David L.

See it if you want a personal, uniquely-structured, thought-provoking play about the biases and power structures of this country.

Don't see it if You need a linear, traditional plot, or you don't want to confront the issues of sexism in our country.

See it if you like plays that engage in the political and cultural life of a community (in this case the Northern Irish).

Don't see it if you have trouble with violence; you need a lot of plot in your theater. There is a lot of active life in this play, but few events.

Also Much of the action of this play takes place through conversation, song, and even dance... the everyday life of a large Northern Irish family. This means there's a lot of humor and domestic life interwoven with some darker events. It's a charming, brave, masterful bit of writing, well accommodated by the cast. It may be more repetitive than it needs to be in making some of its points, and I'm not sure it earns all of its length as a show. It has also, unfortunately, been overhyped. However, there are some coups of theater that are plainly satisfying and unexpected.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to spend more time in the world of Harry Potter; you want to see some genuine stage magic.

Don't see it if You are hoping for sophisticated dialogue or consistency within the world of Harry Potter.

Also Without giving anything away... the script for these shows reads like fan fiction rather than an expanding of the Harry Potter universe. It undermines some of the rules of magic established in the books, and the repetitive, maudlin dialogue doesn't quite pass muster for this many hours of theater-going. That said, the choreography and visual effects are stunning. The design is beautiful, and some of the performances are quite enjoyable.... Read more Read less

See it if you want an evening of family relationships and issues around aging and dementia.

Don't see it if you have trouble with issues of mortality or aging... if you particularly need theatrical sophistication.

Also The cast and Elaine May, in particular, turns in a really impressive performance in a show that isn't all that impressive. The writing is repetitive and over-wrought. The direct address moments are unnecessary and formally awkward. There were part of this that felt like the movie version of "this was my moody and nostalgic Broadway play." It seemed too self-aware without enough regard for the sophistication of the audience.... Read more Read less

See it if you are charmed by British accents or love the cast members. This is a beautifully rendered production of a not terrifically crafted play.

Don't see it if You really need a character arc to happen at some point, or you need specific causality to your plots.

See it if you want to see masterful handling of technical material. This show presents moral crisis of finance in a well built narrative.

Don't see it if you are overly sympathetic to the finance industry. The play is missing a bit of nuance on that scale.

See it if You want to see some Disney magic on stage. The effects are quite good, and the adaptation is effective. Those performers are working hard!

Don't see it if You need any sort of depth in your entertainment.

See it if you are looking for all the intensity live theater has to offer. Plates breaking, substance abuse, family trauma and drama...

Don't see it if you are looking to be uplifted.

See it if you have an affection for musicals as a genre. This show is both a send-up and a love letter to the early days of musical theater.

Don't see it if you're looking for a lot of emotional depth.

See it if you want to see form-forward, boundary-breaking theater. The numerous shows that get presented in this fest are brilliantly curated.

Don't see it if you prefer your theater to follow standard rules and forms.

See it if you are looking to see some serious rock'n'roll theater, in every sense.

Don't see it if you are homophobic, transphobic, or averse to high volume rock.

See it if you want an original, heart-felt approach to a one-person show. The incorporation of the audience was masterful, and the story was poignant.

Don't see it if you are particularly triggered by discussions of suicide.

See it if you are a fan of Taylor Mac's work, you want your assumptions about gender challenged, you want a breathless display of theatrical heroism.

Don't see it if You don't want your assumptions about gender challenged; you are triggered by issues of abuse, or can't handle someone simulating vomiting.

See it if you like challenging, satirical, racially charged comedies.

Don't see it if you don't like those things.

See it if you want a feel-good story about owning who you are.

Don't see it if you are homophobic.

See it if you are looking for a feel-good, lush Broadway show. Many songs that you will walk out singing.

Don't see it if you are looking for a real star turn performance at this point.

See it if you are looking for a veteran Broadway workhorse.

Don't see it if you can get tickets to anything better. A show that runs this log run is bound to grow stale, and the synthesizer sound is tinny.

See it if you enjoy a good, accessible riff on Shakespeare. These plays are sort of Cliff's notes versions with a lot of heart and added adult humor.

Don't see it if you're a Shakespeare purist.

See it if you want a good dose of theatrical wonder. The staging and reimagining of the movie as a play is deftly done. Not just for kids.

Don't see it if Your cynicism can't handle some very syrupy Disney doses along the way.

See it if You enjoy experiential performance pieces. It's an entire world, beautifully wrought and performed.

Don't see it if You don't have at least a cursory knowledge of MacBeth. It's very confusing without a rudimentary understanding of the story.

See it if You like irreverent, well-acted, fresh, original, rock 'n' roll theater.

Don't see it if you're at all squeamish about blood. There's not a lot of it, but what's there is momentous.

See it if You want an irreverent and entertaining time in a full on Broadway-sized show.

Don't see it if You are easily offended.

See it if you want a positive story involving the Middle East; you admire space and silence in storytelling; you enjoy a Middle Eastern sounding score

Don't see it if you are looking for a lot of action and events.

Also This was a startling hit, given how un-Broadway it is. It lacks the theatrical spectacle one usually sees in a theater of this size, and it doesn't always fill the space. However, the rarity of a Middle Eastern score and cast was refreshing, and the story had some beautiful nuance.... Read more Read less

See it if you admire stories of humanity rising to the occasion; you want theater that engages the emotional complexity in difficult circumstances.

Don't see it if you don't want to deal with issues surrounding September 11th.

Also The stripped down staging gives the actors a chance to shine through some difficult material. The show manages the anxieties and the humor and the absurdity within tragedy really deftly. For those who lived through September 11th in some significant way, this is a very therapeutic show.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to hear some spectacular gospel; you want to engage in issues of gay acceptance and tolerance in black and Christian communities.

Don't see it if you don't want to deal with issues of intolerance or aggression.

Also Tarrell Alvin McCraney remains a touching and self-aware storyteller, weaving complexity and heartbreak into a coming of age story. Plus, the arrangements and the music are just stunning. Some of the plot lines didn't quite get the resolution they deserved.... Read more Read less

See it if you want ear-worm tunes and some eye catching theatricality. The production incorporates the role of technology in our lives quite well

Don't see it if you are interested in accountability or reality in the storytelling.

Also The adult parts of this musical are written with a heartbreaking sensibility that is believable and difficult. The teen relationships, however, strain credulity. The ending is difficult to swallow just in terms of realistic consequences.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a frothy, Broadway-sized adaptation of the book. This is a big, fun show, particularly for kids, especially for girls.

Don't see it if you want tight, efficient storytelling. The creative team were more than happy to dwell on their asides, bits, and gimmicks.

See it if You want a muscular, intelligent take on a classic. The Hamlet and Ophelia, in particular, gave us something new to see in this production

Don't see it if A lean cut of Shakespeare offends you. It's tight...If you don't want your classics to speak to current events. This one is quite topical.

See it if you want to see a technical theater marvel that is also really about something.

Don't see it if You are easily made uncomfortable by loud noises and flashing lights. Nor if you are looking for traditional narrative structure.

See it if You want to see some ingenious direction and spectacular performances applied to an archetypical story. Songs are catchy and pleasant, too.

Don't see it if You need any kind of insight for your life. The material is sexist, classist, and ridiculous. Not sure why this show needs a production now.

See it if you are looking for some perfectly conveyed Shakespeare. Fiasco gives a beautiful, nuanced production of what is a fairly lightweight play.

Don't see it if you're expecting super-standard Shakespeare.

See it if you want some pure theatrical storytelling with some beautiful, Irish-infused folk music.

Don't see it if you need your romances to follow a clean story.

See it if you are looking for a visually stunning, impressively performed production of what is sort of a plot-less show.

Don't see it if you really need to be able to take away meaning from your theater.

See it if you want well crafted music on a truly poignant storyline.

Don't see it if you are triggered by images of Nazi-ism.

See it if you want a reminder of what it means to live by your dreams. These are some of the catchiest melodies in musical history.

Don't see it if you can't handle the misguided choices of youth played out before you. (Seriously, people, just pay your damned rent.)

See it if you are looking for a sort of standard, high-school age two-hander. The set and the staging are fine, and the performers do no harm.

Don't see it if you were looking for something fresh. The "twist" is pretty easy to see coming, and I'm not sure what meaning the audience really takes away

See it if you enjoy Carole King's music. This is one of the best of the juke box musicals.

Don't see it if you don't like Carole King's music.

See it if you have any affection for the source material. This is a beautiful production and Cynthia Erivo's performance is instantly legendary.

Don't see it if you're expecting Jennifer Hudson to blow your mind (she's alright), if you need elaborate sets, or if you are racist, homophobic, or sexist.

See it if you like musical theater at all. This is a stunning, beautifully wrought production, incorporating the deaf actors on their own terms.

Don't see it if You are made significantly uncomfortable with teenage sexuality.

See it if you are looking for an irreverent, amusing, adult show using childhood tropes. This is a very catchy, wry, worthwhile show.

Don't see it if you are looking for an evening of serious entertainment.

See it if you are looking for an adult, dance-heavy Broadway show.

Don't see it if you are looking for something fresh and exciting. This show has been running for so long, it's lost most of it's vitality.

See it if you want to feel the vitality of live theater.

Don't see it if you need an overarching plot.

See it if you love musical theater and/or Shakespeare. This show is a hilarious love letter to both.

Don't see it if you are looking for great composing. The music is more of a joke delivery system than for its own sake.

See it if you are looking for a big, enjoyable, well-performed Broadway show. It won't change your life, but it's a fully enjoyable evening of theater

Don't see it if you don't have at least a slightly dark sense of humor.

See it if you are very, very familiar with the text of the show and want to see an athletic, comedic riff on the play.

Don't see it if You don't know the show very well. It's a little hard to follow in places, and the pace and length are kind of exhausting.

See it if you're looking for a touching, challenging, well-rendered coming of age story.

Don't see it if you're homophobic. Then again, maybe you should.

See it if You love the music. This is a lushly staged production, appropriately cast with a deep bench of talent.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to stereotypes. This production overcomes a lot of the latent biases of the original material, but the show is the show.