Elisha

See it if you want a great production of this show

Don't see it if you are attached to the movie version, this isn't it. Mu only complaint is that one of the actresses was hard to understand

See it if You love the movie and don't mind a theater full of loud children you don't need to be wowed by impressive sets and effects

Don't see it if You want a mediocre Disney movie to be transformed into a transformative theatrical experience

Also The cast is very good, the hidden folk/ trolls are wonderful. There are plenty of genuinely fun moments but the overall effect is lackluster.... Read more Read less

See it if Are a fan of the movie, like teen dramas, can relate to feelings of wanting to fit in

Don't see it if You want something new and original

See it if want to see a lovely short musical about learning to understand​ people through cultural difference

Don't see it if You want a story with a lot of depth or want something upbeat with dance. If you don't like jazz or Middle Eastern rythms

See it if You love Harry Potter, shows with incredible effects and staging.

Don't see it if You are unfamiliar with Harry Potter, or are bothered by bright lights and strobe effects

Also All the technical aspects of it were amazing, good acting, and brilliant staging. The story and script had some weak spots but HP lovers will forgive them. The story is touching but not unflawed... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a wonderful cast perform a politically charged show that changes with the news

Don't see it if You are a big Trump supporter or don't want to confront questions of morality in politics

Also I saw this show twice because I found out about the script adjustments. Sitting further back is better than the very front. It lost power on a second viewing because of the sensational nature of the content and the changes, while clever were not enough to make it new... Read more Read less

See it if Jerry Springer was ever your guilty pleasure show You are like operatic singing in an untraditional setting

Don't see it if you dislike profanity, irreverence towards religion or the source material. You have difficulty with offensive terminology or loud noises,

Also This really captures a lot of things from the original show

See it if You love and /or want to learn more about Josephine Baker, and enjoy one person shows

Don't see it if You want something that is primarily burlesque or if you can't face hearing about the realities of racism

See it if You are interested in speculative depictions of near future events

Don't see it if You want something visually stunning or if you want to escape current politics and fears

See it if You want a really remarkable, beautifully performed​ production of Sweeney Todd with creative, immersive​ staging

Don't see it if You are adverse to being touched or having to shift focus. If you're not a fan of the show

Also I sat in the mezzanine, which really is partial view. I feel like I missed a lot not being in the full price seats, but it was still worth it... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in stories about being a gay man in the second half of the 20th century to now.

Don't see it if If you're not interested in one man storytelling or homosexuality makes you uncomfortable

See it if You are interested in dystopian fiction that allows reflection on how femininity is perceived and what people value

Don't see it if If you want a full story that comes to a neat end

See it if If you want to acquaint yourself with a wide variety of Off and Off Off Broadway companies. You don't mind moving, or standing

Don't see it if If you have very limited mobility and hate crowds or want to see complete productions

Also I went to both days of this and am reviewing on the idea that it will return in the future.
The original description described it as a showcase of "immersive" theater, but I would only give two of the companies that label.
The running of the evening was somewhat confusing and I felt needed to be handled better. We were given the choice of leaving the groups and picking our own shows, but were then questioned about which group we were with. Day 2, we realized that by staying with the groups we could see almost everything but some of the rooms were overcrowded to an extreme. There was a wide variety of companies, so I feel like I can only review the overall presentation, but out of the companies represented I requested info on about 2/3, would go out of my way for at least 3 of them and would give many more another shot.... Read more Read less

See it if Are interested in historical stories told through a combination of hip-hop, speech and other musical styles

Don't see it if You really don't want to learn anything when seeing a show or dislike rap

Also This show is a game changer in musical theater, and I think will be recognized as such in the future. I will not say that it is the best musical ever produced (I don't have an answer for what is) but it is the first big innovator of the social media era.
Additionally, the show is technically brilliant. All the design aspects are wonderful as is the choreography.
See it if you can, especially with a $10 lottery ticket.... Read more Read less

See it if You are open minded, playful, polite and interested in participating in an experience that involves ideas of object memory and perminance

Don't see it if You need to be comfortable and don't want to have to move around to see things or if you want to see a traditional play

See it if You are interested in seeing one of Miller's less produced plays. Like older plays that resonate with a modern audience

Don't see it if A small cast and a story about family conflict doesn't appeal to you

Also The second act is longer and slower than the first, but the whole thing is beautifully done... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a strangely relevant, but still classic musical with very recognizable music and incredible new choreography

Don't see it if Classic musicals or this specific story doesn't appeal you are very attached other versions of the show

See it if You are a New Yorker or spend a lot of time here Have an interest in a capella singing and beat boxing

Don't see it if You want a singular linear story

See it if you want a thought provoking musical with music appropriate to the stetting. You are interested in civil rights and the future of activism

Don't see it if you want something light or need a linear story line that wraps up neatly at the end. If linear anomalies bother you

Also This show is 3 hrs with intermission and it feels it at times, though not all the way through.
There are moments that I feel warrant more time than given and others that don't seem to fit, but overall it is an excellent piece of theater on an important subject... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in race relations in mostly friendly environments, want to see boundaries pushed involving sex and nudity​

Don't see it if If you don't like house lights going on or audience participation​.

Also Interesting show that brings up great issues in a really great. Sadly, there are several great threads that just don;t come together into a great whole... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in Chaplin-like performances and psychological stories

Don't see it if Listening to monologues for most of the night is unappealing.

Also It's a good show, well acted and executed, but too long and a bit tiring... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in hearing a remarkable life story interspersed with music.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in shows that have huge potential, but lack some continuity. You don't want to think about difficult subjects

See it if If you want an evening that crosses genres. You are willing to take a chance on 3 plays when you may only like 1.

Don't see it if You aren't into plays about death. Irreverent religious plays are offensive to you, or you don't like short plays

See it if Revisiting an inherently misogynistic pay with an all female cast and a new message appeals

Don't see it if Cross dressing makes you uncomfortable our you're a Shakespeare purist

See it if You haven't in the last 15-30 years Like lavish staging, or hold any nostalgia for this show

Don't see it if You want something new, or comedic

Also I hold great nostalgia for this show, and it has held up amazingly well for its years. The cast still soars, the sets and effects still impress. It is a beautiful, timeless, piece of theater. What I was not expecting was that in the current socio-political climate, it takes on new meaning making it more powerful, and disturbing as ever.
Finally, my single negative: the house is run very poorly. There are no cell phone announcements or end of intermission lights/bells, which rendered this the single most inconsiderate Broadway audience I have ever had the displeasure of being part of. Cell phones, photos, filming, coming back to seats late, and there was even some sort of argument over the last of these.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a group of remarkable actors in an interestingly staged, intimate play

Don't see it if you want something comfortable, have trouble with stories surrounding infertility or dislike loud musical intervals

Also On a personal level, while I found this show to be technically excellent in every way, I found the subject matter and storyline difficult to relate to and angering. I think this play will be hard to watch for most people in the audience for different reasons... Read more Read less

See it if want a beautifully acted and staged play that will make you think about difficult subjects in regard to aging and family

Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with discussions of death and regret

See it if Have never seen Angels, or want to see a brilliant new staging of a still relevant play

Don't see it if Are closed minded, want something firmly planted in reality, or for want to face difficult themes

Also Both halves together are 7.5 hours long. It's a marathon of a day seeing both. Going on consecutive nights would have been my choice in hindsight. It is extraordinarily well done but also heartbreaking, and angering.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in seeing a classic old musical with a powerhouse cast, incredible vocals, dancing and modern ballet choreography

Don't see it if You're looking for something new and innovative, or strong chemistry between leading couples. If you have a distaste for religious themes

Also I knew of Carousel before this, but this was my first time seeing it in any format so I had few expectations.
I understand why there is controversy around producing this show in today's environment, but it seems to have been edited to minimize some of the negative content.
I gave it the score I did because while I loved almost everything about the production itself. The choreography and dancing (that I would have happily watched as a separate ballet), the vocals, the stage and lighting designs were all stunning even if I didn't love most of the costumes, unfortunately the story was dated, weird and ultimately dissatisfying. I also found that while there were characters I wanted to feel empathy for, I couldn't find any... Read more Read less

See it if You are really into lesser known musicals and want to see excellent renditions of obscure highlights

Don't see it if you don't love musical theater history or want to see any of the shows in their entirety.

Also for me this was a collection of songs, most of which i had never heard from shows I was equally unfamiliar with. It was somewhat tone-deaf (material wise) but brilliantly performed by the some of the best performers around. The costumes and choreography added to the fun but I was not left with the desire to see most of the shows in their full format.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a beautifully performed play from the late 30s that feels like it should be somewhat later than when it was written

Don't see it if You like shows with a lot of action, and clear linear storytelling.

Also It is a very long and not particularly happy play.
In order to relate to the characters in the play you have to be open to people who question the nature of time and reality... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see an excellent performance that challenges traditional ideas of marriage and family

Don't see it if You don't enjoy irony

Also The majority of the audience seemed to find it very funny, and moments are, but I don't see a lot of comedy in challenging the definitions of marriage and relationships... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy or have not yet seen this play, and are in seeing it interpreted in way that gives it new meaning

Don't see it if You want lavish sets or aren't interested in commentary on life in hard economic times, physical challenges and family relations

See it if You are interested in a 2 person music heavy show that's a lot of fun and often silly

Don't see it if If you want something realistic or dislike it when one actor plays multiple roles

Also The music is catchy and memorable and it inspired me to look up more information on Earnest Shackleton but it was cheesy at times... Read more Read less

See it if If you want to see a really fun musical with an excellent cast and interesting staging

Don't see it if ​You weren't a fan of the movie or want something complex and thought provoking

Also It genuinely made me smile and laugh, Minchin's lyrics are great. While perhaps not the greatest musical ever written, I enjoyed it immensely and really encourage people to see it. One does however occasionally need a dark sense of humor, which isn't surprising if familiar with the movie.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a high energy show with a rock score and great design elements

Don't see it if A loud show with very bright lights doesn't appeal. You want a complex well developed story or look for comic relief

Also The performances and stage were both really great but most of the songs felt too much alike and the story was lacking. It has huge potential but for the time being the 90min run time is either too long or way too short. I felt the addition of several scenes could have given it the depth I wanted. I also think that it is difficult to connect to a story that hinges on belief in God and the concept of female virginal purity.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a play with music about family and war that can be both endearing and heartbreaking or like interesting uses of puppetry

Don't see it if you don't like jazz or folk music, you can't stand the fears and realities of war or shows with child characters played by adults

See it if You particularly like Mamet's work

Don't see it if You want a show with a clear storyline or elaborate sets and staging

Also Some of the acting was very good, with the best part after intermission. Other performers show what I understand as Mamet's dislike of certain acting techniques. One actor sounded more like a read through than a performance.... Read more Read less

See it if You have an interest in family dramas and/ or differing views on jewish culture, enjoy realism and political discourse

Don't see it if aging and dying are upsetting topics for you If you have no sense (not wish to gain it ) concerning the 2000 US presidential election

Also This is a very thought provoking play that I hope will lead to a lot of discussion but requires something of an open mind toward religion, culture and their relationship to politics... Read more Read less

See it if you like theater that explores difficult subjects. If you don't mind a certain surreal quality to the combination of music and acting

Don't see it if If you are uninterested in works in progress You want to see something happy or traditional

See it if you want to see a beautifully choreographed and performed production of a well known show

Don't see it if you don't want to see a 1960s show and the gender roles that implies.

See it if You want a cabaret style setting with drinks and tables. You enjoy burlesque and a mix of musical styles from opera to rock

Don't see it if You need to understand every word on stage. You are bothered by nudity or a very light take on Greek mythology

See it if You are interested in the intersection of theater and technology, anthropology or want to be thinking about philosophical questions

Don't see it if If you: want to see a linear narrative with sets and costumes are uncomfortable being confronted by the performer you don't like headphones

Also This is not something I expect from Broadway. It is a one man show that with few trappings, but I'm still thinking about it 3 days later... Read more Read less

See it if you have ever been intrigued by the idea of meditation retreats and the people who attend them.

Don't see it if You don't want to see realistic portrayals of people in emotional pain especially in a somewhat comedic setting

See it if You are looking for a drama about how people relate to one another and the need to escape everyday lives

Don't see it if You want something upbeat, happy and family positive.

See it if You are interested in Qaddafi, cooking, life of dictators. Shows that give serious subjects comedic overlays​

Don't see it if If you're looking for something happy. If you really need a comfortable, cool theater

See it if you would enjoy an evening of 3 very different plays. some funny,. others difficult but all posing important societal questions

Don't see it if You don't want to be confronted with ethical dilemmas, or if you have serious problems with descriptions of rape, murder or racism

See it if You want to see an extremely well done version of one of Shakespeare's least produced plays. It is performed in a very accessible manner.

Don't see it if Loud music, gunshots, smoke bright lights or flashes cause problems for you. Images of modern warfare and violence cause you discomfort.

See it if You love jazz and want to see a crushingly beautiful retelling of Orpheus and Euridice

Don't see it if Sung through musicals are unapealing