where straight drama would be more effective
See it if you love Morrissette's/M's super-emo songs sung affectingly; song "You Oughta Know" in 2nd act stops the show; @ times quite funny
Don't see it if u r not a fan of M's music/I'm not; lyrics unintelligible; scattershot "lifetime movie" plot; message-"nobody's perfect" is a big duh!
See it if heartbreaking; richness of novel w multiple story lines showing residents' misery & moments of grace; includes scabrously hilarious putdowns
Don't see it if overlong, unfocused w far 2 many characters & plot lines; still this is breathtaking achievement making us c humanity of the marginalized
Also The production set in a halfway house/HH on the Upper West Side/UWS ha... Read more Read less
See it if full Broadway spectacle, big cast, set & costumes flood your senses; fun 1st act send-up of love songs; Karen Olivo outstanding lead
Don't see it if little nuance or wit; no original music/all juke box love tunes; 2nd act is cliche-ridden & melodramatic; the opposite of Sondheim
See it if shows religious conservatives as deep/thoughtful; clearly explains their anti-LGBT/abortion stance; key insight: sex looms behind doctrine
Don't see it if every character is hyperbolic particularly the Christian warrior/Ann Coulter stand-in & the confused wreck; lacks satiric edge
Also Periodically interrupting the voices of the 4 graduates is a deafening... Read more Read less
See it if uses material from extraord Anna D Smith interviews about Crown Heights race riots capturing radical diffs in black/Jewish perspectives
Don't see it if padded, do not need to hear from so many strident black/Jewish leaders saying the same thing; relentlessly serious, would benefit from humor
Also Before launching into an intensive examination of Crown Heights (CH), ... Read more Read less
See it if sexy propulsive dancing by 7 sensational dancers; tells vivid individual stories of black women caged by patriarchal society
Don't see it if stories told via DENSE poetry; individual stories not well integrated; black feminism moved past this show’s focus on black male oppression
See it if harrowing feminist tale; in set as stark as the moon, tells hellish tale of Syrian female refugee w/ dreams crushed by tribal purity rules
Don't see it if awkward flashbacks; inconsistent feminist pt of view: protagonist oscillates from compliant 2 outraged; SPOILER: violent end 2 abrupt
Also Multiple possible meanings for "power strip": (1) the electrical condu... Read more Read less
See it if shows what a jungle high school is; joyous dancing; creative sets; clever connect'n human/animals seeking dominance
Don't see it if none of songs, lyrics, performances are memorable; jokey, not hilarious; conclusion "don't be so mean" to each other is weak
See it if brilliantly shows how Sally becomes inspiration 4 two powerless women, inching towards a new understanding of their relationship
Don't see it if many dramaturgical problems including irrelevant characters & illogical plot lines blunt the play
Also Play set on roof of bldg in St. Louis centers on meeting of 2 long-tim... Read more Read less
See it if truncated script/small cast/no frills set drives plot relentlessly forward; Corey Stoll strong as Mac descending into madness
Don't see it if should be other-worldly & macabre, but isn't; focused on Macbeth, Lady Mac, an operatic character, barely registers
Also What Doyle appears to be doing in this production is trying to turn Ma... Read more Read less