BRUCE F 7160

See it if you want to see a well written, acted and directed play about race relations in the U.S.

Don't see it if you are looking for lighter fare. This play is a serious treatise on race although humorous in parts.

Also I missed it at Lincoln Center but am so glad I got to see it in N.J. Go!... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy very funny plays about a family coming apart, love, marriage, commitment and mostly communication.

Don't see it if you want to see a heavy drama or a musical.

Also What a treat to be able to see James Cromwell and Jane Alexander on the stage. They are outstanding. And are we getting tired of Michael Urie's same performance every time we see him on the stage? You bet we are (leave your hair alone for one minute!). Did I mention how very funny the play is? I didn't stop laughing. It's not the best play that's every been written but I had a great time.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy a fun, fun, fun, mindless musical.

Don't see it if you want to see a drama or if you are put off by stereotypes.

Also I had a great time. Yes, it's full of stereotypes (Italian gangsters, Brooklyn, etc.). But it is a sweet musical with enjoyable performances and cute lyrics. The actor playing Romeo is terrific. Ten minutes into the show, you'll know what's going to happen. But so what? Getting there is what made a great Sunday afternoon for me.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting. Judith Ivey and Edmund Donovan are outstanding.

Don't see it if you want to see a play with any relevance.

Also There are way too many stories going on in this play. A town that's fallen apart. Romance. A mentally challenged man. A teenager who is coming of age. A nosy neighbor/friend. What's happening to towns in the U.S. that have lost manufacturing. Too many creaky plot devices to get characters on and off the stage. I was never vested in any of the characters.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays where you have to figure out what the playwright is trying to say. I usually do.

Don't see it if you want to see a comprehensible play. I had no idea what was going on especially in the final one third of the play.

Also This is my fourth Lucas Hnath play. I really liked the first three. Not this one.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays where you need to think about what the playwright is trying to say (I do!).

Don't see it if you expect easy answers or want to see a light comedy or musical.

Also The play is about an "everyman" or "anyman" as he/she moves through all of life's events--childhood, death of parents, career changes, marriage, aging, death, etc. and the commonality of this in us humans. The play is well acted.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a funny, well written one person play about Bella Abzug that is masterfully performed. You will learn a lot.

Don't see it if you don't like one person plays. Otherwise see it.

Also Harvey Fierstein is a genius. The research that went into writing this play is plainly evident. The performance is masterful. Funny and very topical. You will learn a lot about Bella Abzug who was a very important political figure.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Marisa Tomei. (she is fantastic) or want to see a play by Tennessee Williams.

Don't see it if you expect to see a play like A Streetcar Named Desire or The Glass Menagerie. This isn't.

Also I know that there has been a lot written about this play being a comedy. And it is funny. However, I think that the play is about sexual longing and frustration and that gets lost because the play is on the light side. Both Marisa Tomei and Emun Elliott are outstanding.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a musical about the current political environment.

Don't see it if you want to see a musical with a good score and is something more than amateurish.

Also Conrad Ricamora was out. Billy Bustamante was outstanding. The score is terrible. There are rap and country songs and anthems and ballads. It's all over the place. The real star is the set. An interesting idea to have Asian American actors playing characters that are White Americans (such as the Vice President). This is a good reflection of how White Americans used to play Asians in theatre days gone by.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy seeing non-traditional theater "adapted" from the film The Jazz Singer.

Don't see it if you want to see a traditional musical or play.

Also The show is in two parts (no intermission). In the first part the actors announce who they are playing and discuss creating a theater piece about The Jazz Singer (I think although I'm not sure since I really couldn't follow what was going on). The second part is a partial re-enactment of the film (I think although I'm not sure since I really couldn't follow what was going on). There was a lot of discussion about "black face" performances but to what resolution? See the film instead. Good singing.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays about the effect that parents have on their children.

Don't see it if you want to see a musical or want to see a play with a satisfying resolution.

Also I really liked the first half of this play. The four children were fantastic. Superb acting. And the writing was wonderful too. The playwright really captured how impressionable children are to their parents' actions. But the second half was disappointing. The big secret seemed to be contrived and, for me, the payoff just wasn't there.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a musical with great music or enjoy very offbeat musicals.

Don't see it if you want to see a light musical comedy.

Also The music is the best thing about this show. The lyrics, not so much. There are two stories going on here--one about a faith healer who has come to the U.S. from the Philippines to restore his reputation and one about the faith healer's grandson who has come too and decides that he wants to stay in the U.S. even though he would be undocumented. I really don't know why the first story is being told and didn't see how it relates to the second story. The immigration story is much more interesting but has much less time devoted to it. Also the show runs close to 2 hours without an intermission and is way too long. The performances were all good (including the supporting actors) but I didn't find anyone outstanding although everyone was giving it his/her all.... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays that address controversial issues--in this case homophobia and the relation between church and homosexuality.

Don't see it if plays about homosexuality bother you.

Also Although the play is set in Uganda, the issues that the play addresses are much more universal. Homophobia exists all around the world (even in the U.S.) The acting is outstanding. There is a lot to digest here.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a classic play that's been transformed to modern day and deals with the immigrant experience.

Don't see it if you want to see a light play or musical. This play is very funny in the beginning but becomes very intense toward the end.

Also The play deals with the immigrant experience using the classic story of Medea. Great acting by all and a very well written play. There are several monologues by Medea that explain how she and her family came from Mexico to the U.S. that are particularly moving.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a completely new interpretation of a classic American musical.

Don't see it if you want to see a traditional production of Oklahoma!

Also For the first three quarters or so of the first act, I thought that what I was seeing was a pared down version of Oklahoma! I was enjoying it immensely. The staging, performances (for the most part) and singing (for the most part) were all excellent. Then, with the scene in the smokehouse, which is done completely in the dark, I started to change my mind. This odd staging continued with the camera man in the scene, the ballet at the beginning of the second act and the second scene performed completely in the dark. I honestly do not know what the director was trying to say. I thought the fact that Judd is sympathetic was an interesting take. Damon Daunno, James Davis and Ali Stroker all excellent. Rebecca Naomi Jones was awful. I mostly had a very good time, enjoyed hearing the score and thought that the staging was interesting. But...... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see two masterful actors in a beautifully written play.

Don't see it if you want to see a musical or don't like plays about relationships with just two characters.

Also The play is beautifully written...almost poetic at times. Two criticisms. I would have been very happy if the play had ended after the first act. I found the second act to be a bit repetitious. Audra McDonald seems to be speaking much as she did in Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Nevertheless, a treat to see these two fine actors on stage.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays where something from the past is dramatized to illuminate something in our society today.

Don't see it if you don't like plays where you have to think about why you are seeing what you're seeing on the stage.

Also This is not a play just about the newspaper business in 1969 U.K. It is staged (direction, sets, lighting) and acted beautifully. My only criticism is that when it was all over, the play left me cold. The characters are not likeable. Maybe that's part of the point.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays which develop characters very well or you want to see a play with a very famous actress.

Don't see it if you want to see a very deep meaning play or a musical.

Also The play is thin and is really a character study of Lorraine played by Susan Sarandon. She is very good as are Marin Ireland and Nico Santos. It is also very funny.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a musical with a relevant LBGTQ story with characters who are stereotypes/caricatures.

Don't see it if you want to see a musical with fleshed out characters or if you are bothered by a musical with LGBTQ themes.

Also The first act is really horrible. The actors are acting way over the top. The characters are all stereotypes except for Emma and the principal. The second act is much better because the actors calm down quite a bit. The singing is quite good. The choreography is excellent. The sets look like something from a touring company or Summer stock. The ensemble is outstanding, working very hard.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an excellent production of a classic musical with great performances, staging, choreography, lighting, costumes and sets.

Don't see it if you don't like old fashioned musicals or want to see a play.

Also Kelli O'Hara's voice is fabulous. Will Chase was out but his understudy was excellent. Only one criticism. Stephanie Styles (Lois Lane) has or uses a very squeaky voice for her character. It made it very difficult to understand all of the lyrics to Always True To You In My Fashion.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy great acting and staging and very funny plays.

Don't see it if you don't like slapstick comedy or plays with very difficult themes or seeing penises on the stage.

Also Even though I enjoyed the play a lot, I found it very difficult to understand exactly what the playwright was trying to say. Various reviewers have written about many different themes. I found that this play is a product of the Trump era in which we must find comedy in the face of much tragedy. But I'm sure that there's much more. The set is fabulous.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting in a well written play. Adam Driver's performance is one of the best this theatre season.

Don't see it if you only like musicals. I really can't think of a reason not to see it.

Also As many critics have written already, in this play you must see Pale and Anna "burn" for each other despite their differences. You certainly see Pale wanting Anna but, until the very end, you don't see the underlying "burn" for Pale by Anna. To me this is a flaw with the direction. Brando Uranowitz was excellent.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays with LBGTQ themes.

Don't see it if you don't like plays with LBGTQ themes.

Also I found the play to be unfocused and am not sure what the playwright is trying to say. Or maybe he's saying too many things. This is a story about a Chinese/American gay man returning home to Hawaii from New York after a 10 year absence. But why did he return? It's not clear. He has memories of his mother who has died and he feels responsible. But why? There's his relationship with his sister and his father and how they have or have not come to terms with him being gay. There's a confusing relationship between his sister and her boyfriend. There are themes about maintaining the Chinese heritage/traditions. In the end, the man returns to New York but I couldn't figure out what/who has really changed. I found the acting to be acceptable (this was an early preview). Three cheers for the set designer.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting especially by Isabelle Huppert.

Don't see it if you are bothered by plays about mental illness.

Also The play is a great character study of a woman with mental illness who becomes more unraveled as the play goes on. How much of what happens in the play is real versus imagined is not explained.... Read more Read less

See it if you like absurdist comedy.

Don't see it if you don't like absurdist comedy.

Also I loved the first scene between Eva and Sofia. Megan Hill was just fantastic in a very funny, absurdist scene. But then the men arrived on stage and I found none of it funny. Yes, I realize that it's absurdist. But it was just too stupid with the mispronounced words and the fact that they were totally mentally blocked. People around me were laughing like crazy. No thank you.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy smaller musicals with a beautiful score and outstanding singing.

Don't see it if you expect to see a big, brassy musical.

Also This is what I would call a chamber musical. It is almost operatic at times. Small story, great lyrics and singing. It runs 90 minutes with no intermission and is just the perfect length for the story being told. Also there is no mood broken by an intermission. The entire cast is excellent.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy old fashioned musicals and/or are a fan of Jerry Herman. Also this is a chance to see a rarely performed show.

Don't see it if you don't like more traditional musicals.

Also It has been said for decades that the problem with Mack & Mabel is the book. And it's easy to see why. However, this is a chance to hear a fabulous score (they don't write them like this anymore) performed by top notch performers. Also the sets, costumes and lighting are excellent.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a play, set in the 1930s, that has relevance to today.

Don't see it if you enjoy lighter fare.

Also I don't mind long plays but this felt too long. The acting is very good especially by John-Andrew Morrison who plays a gay clothing designer who dreams of designing clothes for Josephine Baker. The play deals with abortion, birth control, looking for jobs, black lives in New York City, gay discrimination all set in 1930s New York City but having much relevance to today. The play certainly evokes what it must have felt like living in Harlem in the 1930s.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays that are thought provoking related to issues in the Black queer community.

Don't see it if plays about HIV and AIDS bother you.

Also It's difficult to say that I enjoyed this play as it deals with some difficult issues. Nevertheless, the play is well acted and staged and does help you understand what it means to be gay and Black in our society today.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to have a fun time. The show is delightful and clever. It definitely helps if you know Macbeth.

Don't see it if you want to see a serious drama.

Also I had such a good time at Scotland, PA. It was just what was needed for a rainy/snowy day. This is not heavy theatre but a light and fun musical. The score is not great. There are no memorable songs but the cast delivers. Ryan McCartan was out but Jimmy Brewer was wonderful. For me, Jay Armstrong Johnson can do no wrong and he was very funny.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see masterful acting in an absorbing play that keeps you guessing where it's going.

Don't see it if you don't like stories that are narrated instead of being acted out. Some of the play is MLP's character speaking directly to the audience.

Also There is much of the play in which Mary Louise Parker's character is speaking directly to the audience. I would have rated the play higher if there was less narration. Exceptional acting by both Mary Louise Parker and Will Hochman. Also beautifully staged.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy historical plays with exceptional acting. Brian Cox is outstanding as LBJ.

Don't see it if you are not interested in political history or the climate of the U.S. in the 1960s.

Also This is a history lesson but told in a very interesting way. An enormous cast as only Lincoln Center can do. Brian Cox is a bit too loud but all of the performances are excellent. The staging is excellent too.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays with extremely well fleshed out characters. This is a play about a 50 year old man in crisis.

Don't see it if you only like musicals.

Also I liked the play a lot but didn't like the ending. I thought it was too "pat." I didn't really believe that Wheeler had changed despite everything that he goes through during the play. Ian Barford's performance is outstanding.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an intelligent beautifully written & acted play about changes in the gay community & how we learn about the past & remember.

Don't see it if plays about gay people or AIDS bother you. Although the play is very funny, it is a drama. If you want something light this is not for you.

Also Theatre is story telling. I usually don't like plays where the characters tell you what happens instead of acting it out. In this play we get both and it works beautifully. The writing is intelligent. The play is very funny, poignant and sad. The performances are outstanding especially by the actors who play Eric, Toby, Walter and Adam. There is no set (well there are two platforms and a chair). Nevertheless, the staging is exceptional. In my opinion, the one brief bit of nudity is not gratuitous and the one "sex" scene is staged almost like a ballet. I can't wait to see both parts in the same day in December.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an exceptional original musical with relevance to our times. This show has an outstanding score.

Don't see it if you are put off by mythology.

Also How refreshing to see/hear an original musical. The performances are outstanding without exception. However, the best part of the show is the score which is sung beautifully. Amber Gray is phenomenal as are Andre de Shields and Patrick Page. I didn't like the second act as much as the first and I didn't warm up to the characters perhaps because of the story being told. I felt a bit distanced. Great staging.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy musicals with great spectacle, staging, lighting, sets, costumes and performances.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals. Otherwise, see it!

Also I loved the first act much more than the second. And that's not because the story became much more serious. Two scenes went on too long and it just seemed to have filler until the ending. However, there are so many wonderful things about this show. The songs are cleverly integrated into the book. The sets, lighting and costumes are spectacular. And so is the staging. The vocals of the three leads are outstanding and the supporting cast is excellent as well. Go and have a good time.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an outstanding performance by a playwright/actor in a play about the difficulties that Black actors have in our culture.

Don't see it if you don't like one person plays or plays that are "preachy."

Also The play is about a Black actor who is auditioning for the lead in a production of Othello. The actor doesn't agree with the White director's "take" on the character of Othello. I know that theatre is a collaborative effort but the director is "king." If an actor doesn't like the director's interpretation then he shouldn't be in the play. So the premise of the play doesn't ring true. Other than that, the play does discuss the issues with Black actors having leading roles in classic plays. It is a bit repetitious. Loved Keith Hamilton Cobb's performance.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a light musical about teenage angst.

Don't see it if you want to see something very deep or want to see a play.

Also I enjoyed the first act and thought that the performances and singing were all really good. The second act is a train wreck. The score becomes repetitive and the book completely falls apart. Having not read the book that the show is based on, I have no idea if this follows that story. Will Roland and George Salazar were both excellent. Jason Tam is a lot of fun with his Keanu Reeves imitation.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a light musical with a very bizarre story that doesn't always make much sense.

Don't see it if you want to see a dramatic musical or straight play.

Also Cute is the best word to describe this musical. The lead actor, Andrew Mayer, is terrific. The lyrics to the songs are very clever. But the story doesn't make much sense. Spies and immigrants? There is definitely a political statement being made about immigrants in there somewhere.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in plays that address LGBTQ issues and modern day relationships.

Don't see it if you are do not like plays with LGBTQ themes.

Also Great writing, great acting. The play is about modern day relationships, how we create families and what constitutes love. The play is very well done and highly recommended.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an outstanding production of a classic American play with great acting. We don't get to see All My Sons on Bway that often.

Don't see it if you want to see a comedy or a musical.

Also A truly great production (the set is amazing) of a great play by Arthur Miller. The acting is superb especially by Tracy Letts, Annette Bening and Benjamin Walker. At the performance that I attended, you could hear a pin drop during the entire show. No cell phones, no eating, no plastic bottles. We all seemed to be enraptured.... Read more Read less

See it if you like "message" plays about climate change written in a very creative and funny way.

Don't see it if you don't like message plays or want to see a musical.

Also The play is very clever with the various stories going on. However, towards the end, it becomes a polemic about climate change and hits you over the head with the message. It could have been done with more subtly. The set and staging were very good.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Shakespeare plays and want to see great acting.

Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare or if you don't want to see a very disjointed production.

Also Glenda Jackson's performance as King Lear is astonishing. So is Ruth Wilson in a double role as Cordelia and the Fool. However the production made no sense to me. Why is the Duke Of Cornwall deaf (complete with sign language interpreter)? When does this take place? The costumes don't help answer that question nor does the set which is particularly bad especially in the second act. Some British accents, some American accents. Not sure what the director is trying to say. Still, we don't get to see King Lear staged that often.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy very funny musicals with outstanding performances and staging.

Don't see it if you don't like book musicals.

Also This might be the funniest show that I've ever seen. Santino Fontana's performance is not to be missed. All others in the cast are outstanding except for Lilli Cooper whose performance was very flat (or is it the character?). The score is not great nor is the choreography which is why I scored the show an "85" instead of something higher.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays with interesting ideas told in a very different and creative way.

Don't see it if you want to see a musical or something light.

Also The play is partly about coming to terms with death. There are many other topics which the playwright is dealing with--maybe too many. Some great acting. Some not such great acting. Some twists that you won't see coming.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting. Laurie Matcalf's performance has to be seen.

Don't see it if you don't like plays about relationships and politics or if you only like musicals.

Also Honestly, I wasn't sure what the playwright was trying to say. There is certainly a theme about relationships and maybe a theme about the destiny of each human being. Great dialogue. Great acting by all.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a play about trust and love in a relationship told in an original way.

Don't see it if seeing anything related to BDSM bothers you.

Also Really good acting and set design. One criticism. Much of the play takes place on the top level of a two level set. Part of the playing area is covered by a scrim that you can see through so that you don't miss anything. I'm not sure why the scrim was there at all. Distracting. Take it down.... Read more Read less

See it if you like funny, quirky plays.

Don't see it if you want to see a heavy drama with big themes.

Also The story is indescribable since so many bizarre things happen. But, while it's fun during the performance, it doesn't add up to much and will be forgotten by the next day.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in plays about race relations and enjoy thought provoking plays that are well written, acted, staged and directed.

Don't see it if you enjoy lighter fare.

Also A beautifully written (especially the four monologues within the play) and extraordinarily well acted play that is three hours long and is so absorbing that you don't notice the amount of time. Daveed Diggs and Thomas Sadoski are giving performances that are not to be missed. This play is why we go to the theatre. Brilliant!... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see great acting in two very absorbing monologues.

Don't see it if you don't like one person shows or long monologues.