Dennis

See it if you'd enjoy a challenging, thought-provoking important piece of theater. Lovely sets and great acting, but often static.

Don't see it if you need theater that shows not tells. More of a monologue with a few other undeveloped characters. But a powerful monologue indeed.

See it if you enjoy stand-up comedy shows. Entertaining and enjoyble.

Don't see it if you enjoy more challenging material. Some interesting observations about health and aging but overall not very deep or memorable.

See it if you'd enjoy a play about an often-overlooked dark chapter of American history. Gorgeous set and often poetic dialogue.

Don't see it if you want a fast-paced involving piece of theater. Often slow and boring. Could likely be pared down for better effect.

See it if You'd enjoy a middling play with a few clever moments. Well acted.

Don't see it if You want a moving play about religion and adolescence that's offers a fresh and captivating take.

See it if you don't mind spending (or wasting) you time on an unfocused, uninteresting play. Well acted.

Don't see it if you want a well-written play with fully developed characters you come to care about.

See it if you'd enjoy a holiday show mashing up Dickens and Doyle. Makes most of small stage and minimal set. Good acting.

Don't see it if You would not enjoy a holiday entertainment combining two classics.

Also I had to leave the show at intermission after the first act for personal reasons. So unfortunately I did not get to see the second act.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd enjoy a quirkly often incoherent take on sickness. Does not coalesce or cohere. I did not care about any of the characters.

Don't see it if You want a moving, engaging piece of theater.

Also I saw a Wednesday performance and Lavin's understudy. Understudy was fine, but perhaps Lavin would have made a difference.... Read more Read less

See it if You'd enjoy a medley of soliloquies and songs about a father's & son's two different cross county trips and their relationship and memories.

Don't see it if You want to see a show that shows you the story rather than tells it to you. Lovely songs in between. Some moving moments and sentiments.

Also I suspect how one relates to this show depends more than most a on one's mood and perspective that evening. I could see loving the tender moments and sentiments of the story combined with the lovely songs. Or feeling it never truly comes together and the parts never coalesce into a satisfying whole. I was in between.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd enjoy a great play tackling a multitude of issues - toxic masculinity, coming out as gay, love of sports, racism - well acted & staged

Don't see it if you would not enjoy these issues coming into play, or staging with full frontal nudity.

Also I thought that some of the homophobic and racist characters were cliches and stereotypes, however, given the bile coming out from sports stars, entertainers, and politicians of late, perhaps, sadly, not.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd enjoy a riveting play on a morally repugnant topic that is powerful, thought-provoking. Perhaps best ensemble of actors I've ever seen

Don't see it if you would not enjoy a thoughtful and provocative exploration of child abuse from both the perspectives of victim and perpetrator. Resonant!

See it if you'd enjoy an interesting exploration that ultimately doesn't work. A cliched boy-meets-girl story in a novel setting. Thought-provoking.

Don't see it if you wouldn't enjoy a hackneyed story set in a pro-Nazi camp in US. Never really dull but doesn't coalesce into anything substantial either.

See it if you'd enjoy a heartfelt work about journalism, standards, ethics.

Don't see it if you need lots of action, defined characters, and clear and rational motivations.

Also My problem with this work is that I didn't understand or buy the characters' motivations. This was particularly problematic with the protagonist, and thus ultimately with my understanding what the play itself was trying to say.... Read more Read less

See it if you'd enjoy a very quirky piece of theater. Often very funny, and moving, but often slow and incomprehensible as well. I enjoyed the novelty

Don't see it if you do not like experimental theater and need traditional plot and direction.

See it if you'd enjoy a beautifully acted play exploring the power of imagination. A little slow at times but builds into an affecting work of theater

Don't see it if you are squeamish about tragic situations and resulting physical challenges, or need an action-packed piece.

See it if you'd enjoy a traditional staging of a dated, though likely revolutionary in its day, play. Lovely set. Good cast.

Don't see it if you would not enjoy an often slow, wordy, un-modern play. I enjoyed seeing a now classic that was likely modern and avant-garde in its day.

See it if you'd love a scintillating production of a great play. Superb acting.

Don't see it if you enjoy more fluffy uplifting fare. A tonal transition in act 2 is a bit too jarring but overall a powerful production.

See it if you'd enjoy a classic play well acted and staged.

Don't see it if you'd prefer short and more action packed theater. I enjoyed it and its still a powerful piece but I was not blown away as I had hoped.

See it if You'd enjoy a play with some good scenes. Gabby Beans is great. But after promising start, it never quite comes together. Disappointing.

Don't see it if You are squeamish about body & health issues. Some interesting moments but ultimately interactions among characters seemed forced, unlikely.

See it if you'd enjoy a sweeping, thoughtful & thought-provoking play about family, loss, survival, & responding to evil. Beautifully staged and acted

Don't see it if you do not like serious drama and heavy themes. A little long without an intermission but riveting throughout.

See it if you'd enjoy a well acted play about grief and family. Simpson is a standout among a great cast overall. Great lighting design.

Don't see it if you want a taut focused play. A powerful play is in there somewhere but needs editing. Nice moments but doesn't coalesce to affect or move.

See it if you'd enjoy a moving and powerful play about responsibility, loss, and our universal need for connection (among other themes). Great acting.

Don't see it if you wouldn't enjoy an intimate, un-showy staging of a thought-provoking play. Resonates even after leaving the theater. Powerful.

See it if you'd enjoy a dark musical about a character who does horrible things. Great lead actor. Interesting and overall entertaining.

Don't see it if you expect sunny musicals. I admire ambition here but ultimately it did not gel for me. Perspective/motivation of main character confusing.

See it if you'd enjoy an inventive musical that tries to tell the story of two people's lives via sung monologues. Good singing. Spare staging.

Don't see it if you need the parts to coalesce to a satisfying whole. For me the snippets & memories didn't cohere into vivid characters or strong storyline

See it if you'd enjoy a look back on a romantic but short-lived encounter dealing with issues of memory, responsibility, humanity. Needs editing.

Don't see it if you'd be bothered by extraneous snippets and issues not connected or delved into. At times, felt like an ad by the Amsterdam Travel Bureau.

See it if you'd enjoy an exploration of loss, mourning, familial responsibility, and regret staged inventively and creatively. Great cast.

Don't see it if if you prefer traditional theater. I initially found this off-putting but it ultimately cohered beautifully and powerfully.

See it if you have nothing else to do. Or have deep Christian faith. Some good singing from church choir but otherwise self-indulgent and tiresome.

Don't see it if you expect good acting, singing, horn playing (1 of 2 is good) and nuance. Preachy and dull with childish and immature plot and dialogue.

See it if you'd enjoy an entertaining one-person show about a gay man striving to find his bliss in small town America. Very cliched but entertaining

Don't see it if you would not enjoy a play about a gay man searching for acceptance. Anachronistic -- doesn't acknowledge how mainstream drag has become.

See it if you'd enjoy an engrossing update of a great classic work of theater. Great acting. Beautifully staged. Powerful and intense.

Don't see it if you'd not feel comfortable sitting for a long work of theater (close to four hours). Though it is engrossing and rarely flags.

See it if you'd enjoy an updated adaptation of a classic beautifully acted and staged (and sung) in a lovely outdoor theater and setting.

Don't see it if you would not appreciate an updated adaptation. Sometimes confusing but all pretty clear by end.

See it if you'd enjoy a fairy tale with great singing and enough snark to make it more current and fun. Excellent cast and inventive staging. Fun!

Don't see it if you'd not enjoy a fairy tale musical. I'm not familiar with books so unsure how affection for source material might affect enjoyment of show

See it if you'd enjoy a modern take of classic Chinese tale tackling issues of injustice, trauma, generational responsibility, and righting wrongs.

Don't see it if you would not enjoy a show that blends the modern with the classic often not so seamlessly, and anachronistically. Acting is very uneven.

See it if you'd enjoy a superb production of an old-fashioned play. Cast is uniformly excellent. Set and staging are great.

Don't see it if you would not enjoy an old-fashioned play. The Mint production is top notch but the play itself is a bit creaky.

See it if you'd enjoy an excellent production of a classic play set in modern times. Excellent cast led by great Alex Lawther as Hamlet. Captivating.

Don't see it if you can't sit for nearly 4 hours with 1st intermission at 2 hour mark. Huge stage in Armory impressive but does diminish intimacy.

See it if you'd enjoy a fast-paced chaotic play offering witty commentary on current culture. Incisive writing and good acting. Rambunctious and fun.

Don't see it if you prefer traditional exposition. Some obscure references & quick shifts. Not sure why 2 intermissions. I enjoyed live more than streaming.

See it if you'd enjoy a trifle of a play filled with gay stereotype and cliche. Amusing at times but fluffy and superficial.

Don't see it if you are looking for a serious serious work with rich character development and plot.

See it if you'd enjoy some monologues and plot points that never cohere into a thoughtful or rewarding whole. A play, or plays, is in there somewhere.

Don't see it if you expect developed characters with rational motivations to cohere around a thoughful story arc. Just a bunch of scattered scenes. Meh.

See it if you'd enjoy a quirky meandering funny work with a good (some great) cast that resonates and percolates even after the curtain comes down.

Don't see it if you'd be bothered by an often confusing, wending work that does eventually get to a lovely point, purpose. Watkins is a playwright to watch.

See it if you'd enjoy a slow but entertaining meditation on St. Francis in choreographed movement, songs, and chants. More atmospheric than expository

Don't see it if you require nonstop action or traditional theater.

See it if Re: Deja Vu. A must see. Unique and powerful. The plays are great; the experience sublime. Fuses playwright, actor, & audience (of one).

Don't see it if Felt initially uncomfortable and oddly vulnerable, but push through for a singularly rewarding and ultimately emotional experience.

See it if you love Ulysses and would love to see Molly Bloom's stream of consciousness acted out.

Don't see it if you need action and context. Would likely help being very familiar with the book.

See it if you'd like a thoughtful, heartfelt, & intelligent show that challenges one to think through the ambitions and limits of empathy and altruism

Don't see it if you expect more than barebones staging and very uneven cast. Often amateurish, but still overall thought-provoking and interesting.

See it if you'd enjoy muddied & muddled superficial adaptation of a classic. Robotics looked cool but added nothing. Cast wasted on indulgent staging.

Don't see it if you want coherent & moving theater. Robotics, video pretty and showy but squandered. Suspect fun to create but ultimately dull to watch.

See it if you'd enjoy a good production of a great play. I'm not intimately familiar with this work but found production entertaining, insightful.

Don't see it if you need action packed and fast paced theater. I enjoyed the moments of humor sprinkled throughout the generally somber, introspective work

See it if you'd enjoy a few powerful numbers (often just snippets) amidst a rambling book that derails the story and detracts from the impact.

Don't see it if you hope for a coherent and cohesive story that does justice to the life and career of Miriam Makeba. Some great singing.

See it if you must. An amateurish work with an interesting premise but adds too many surprises and fails to deliver on plot and character development.

Don't see it if you do not need to. Cast is uneven but no cast could have saved this play. Even initially-impressive set gets over-lazy-Susanned and boring.

See it if you'd enjoy an okay play with some good acting and nice moments. Heartfelt.

Don't see it if you expect rational plot and character development. Too many issues raised superficially and then never dealt with.

See it if You'd enjoy a musical about adolescence and issues of divorce, depression, fitting in, bed wetting. Great cast. Entertaining.

Don't see it if you'd not enjoy a very sweet, cute story at heart told with a veneer of raunch and humor.

See it if you'd enjoy an updated riff on Hamlet tackling identity, kinship, honesty, and responsibility. Great cast esp Thomas, Holland, and Crawford.

Don't see it if you would not enjoy explorations of sexuality, honesty, and familial responsibility. Some characters and plot twists underdeveloped.

See it if you'd enjoy a beautifully sung rendition of this musical with a dream cast. Headley is sublime. Funny and enchanting.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals or Sondheim. You don't like minimal staging as per the norm with Encores!

See it if you'd enjoy (not quite the right word) an exploration of racism and anti-miscegenation set in the South at the end of WWI. Great cast.

Don't see it if you'd be troubled by unvarnished portrayal of racist vitriol. Beautiful set, but my seat prevented me from seeing and hearing everything.