Catherine 6062

See it if It is a well-written, well-acted and well-directed show that mostly held my attention

Don't see it if The two main characters are very hard to understand, the central plot "ask" made by one of them to the other was absurd, the ending was weak

See it if you would like to see a funny, well-written and well-directed show that delicately skewers many of today's PC platitudes and hypocrisies

Don't see it if you are a social justice/anti-medical establishment warrior with no sense of humor

See it if some wonderful a cappella singing, creative direction and some clever lyrics; loved the scientist solo

Don't see it if no interesting, developed characters, no emotional resonance; solos somewhat repetitive, no real drama; more dialogue might help

See it if you would be satisfied with some interesting staging and can sit through a totally boring first act to reach a slightly better second act

Don't see it if you demand an interesting plot, more than caricatures, and well-written dialogue; a one idea play

See it if you would enjoy seeing nuanced and interesting characters dealing with a difficult contemporary issue

Don't see it if you are not open to looking at the issue of "baking a cake for a gay couple" from different perspectives

See it if You have Harry Potter nostalgia, want to see some wonderful special effects (the dementors, the lake), and would enjoy two adolescent plays

Don't see it if You would feel put upon to have to pay for two plays that could have been one, you would mind some dozing, and you are not a Potter fan

See it if you would enjoy a sometimes amusing intellectual discussion of the importance of factual truth over narrative "truth"

Don't see it if you want to see either a really funny play or a play with developed characters, a not contrived plot, and some emotion

See it if an Irish family saga: well structured plot built around Irish history with good character development

Don't see it if plot not all that novel, overly melodramatic ending, heavy on Irish cliches (including characters)

See it if you would enjoy a very different presentation of Oklahoma, one that emphasizes its sexuality and violence and omits its joy

Don't see it if you would not enjoy an intense version of Oklahoma with some incredible direction, scenes and ideas but a prevailing sense of gloom

See it if you have the patience for a pretty slow slog with some well-written scenes that is very well staged; a decent idea

Don't see it if you like your plays to be tight; this thinly plotted play needed editing and had a silly love affair that did not work at its heart

See it if you enjoyed Significant Other: very similar with a first act that is a bit slow and sit com like and a second act that becomes more moving

Don't see it if you require completely novel plots or ideas; this hammered the "looks count" theme a bit much and the characters were a bit stereotypical

See it if an excellent production of a great classic musical with an amazing set, terrific direction, and an excellent second Act and ending

Don't see it if the first Act was a bit slow; Ambrose not uniformly excellent; more polished and competent than entrancing

See it if you want to see the work of an intelligent master wordsmith that offers up some interesting thoughts about art, narrative and memory

Don't see it if you do not want to have to pay close attention to a barrage of fast spoken words or do not like British wit

See it if you would enjoy terrific acting by all three actors, a commanding Jackson, wonderful staging, some lovely monologues, and a clever construct

Don't see it if you are unwilling to sit through a too long, slow first scene and some questionable wisdom about the meaning of life and happiness

See it if you want to see two excellent performances in a play that does nothing more than show an obsessed woman having a breakdown

Don't see it if you prefer plays that at least attempt to explore character motivation; this play was tense but emotionless; the set was just a gimmick

See it if a traditional musical that is exceedingly well directed with audience enthusiasm that sweeps you up in its exuberance; superb Fontana

Don't see it if you expect more than a mediocre traditional musical with an engaging star who struggled with her singing at times

See it if An engaging, enjoyable exploration of the assumptions underlying affirmative action through the microcosm of one family's conflict

Don't see it if You are so committed to affirmative action that you could not appreciate even a nuanced discussion of its merits

Also This is a good play. I find the criticism of it on "political" grounds beside the point. We should welcome and be able to appreciate well-written, provocative plays even if we disagree with some of what they might be saying. As a play about a white family struggling with the clash between its political beliefs and the personal fallout from adhering to those beliefs, it did not need non-white characters any more than a play about a Black family struggling with analogous issues would need white characters. My only criticism of the play as a play is that the son's transition seemed sudden and a bit contrived and it fell a bit too heavily on the cerebral side of the cerebral/emotional continuum than I personally like, but it is definitely one of the best plays I have seen this year.... Read more Read less

See it if you can enjoy a play that is nothing more than some beautiful, well-song arias in a well-crafted atmosphere with a few cute moments

Don't see it if you require a sensible plot, emotion, interesting and understandable characters, and acting that is more than humdrum--disappointing Rylance

See it if an interesting and well-acted story told in a creatively and complexly crafted play--engaging all the way through

Don't see it if you require huge emotion--this play's strengths are its intelligence, poetry, and moments of wonderful writing

See it if you want to see a well-written play about interesting people finding each other despite their differences with an amazing Daniel Gerroll

Don't see it if you require jazzy productions and dislike intellectual discussions; this play about a major Christian philosopher is thoughtful

See it if you are in the mood for a lovely musical with some great songs and great performances

Don't see it if you want to see something that resonates or that is exciting; my seat was very far from the stage, which might have affected my enjoyment

See it if Two engaging, fully developed characters reveal their differing perceptions of a shared encounter with pathos, humor, and lyricism

Don't see it if You do not like even beautifully written monologues and do not like plays that raise questions about societal issues

See it if you would enjoy a very well done and beautifully acted depiction of a woman devoted to a sick child with a few wonderful scenes and moments.

Don't see it if you want to see a play with a lot of character movement, exploration of character motivation, interesting ideas, or beautiful language.

See it if you want to see a well-written and engaging family drama with wonderful acting and directing and can tolerate a few imperfections

Don't see it if you want to see a play that focusses on racial or educational issues; a family and parental struggle is at the heart of this play

See it if you want to see a top notch melodrama that is well-written, well-acted, superbly directed, wonderfully staged and thoroughly enjoyable

Don't see it if you cannot deal with watching someone with a self-destructive obsession in a certainly dated narrative

See it if a brave play in today's climate that presents some controversial conservative ideas without typical disdain; it is engaging and well acted

Don't see it if as a play it is over-stuffed and jumbled with political, religious ideas; it needs extensive shortening and sharpening

See it if you would be content watching some good actors in a series of some rather sweet vignettes with pleasant characters

Don't see it if you want to see a play that has drama, interesting character development and nuance; this was not very engaging

See it if It is mildly engaging; the acting is mostly fine (though in previews some rough spots); some nice moments

Don't see it if A well trod narrative told better in other plays; flat; dialogue not consistently good; characters stereotypical; no emotional resonance

See it if an excellent, moving production in which the nearly flawless and seemingly effortless acting draws you in

Don't see it if the plot does wobble a teeny bit here and there, but the direction and acting make that flaw insignificant

See it if An excellent production of a treasure; Cole Porter at his best

Don't see it if You insist on realistic plots

See it if You would enjoy a wonderfully staged and directed musical; acting and singing superb (especially Narayan)

Don't see it if You can't tolerate an inverted time sequence and are not a Sondheim fan

See it if you want to spend a few hours in an intimate setting in the company of superb actors performing in moving, well-written plays

Don't see it if these plays are both relatively slowly paced; the first is a bit less compelling than the second

See it if you would be interested in a story about Punjabi's in Wisconsin with some pleasant acting and staging

Don't see it if you require more than a flat production with an uninspiring plot, poor dialogue, and a silly pirate thing thrown in

See it if a well crafted, well-written and well performed play about the conflict and danger created by challenging the racial status quo in the South

Don't see it if this path has been trod before and the plot had a moment or two of weakness, but the characters here were well drawn and compelling

See it if you would enjoy hearing rather undeveloped legal combat between an originalist and a liberal on recent hot button issues; lawyer catnip

Don't see it if you want a play with a realistic plot and real drama; this was more of a formulaic, intellectual slugfest between stereotypical characters

See it if you would enjoy a show that takes some time to pull you in but ends up rather charming; an interesting construct that doesn't always work

Don't see it if you would mind a slow start and a book that doesn't really develop the characters and relationships that well; very old fashioned staging

See it if you are in the mood for a solid production of a Shaw play that is well done but not superlative in any way

Don't see it if you can't sit through what I felt was a slow first act to get to the better second act; you demand a charismatic, powerful Joan

See it if you want to see an important play that weaves interesting characters and ideas into an intelligent and moving theatrical event

Don't see it if you would have trouble sitting through some overly long surrealistic/dream scenes; the beauty is in the scenes between real characters

See it if you would like to see an enjoyable play that is both a romance and an attempt to reflect feelings of some in the hearing impaired community

Don't see it if you could not tolerate a rather slow pace and a play that could have benefitted from some trimming and updating

See it if well acted, creatively presented story about Jewish refugees done with lots of verve and good music; some well done emotional moments

Don't see it if heavy handed; moderator too intrusive; overt attempts at universality fall flat; grating vulgarity; songs not always connected to story

See it if Some excellent scenes and dialogue (loved the first scene and the movie scene). The humor generally worked better than the drama.

Don't see it if Ultimately does not provide a moving or meaningful exploration of the serious subject; the characters lack complexity and movement.

See it if one of the best actors in the world superbly acting out two stories and giving an engaging glimpse into what made him a story teller

Don't see it if you want high emotion or amazing stories; the first story is somewhat weak, but perhaps nostalgic for those who grew up in 1950's America

See it if you would enjoy another well-directed high school girl chit chat play with excellent, engaging young actors and an unexceptional script

Don't see it if you like plays that have some depth, writing that sings, and humor that is not tired; you want to see more than an extended clever skit

See it if you would enjoy a play that has moments of excellent writing and is well-acted and staged; it held my interest despite its slow pace

Don't see it if you like fast-paced drama, characters you care about, and a plot that is credible; you dislike dark, somewhat heavy-handed plays

See it if you could enjoy (as I did) a dated, slow play that dips its toe into a rather bizarre philosophy about time in the period between the Wars

Don't see it if you want more than a pleasant visual experience, require nuanced characters, cannot tolerate a really slow start

See it if you are interested in a glitzy set, want to see a good lead actor, and won't mind a very uncompelling script with a mundane message

Don't see it if you are not interested in bland junk bond explanations in a vehicle that lacks character development and desperately needs editing.

See it if you want to see a complexly crafted and moving play about striving, success, family and loss through the lens of a tennis match

Don't see it if you want to see a pure sports play, do not like non-linear plays, dislike direct address, like one-dimensional characters--these are layered

See it if you would enjoy a sweet play about family, caring and sickness well told with a fair bit of pathos and humor

Don't see it if you are in the mood for a razzle dazzle epic event and can't tolerate some moments that lack dramatic drive

See it if you would be satisfied viewing some pleasant moments amidst a rather disappointing whole

Don't see it if You want to see a finished product and have no patience for an uneven play that lacks coherence

See it if you are in the mood for a creative but flawed play that doesn't quite work as a finished, polished product; the last half hour was moving

Don't see it if you have no patience for some weak dialogue, some slow pacing and want to see a play with fully developed characters