Fluffy Cat Farmer

See it if You’re open to seeing the prison pipeline as modern slavery—if you liked her book you will resonate with this play.

Don't see it if Issues surrounding race, race relations, and Black Lives Matter are not important to you.

Also This was the most engaging one-woman play I have ever seen—she holds the audiences attention the whole time and her character portrayals are so well done. Highly recommend!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see an experimental piece about death told in an upbeat way.

Don't see it if You expect a story or plot and are ok with essentially a one-woman show.

Also The main actress is very engaging, so I found her performance enjoyable. This was a short performance (one hour even) and I do wish it had a plot and more structure, but it was still a refreshing and relevant play.... Read more Read less

See it if You are such a big fan of any of the actors that you cannot bear to miss one of their shows. The star-studded cast is impressive.

Don't see it if You have anything better to spend your time and money on. Normally, I like slice of life stories, but this was so slow and predictable.

Also I had high hopes for this production, but honestly, it really bummed me out. It was a slow, cliched, and predictable play about elderly divorce that lasted over two hours and it was hard to sit through. The actors are certainly storied and talented, but this was not an entertaining nor thought-provoking way to spend a Saturday night.... Read more Read less

See it if You need to be reminded of the goodness of humanity when we come together after a tragedy.

Don't see it if You are looking for a lot of laughs—there are some funny lines, but you will definitely feel like crying as the memories of 9/11 come back.

Also I was impressed by this true story and I thought it was a good and respectful way to tell a 9/11 story. The score was memorable and I would highly recommend.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a fun night of theatre that turns into a concert at the end. Lead actress’ resemblance to Tina is uncanny—and absolute treat.

Don't see it if Musicals don’t speak to you, or you’re uninterested in Tina Turner’s life.

Also This musical exceeded my expectations—it was paced well and genuinely a lot of fun. I highly recommend it!... Read more Read less

See it if You love small musicals and beautiful modern dance.

Don't see it if You want a lot to happen, as the storyline really isn't fleshed out.

Also The singing, dancing, and acting is phenomenal and my favorite show I've seen at MCC. I recommend seeing it, but I do wish the plot was stronger and it took the audience on more of a journey. Very enjoyable, and lots of potential for growth here.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to spend a perfectly good evening extremely stressed out at an intense play with no (ultimately) likable characters.

Don't see it if You have an other options how to spend your time and money.

Also Playwrights always pushes the envelope and usually is rewarded by that (Aubergine, Bella, Strange Loop). This time, it didn’t work. I hoped I would be a good audience for this play because I grew up in a conservative, religious community. That was not the case, as the whole time I had to remind myself to literally relax my stomach because the whole theater was filled with stress and anxiety as each character went from normal to crazy-town and spiraled from there. Keep in mind this wasn’t because myself and I’m sure nearly everyone else in the audience fundamentally disagreed with the points of view being expressed. It was because there was no letting up on how mentally unstable each character was, how there was no plot but so much tension between the characters we were all waiting for a fight to break out on stage. By the end there wasn’t a single likable character and I wasn’t alone in my eagerness to sprint from the theatre after the bow.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the complexities of being a black, gay man in 2019. Phenomenally performed and cast.

Don't see it if You are not empathetic to the insecurities and struggles of minority millennials in general.

Also Wow. I saw this play only on the second night and it was packed. Everyone in the house gave it a standing ovation and it was so deserved! Michael R. Jackson did an amazing job at creating a meta play that was so relevant, HILARIOUS, and impactful. The score was so catchy--I hope this play goes places because it deserves it! The best show I've seen in a long time.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re young (elementary all the way through high school kids would enjoy it), and don’t mind classics being turned on their heads.

Don't see it if You’ve lost your “child eyes”—I had a hard time getting into it because it seemed so predictable.

Also The creative staging and singing was great—huge cast that worked well together. This would be ideal to take a kid to, but as an adult I didn’t feel very engaged or mentally stimulated.... Read more Read less

See it if You like the concept of the silly essays written in school being analyzed and reflected on by the writer as an adult decades later.

Don't see it if You want a traditional play with a plot, or aren't captured by one-person plays. Or if you're conservative and don't want to be challenged.

Also I didn't know what to expect from this play, but I'm really glad I saw it. Can one-person plays involving politics feel a little soapbox-y? Of course, but the points she made about women's rights and the history of violence against women (and the laws that failed to protect them) will stay with you long after the performance.... Read more Read less

See it if You like comic book superheroes and are eager to suspend belief in reality in order to enjoy an imaginative storyline.

Don't see it if You don’t like mixing reality and fantasy, or you’re not into superheroes.

Also My partner and I loved this play! It was funny and poignantly sad at times, and the acting and singing was spot-on. The actress who played the main character’s mom was particularly impactful and talented. Highly recommend for all ages!... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in how black actresses struggled to get parts outside of the slave/maid/sassy Mami stereotype. Very insightful!

Don't see it if You're expecting 2 great acts--the first was amazing (following a black actress' early career struggles), but the second was disappointing.

Also I was completely engaged with the first act, but the second act was completely different and left me bored...wishing to get back to the story from the first act. The second act flashes forward to present day debates, which IS relevant, of course, but didn't fit perfectly in the piece. I would have loved the story to continue in the second act and then the simple and well-done moment at the very end with the main character watching a flash of real black celebrities (from Josephine Baker all the way to Beyonce) would have been an equally powerful tie-in.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in an end-of-life story with cliche family drama.

Don't see it if You are expecting the plays description...this play is not about Kentucky and it’s barely about religion.

Also I was really excited to see this play because I lived in Kentucky and am very interested in how religious differences play out in familial dynamics. I was disappointed to find neither of those factors was a big part of the play. The actors were great and the end-of-life story was touching, but it wasn’t what I expected based on the title and description of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if You love the Wizard of Oz and are interested in the other side of the story. I loved all the connections the play made to the movie!

Don't see it if You're expecting a grown-up version of Wizard of Oz. This play is very G-rated, so as an adult I wasn't the target audience.

Also The acting, singing, and staging were great! I hadn't read the book, but I'm a Wizard of Oz fan so I had high expectations. I hadn't expected it to be so G-rated, though. I highly recommend this play as a first broadway play for a kid/preteen/teen because it's good, but not stimulating enough for an adult.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the actors, otherwise you’ll want your 90 minutes back.

Don't see it if You desire a play with something new to say or some new insight. If you don’t want to listen to 20-something yell for 90 minutes.

Also This play went nowhere and had too much angry emotion for me to enjoy. Out of 5 actors, only one was likeable and relatable. The parallels to present day are thought-provoking, but not worth enough to see this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You have zero expectations for an interesting plot, realistic dialogue, or a memorable score.

Don't see it if You want an enjoyable night at the theatre, which to me should provide an entertaining and unique perspective.

Also I had average hopes for this musical, and even those were not realized. The one memorable, funny, and likeable cast member was the sassy grad student—she was the only one who could sing, as well. The whole plot was slow and boring, and then—seemingly just to try to be deep—at the very end they included 9/11 in one of the characters’ stories. That addition was so random and clearly only in there to pull on New Yorkers’ heartstrings; it seemed irreverent to the tragedy. I would not recommend seeing this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You are prepared for a difficult subject matter, which few Americans are educated about.

Don't see it if You expect a big-budget musical in this small theater space. Ambitious, but missed the mark.

Also My partner and I left the theater with a lot to talk about because it was our first exposure to the topic. To me, that is a sign of a good play--if it gets you thinking. However, the execution was extremely lacking. Only a few of the actors' singing voices stood out as phenomenal (out of a HUGE cast) and the writing lacked emotional intensity.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in Harvey Milk’s legacy, LBGT issues, Jewish culture.

Don't see it if You are expecting this to be a memorable musical. It’s not—it doesn’t need to be a musical and the songs feel out of place and uninspiring.

Also The plot is very unique and interesting, and it also serves to educate me on Harvey Milk’s legacy. However, the fact that this was a musical seemed distracting and unnecessary. I found one of the main characters to be played so overeagerly that it made me feel anxious and it was hard to enjoy the performance. Some great issues were raised, especially as the audience can juxtapose them with the problems the gay community still faces today, but overall I wish there was more intent put into this production.... Read more Read less

See it if You love watching dance—the dancers are takentes and the staging was quite clever at times.

Don't see it if You desire a piece with a good or believable plot. The story was one big cliche and didn’t provide anything new to the audience.

Also I always enjoy watching dance—such a beautiful reminder of the capabilities of the human body. The dancers/actors performed well, but that couldn’t save the plotless piece. It lacked emotion even though it examined an affair over a lifetime—which is an intense subject to take on. Overall, I felt tired and disappointed and wouldn’t recommend this play to anyone.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in a play about the realities of colorism and racism.

Don't see it if You haven't experienced colorism, or have reject its influence on personal and societal scale.

Also This is a good, simple, and important story. It is intense at times and the theater was filled with bouts of uncomfortable laughter as the audience recognizes hard truths the characters reveal about us. My partner and I were very glad we came to our second play by Dael and highly recommend--you will have a lot to talk about after the show as you reflect.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in seeing a slice of life play that isn’t going to be profoundly unique, but is funny and relatable.

Don't see it if You want an action-packed or big picture play. The play can be slow and I’d love to see it trimmed so the intermission is no longer needed.

Also We enjoyed the performance of all the actors—really a talented cast.

See it if You are a fan of the actors (great cast) and are interested to see a myriad of mental health issues play out on stage.

Don't see it if You don’t know the actors because then the cast is just going to feel needlessly and wastefully large to you.

Also I had high hopes for this play because of the star-studded cast and my personal interest in the subject matter, but it fell flat for me because of all the half-developed storylines. The length is unreasonable and caused the play to drag on.... Read more Read less

See it if After the 2017 election, you have asked yourself why Clinton's feminism wasn't enough, and how should modern feminism change from here?

Don't see it if You're not interested in a play revolving around old feminism vs. new feminism, and the ways in which women tear each other down.

Also The subject matter here was very thought-provoking and led to a healthy discussion with my partner afterwards...which is a sign on good theatre that makes you reflect. But the staging felt too coldly modern and additions to the plot of an affair wholly distracted from the main point. Good actors, worthwhile subject matter, but feel flat for me in implementation.... Read more Read less

See it if You care about the subject matter. You care about police brutality. You care about Black Lives Matter. You care about our black children.

Don't see it if You are not open-minded and are not willing to hear characters speak from both sides of a traumatic event.

Also Dael is brilliant is every way: from concept to traveling to Ferguson and conducting interviews to making each character come alive in a very real way. This play will open your heart even more to racial issues, but it won't give you neat action steps at the end for how to solve this. That's not the point and not her intention. Highly recommend!... Read more Read less

See it if You can related to high school drama and want a refreshingly new take on it--the scene being Ghana adds bigger picture problems.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in the problems and competition between high school girls, or you had trouble understanding accents.

Also Absolutely loved this play and highly recommend! Acting is great and writing and delivery is hilarious! We were cracking up the whole time--anyone can relate to the subject matter. I didn't expect it to go deep, but the ending is powerful and will stay with me.... Read more Read less

See it if You are okay with much of this play being a period piece—I was unaware how much of it was set back in the 1920s, which bored me.

Don't see it if You find it hard to engage/stay entertained with a period piece.

Also The premise is interesting and on the surface can resonate with many who find out family secrets as generations die out. But the amount of time stuck in the 1920s surprised me and didn't interest me. Even though it annoyed me, there was a reason the millennial sitting next to me was scrolling through Instagram during the play...it was hard to care about.... Read more Read less

See it if You love Laura Linney's one-woman shows because she really shines in this and carries the story well.

Don't see it if You are looking for something really dynamic, out-of-the-box, or surprising. It's a sad and small slice of life story.

Also I sat in the back of the mezz for this and it was hard to hold my attention because it was a one-woman show (so not a lot of action) and I was too far away to really get invested in it. Linney did a great job and fans of her work will be pleased, but no new ideas were presented that linger after the curtain closes.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the movie and know it by heart—if you don't remember the movie well the parody will probably go over your head.

Don't see it if You want a biting roast or a hot take—it is a scene-by-scene recreation and supposed to be dumb and funny, not epic.

Also My partner and I love the movie, so this was a fun date for us, even though it's pretty lowbrow. The actress portraying Keira Knightley was particularly spot-on, and overall we liked the corniness, even though I was hoping for more belly laughs.... Read more Read less

See it if You like snapshots of a whole life and want to see a creative take on it where the main character can be different genders, ages, and races.

Don't see it if You are hoping for some great insight or uniqueness to the plot itself. The uniqueness and intrigue comes in the switching of genders.

Also This was an enjoyable play because the switching of the genders in every scene kept us guessing for a moment and interested. Had it not been written like that, it would have suffered because e plot alone was old hat.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoyed The Father and want to see a original (and confusing) plot with very good actors.

Don't see it if You want a straight forward plot and you're not okay with not really knowing what reality is and what is truly happening.

Also SPOILER ALERT: Throughout the play, it jumps from scenarios where one elderly spouse dies first, then another where the opposite happens, then when they are both alive and considering suicide at the same time. It took my partner and I at least one act to figure that out, and people were murmuring around us, "Wait, is the wife dead?" and "I am SO confused", etc. I greatly preferred "The Father" because the switching of the actors to represent dementia was very clear and very profound. It made sense and has stayed with me, where as this play takes too long to be understood. I did like what it represents overall (who will die first and what is best with an elderly couple). It would have been more touching if it was less confusing.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of Letts’ work and can’t bear to miss one of his plays in case it’s another August Osage County. Dialogue is witty and sharp.

Don't see it if You are shocked by sex, you desire likable, complex characters, or you’re tired of the old-white-guy-fetishizing-younger-women cliche.

Also Ultimately, I didn’t feel the play was worth my 3 hours (!!) because it dragged on and didn’t really engage me, which was the same feeling I had about Man From Nebraska and Mary Page Marlowe. Letts may just not be my guy when I’m looking for enjoyable, thought-provoking theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the advent of “gotcha journalism” and want a story based on true events of The Sun.

Don't see it if You expect a play with an interesting or clear plot. The characters aren’t memorable or likable and the run time is far too long.

Also I understood why some other patrons left at intermission...this play was too long and unstructured to be enjoyable.... Read more Read less

See it if You are collecting Sam Shepard plays, otherwise there’s no reason to sit through 2.5 hours of this.

Don't see it if You have anything else to do with your time. The plot is pointless, the characters are unlikeable, and their dialogue is unrealistic.

Also I had high hopes for this because of the playwright and the interesting subject matter. However, I could barely make it through this play. A big issue was the poetic dialogue didn’t fit AT ALL with the characters, and none of main characters’ performances were convincing. Everything about it felt like amateur hour and I regretted going.... Read more Read less

See it if You are ready to laugh at and be challenged by a workplace with everyone’s filter gone! Truly hilarious and moving—completely unexpected!

Don't see it if You’re not willing to “go there” and suspend reality in order to get into the off-the-wall jokes and crudeness.

Also I was really moved by this play—it had me laughing so hard to the point of tears AND was seriously great commentary on how women in the workplace go to great lengths to change for men and give over so much control to them. So glad I saw this!... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in a middle school play, and the way religion can intensely surge for desperate youth.

Don't see it if You expect a realistic portrayal--the characters are a little over the top in middle school stereotypes, but all the actors were great!

Also I enjoyed this play and felt engaged with it. Since the role of religion was so strong with the main character in the beginning, I had hoped/expected his faith to wane and show how complex depending on faith to solve your problems is. It didn't go there and I didn't like how the ending tied everything up in a perfect bow--seemed cheesy and a bit abrupt.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re interested in a storyline similar to School Girls or Mean Girls.

Don't see it if You expect a realistic, coming-of-age play. This combines normal teenage drama with superstition, magic, dreams, etc.

Also Spoiler alert: at the end it’s revealed all or most of the play was a dream, which was really disappointing to me. I feel any story that ends in, “Surprise, it was a dream—it’s not real!” is a tired literary cop-out.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re interested in the history of women’s reproductive rights—the story is so moving!

Don't see it if You are offended by abortion and can’t emphathize with the humanity behind the beginning of the legality debate.

Also I saw this on opening night and it was already very polished! The set was interesting, the acting was great, and the story was really profound and moving...and especially relevant because of what’s happening now with Roe vs. Wade. Inspired me to do my own research on the main character—hats off! Highly recommend!... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the struggle between religion and sexuality in youth.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in a high school slice of life revolving around sexuality.

Also I enjoyed this play and felt it was very relevant! The actors were phenomenal and the singing was great--wish there was more of it!... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of funny, campy, and cute high school musicals.

Don't see it if You are not interested in the original movie, you won't like this play because it's a pretty spot-on recreation.

Also I hesitated to see this play because I actually haven't seen the movie! But I'm so glad I went because it was hilarious! Cast was so talented, and even though we went on a night Dove Cameron was out sick, the understudy did such a good job (dead-on Alicia Silverstein look-alike) I can't imagine it being any better. If you're laughing and smiling throughout a whole play, that's a mark of a silly evening well-spent, in my opinion. Recommend to any millennials!... Read more Read less

See it if You like coming-of-age stories and can handle a show about the death of a young partner.

Don't see it if You want an inspiring set design--this play (and most at the Vineyard) are bare bones productions focusing on dialogue.

Also The actors were great--particularly the main actress/playwright was so talented. A relatable play about a relatable experience--my partner and I enjoyed it.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to laugh at a bunch of straight, white, related men and their antics. The acting is spot on!

Don't see it if You are expecting HUGE plot points and for everything to tie together well. Much more a slice of life play.

Also My partner and I really enjoyed this play, and the energetic pre-show only made it better and more relevant. The actors were spot-on and so relatable...easy to identify with people you know in real life. The plot didn't fully come together for me at the end, but I guess that's life...it doesn't always make sense and that was a big takeaway from the play. We had a lot to talk about afterwards about white privilege and to me, that's a sign of a good piece.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the actors--it was so cool to see three faces I recognized from Orange is the New Black and beyond!

Don't see it if You are expecting to walk away perfectly satisfied. The ending is pretty lack-luster for such an intense piece.

Also The acting across the board was phenomenal--huge cast! The play was a series of short scenes (moments in the main character's life, out of order) and a few of them were so powerful I was blown away! But that was only a few out of many, which is why I can't fully recommend this play. It didn't seem fully thought out, which was especially evidenced in the ending, which was lack-luster and seriously disappointing.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in the dynamic and misunderstandings between the gay and trans community.

Don't see it if You expect fireworks--this is a small slice of life in a larger narrative. Very relevant, but not a ground-breaking plot.

See it if You're sensitive to/familiar with family drama surrounding hospice. To stay engaged for the long run-time, you need to care about the topic.

Don't see it if If you aren't in a place to invest in this topic emotionally. This isn't light entertainment, but it feels very real.

Also Actors are legends and such a joy to watch, even though this play still needs to be trimmed down. Music between scenes was misplaced and jarring. But overall I think so many can relate because they have been through end of life care with loved ones or are afraid of doing so in the future. Not a perfect piece, but glad we went.... Read more Read less

See it if You are intrigued by the intentional choice by the playwright to cast older actors to play 13-year-old girls, which symbolizes so much.

Don't see it if You can’t handle an aggressively sensory play (the repeating chants stressed me out and made me feel anxious).

Also Some funny moments and some true moments, but overall I couldn’t get on board with this play. I applaude the casting choices, which really caused me to think about what aspects of one’s 13-year-old self remains even as you age and mature. But the sensory triggers and bits of bizarre dialogue where too much for me to enjoy. I stayed the entire length of the play, even though I felt panicked and considered leaving within the first 20 minutes.... Read more Read less

See it if You have a heart for topical and social issues and want a play that puts a face to the gun control debate.

Don't see it if Seeing a play about PTSD and gun violence are extremely triggering to you.

Also The main actress was incredibly gifted beyond her years—powerful acting with such a sensitive and relevant topic. I highly recommend!... Read more Read less

See it if You are woke. You understand the problems of racism today exist because black voices have been violently silenced for so long.

Don't see it if You aren't ready for the tears to flow over all the innocent lives murdered in our history. Ties in strongly to today's systemic violence.

Also Very glad we went to see this play because it is so, so important to make the connections between the past and present, especially in the current political climate. Staging was beyond impactful (over 4,000 names of lynching victims written on slips of paper) and actors were solid.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in seeing the millennial transformation of a town in the branding era. Very real and relevant.

Don't see it if You refuse to open your mind to racism underlying communities who fear change.

Also My partner and I really enjoyed this play and don’t agree with the negative reviews. It was refreshing to see a unique plot, great actors, and is so relevant to politicians today who fear change and fear immigrants.... Read more Read less

See it if You loved Hayley Mills in Pollyanna, Parent Trap, That Darn Cat, etc. and want to relive those memories by seeing her as a mature actress.

Don't see it if You don't know who Hayley Mills is. Without love for her, you will only focus on the poorly constructed plot.

Also My partner and I have such fond memories of watching Hayley Mill's movies and seeing her on stage so many years later was such a treat. Her voice is EXACTLY the same--sweet and girlish and always making you laugh! We saw this play purely for her, and I can't imagine anyone thoroughly enjoying it without first having love for her.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of this actor and like one-person shows.

Don't see it if You have trouble staying engaged with a one-person show and prefer large productions.

Also My partner is a fan of this actor and loved it. I was not familiar with the actor and I thought it was good but not great. At times funny, and a unique story, but not something I really related to.... Read more Read less