James 7298

See it if you care about Cambodian history and genocide and emigration and how they continue to resonate.

Don't see it if you have no brief with the playwright's concerns and want a purely entertaining evening of fluff. This ain't it.

Also A shout out to Lauren Yee for dramatizing a myriad of knotty issues in this ambitious play. The elements do not always gel, and Act 2 is as different from Act 1 as can be, albeit quite effective. The cast is multi-talented, being musicians and singers as well as actors.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re supportive of new work that doesn’t re-purpose already existing pop songs.

Don't see it if you yearn for a cohesive plot or characters to care about. A game cast cannot compensate for the lack of these critical elements.

Also Alas, I realized that this show is not for my demographic from the get-go. I had the same reaction at Spongebob Squarepants and Be More Chill. A ton of money must have been spent on this ....the costumes and scenery are elaborate and often witty. BUT this about sums it up: Ann Harada returns to the musical stage as a poo emoji.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re up for a long play with serious societal concerns and broad themes. The time flies by.

Don't see it if you’re in the mood for lighthearted entertainment. This play has 100 things on its mind, and manages to explore many with depth.

Also Two words: Judith Ivey
She’s sublime. And Edmund Donovan is amazing as her son.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re a Yeston fan. I am but the overwhelmingly miked piano drowned out the singers much of the time.

Don't see it if you like your revues with a concept and a little panache. None here, surprising since Gerard Alessandrini directed.

Also We were in the first row and it was difficult to hear. Maybe further back is better? But the miking was unsubtle.
The show does improve, but why so few songs from Titanic and other shows?
Some of the songs do not benefit from being out of context in a cabaret setting.... Read more Read less

See it if if you’re a longtime fan of FB. When it’s good, it’s very very good.

Don't see it if you’re not up to date with the latest Broadway shows. This has always been the case with Forbidden Broadway, however now more than ever.

Also My first Forbidden Broadway was In 1982 at this same venue, then called Palsson’s. And Fred Barton was at the piano all those decades ago…amazing. It’s great to have it back. This version gets better and better as it progresses, so hang in there.... Read more Read less

See it if you like contemporary themes and music-making. Much of it is Hamilton-esque in a good way.

Don't see it if you desire happy endings for your narratives. This is a dark show.

Also I was reminded of Trip Cullman’s production of Murder Ballad at times. Yes this plot is schematic, but whatever details may be lacking are hugely compensated for by the wonderful staging and acting. And Joshua Henry is just magnificent.... Read more Read less

See it if you are open to being flummoxed by a royally clever mentalist.

Don't see it if you have no patience for audience participation and cleverly distracting patter.

Also This kind of show is usually not my thing. I was not wowed by Derek DelGaudio’s In and of Itself, and that ran forever off Broadway. But this show defied my expectations and offered more entertainment than was to be had at Moulin Rouge.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be enchanted and delighted for 90 jam-packed minutes. The goofy grin will never leave your face.

Don't see it if you have an aversion to hip-hop and/or improv. Cannot imagine why anyone would, as the combination here is divine.

Also I could see this show multiple times, that's how good it is. It would be hard to top tonight's line-up (Wayne Brady and James Monroe Inglehart were the "cameo performers at the 10PM Sunday night show) but I'm sure the special alchemy happens at most performers.... Read more Read less

See it if All the Way left you wanting more. It did me....and you lived through the Great Society era and yearn for more such initiatives now.

Don't see it if you’re not a fan of political dramas.

Also There are telling moments but I’m afraid the whole is less than their sum. Too often this has the feel of a reenactment rather than a reincarnation. Cox is reason enough to go, however.... Read more Read less

See it if you like being challenged and having your expectations turned inside out.

Don't see it if you aren’t in the mood for ruminating on how America’s original sin still reverberates on societal and personal levels.

Also Is it perfect? No. The middle section needs pruning. But the 2 hours 15” flew by. The writing is incredibly good.... Read more Read less

See it if the premise intrigues you, and it will for those of us at the same “certain age” of the characters. The execution: that’s another story.

Don't see it if you are searching for real wit. There are a couple of trenchant and funny scenes. Would that the entire show were thus.

Also It’s heart is mostly in the right place, and the actors are all game. But it’s woefully underwritten, the female characters even more so.... Read more Read less

See it if you can empathize with an upscale hyper-competitive family dealing with a daughter's anorexia.

Don't see it if you cannot fathom that people with eating disorders are not easily cured.

Also As I forgot to get a Playbill when seated, it was not until after the curtain that I realized the daughter was played by the playwright. She written a tight, taut, plausible and emotionally involving drama. In some ways it is like a terrific episode in a long-running cable TV drama, in that we feel we know this family already; that's testament to the skill of the writing.... Read more Read less

See it if you are impressed by the fact that it's been running for decades. Don't be suckered in. It is a vanity production in extremis.

Don't see it if you like a good, well-acted frightening mystery. The only mystery here is how it has played all these years.

See it if you are an Arthur Miller fan and are in the mood for an issues play that is surprisingly resonant in this day and age.

Don't see it if you cannot countenance Miller's less than rosy representation of the seamier side of capitalism. (Boeing 737 MAX8 anyone?)

Also The three main leads are so strong that you feel you are eavesdropping on a real family. I had heard mixed things about this revival; I was riveted from start to finish and you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if an early version of theatrical agitprop is in your sights. Cradle has a fascinating place in theatrical history and is worth experiencing.

Don't see it if the plight and oppression of unionized workers is under your radar. Believe it or not, many of the issues raised in 1937 still resonate now.

Also I wish the Brechtian distancing did not work so well. The audience doesn't get to feel for some of these characters until about an hour into this 90 minute show. The cast is good and committed, which helps.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre etc. Thus score is also gorgeously eclectic and beautifully sung.

Don't see it if you want a coherent structure to your musicals. This one, despite its premise - the internet can be addictive and dangerous- meanders A LOT.

Also Glad I saw it but I wanted more.

See it if you’re in the mood for a play that has substantially withstood the test of time. The 2 hours 40 minutes fly by.

Don't see it if you are unfamiliar with Lanford Wilson.

Also This is one of those plays whose details I had largely forgotten. And it was a pleasure to reacquaint myself with it. The cast and direction were extremely entertaining.... Read more Read less

See it if you are open to an honest, brutal and amazingly funny trip through the African American experience. No one escapes unscathed.

Don't see it if you lack empathy and a sense of humor.

Also I hope this transfers. It deserves to. The playwright is also in the show. He is a brilliant find. Your attention is grabbed for one hour and forty minutes.... Read more Read less

See it if you care about how we got to where we are today: Brexit, Trump and rampant populism are foreshadowed brilliantly in this play.

Don't see it if you don’t care one whiff for history and its complicated relationship with the Fourth Estate.

Also This rollicking and rapacious play reminds one of David Hare and Howard Brenton’s Pravda, in a good way. Then current events are made real.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see three game actors at the top of their game try to keep the Titanic afloat.

Don't see it if you have little use for irony, absurdism and puppetry of the penis.

Also When the curtain rises, you have great expectations. What a scene! Fantastic costumes and scenery and a wonderful Kristine Nielsen...but the magic wears thin pretty fast. Too bad because Taylor Mac is a national treasure and a genius. Not this time.... Read more Read less

See it if you like political theatre and the Clintons and Lucas Hnath. The play is funny and mostly provocative.

Don't see it if you hate the Clintons and have no appetite for 2008 Presidential primary revisionism.

Also I must confess I wanted a little more, having adored Hnath's Red Speedo and Doll's House, Part 2. Go anyway: he is a fine writer.... Read more Read less

See it if you desire to see yet another variation on the themes in Uncle Vanya, which seem to be limitless.

Don't see it if you have little patience for having the fourth wall broken often, with a soupcon of audience participation on the side.

Also Aaron Posner can write! After stellar Christopher Durang and Richard Nelson riffs of late, he is right up there with them. Act 1 had its longeurs, which may have been due to the excruciatingly narrow seats. Act 2 flew by (I was able to find two empty seats in the row behind us).... Read more Read less

See it if you are up for a fascinating exploration of gynecological history. This will get you thinking, a lot.

Don't see it if you are not up for another expose of the evils associated with slavery.

Also Beautifully designed and acted. One caveat: Do not read the Playbill first. Too much information about the history behind the play and its narrative arc. Another trip to Green-Wood Cemetery is in the offing....... Read more Read less

See it if you are primed for a visceral and not always subtle dissection of South Africa's brutal apartheid regime.

Don't see it if you cannot sit for two hours without a break. Is this too much to ask of our bladders?

Also You appreciate the design, direction and acting immediately, but at a certain Brechtian distance. I teetered on the edge of boredom. Nevertheless the show builds to a powerful conclusion. (And I still would have appreciated an intermission....)... Read more Read less

See it if you are an uber Great Gatsby fan and long to hear the text spoken.

Don't see it if you would be majorly bored by hearing Gatsby as a book on tape during an eight hour road trip.

Also I must add that I am glad I returned after the dinner break (two of my cohorts did not). Act 3 (where they decamp to the Plaza Hotel) is quite dramatic and engrossing. And Act 4 is properly elegiac. Another plus is that Nick finally stops reading the text - and the production relies less on the drab office location gimmick.... Read more Read less

See it if even if you feel you know enough about school shootings. This is a nuanced 85 minute high wire act.

Don't see it if the subject matter upsets you or you “just want to be entertained.”

Also I hope people see this play with an open mind. It’s not an anti-gun polemic, but an examination of how violence, particularly with assault rifles, impacts those involved. The cast is so spot-on that they don’t even seem to be “acting.”... Read more Read less

See it if you have passing knowledge of the pre-code Hollywood weepies it satirizes. Even if you don’t, go.

Don't see it if you are unfamiliar with Busch and his modus operandi. He’s a New York treasure but not to everyone’s taste.

Also It’s amazing how some of the melodramatic scenes are so emotionally accurate and true and moving. You marvel at how Busch can switch from scintillating bitchy dialogue to pathos on a dime.... Read more Read less

See it if if the fact that one in two gay African-American men will contract HIV startles you, and you want to hear more.

Don't see it if you cannot empathize with those on the margins. This is an enlightening antidote to the mostly white world in The Inheritance.

Also Bravura staging and brave actors.

See it if you hanker for a minutely observed portrait of America.....Not for nothing is the major male character named Will.

Don't see it if you lack patience. This play and production takes time to build, but the total is way more effective than the sum of its parts.

Also Kristine Nielsen at first seems miscast.... She’s always a force to be reckoned with, but seems a little at sea at the start. But hang in there… By the end her emotional devastation is real and palpable. The whole cast is good, and what a treat to see Jon Orsini on stage again.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Lloyd Webber fan (I am generally not) and want to hear one of his best earwig scores again.

Don't see it if you like your history served honestly. Eva Peron was a monster, as was her hubby, but in ALW and Tim Rice's telling - not so much.

Also Act 1 is basically irony-free, and the performers do no make much of an impression. Young Evita's voice is grating, and the double casting doesn't really add much. The Che character is meant to provide ironic counterpoint, but the smooth interpretation here goes the other way. However - -
In Act 2, things come together and the production builds momentum. (The staging definitely benefited from sitting in the center mezzanine.)
This about sums up Evita for me:
A colleague back during the show's original run in 1979 was about to see it for the third time. I was surprised, as I felt that the show was derelict in not depicting Eva's fascism. She replied: "Evita was a fascist?"... Read more Read less

See it if you are comfortable with an author's tinkering with the play as a "break the fourth wall" part of the experience. And what an author!

Don't see it if you are not a Kushner fan, or a fan of revisiting 20th Century history in order to shed light on our current political mess.

Also The writing is, no surprise, consistently compelling, and the three hours move swiftly. However, this is a polarizing play: about 10% of the audience did not return for the second act. Their loss. The ideas pop off the walls at ferocious speed, and one's intellect is engaged throughout. Two more words to encourage attendance: Estelle Parsons... Read more Read less

See it if you like extravaganzas and just want to be entertained. It’s gorgeously designed and expertly performed.

Don't see it if you are a fan of the film. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor has real heat. On stage: zilch, sorry to say.

Also Remember when You used to go trick-or-treating, and you would fill your bag with every kind of sweet and sticky candy in the world? And then you would eat it all, willy-nilly, and feel slightly nauseous afterwards? This show has a similar grab-bag, scattershot quality. The curtain call is the most fun you’ll have all night, and it has absolutely nothing to do with the 2 1/2 hours that has preceded it.... Read more Read less

See it if you live in this world and care about how we got to where we are now. Still resonant after all these years.

Don't see it if you lack empathy. Sorry to be so blunt, but this piece pierces the heart.

Also Silly me - I thought Smith was going to star in this revival. No regrets, though: Washington is amazing and seeing a male play all the roles this time around only reinforces how good the material is.... Read more Read less

See it if you savor acting and writing of the highest order. It’s short but you never feel shortchanged.

Don't see it if you aren’t up for a play about the challenges of old age and dementia.

Also While not untrodden territory, this exquisite 85 minute sonata of a play will stay with you. Christopher Hampton’s translation is brilliant.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in African history and the confluence of the political and the personal in contemporary life.

Don't see it if you want a cogent exploration of how war impacts one’s entire existence. Runboyrun is so diffuse it becomes unbearable.

Also Full disclosure: this was an early preview and there will be considerable tightening of the script. And there will be considerable upgrading of the set design, which seemed rickety and unhelpful to the actors. Why is there a television prominently at center stage which obscures the view for many at house left? Good news: In Old Age is a big improvement over runboyrun.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Jim Steinman fan. I am not, really. But friends wanted to go and I reluctantly agreed.

Don't see it if you loathe most jukebox musicals, as I do, and have never been a Meat Loaf fan.

Also I was the only one in our group who had a good time. It is loud, raucous and the plot is practically indecipherable. But the cast is lots of fun and they give their all. The score sounds like multiple tryout versions of Total Eclipse of the Heart. It is not the exquisite disaster that Dance of the Vampires was... but that's a good thing.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to learn about gay civil rights in other societies.

Don't see it if you are going to say to yourself "Not another gay-themed play...."

Also Smugly we could say to ourselves "This could not happen here...." Alas, it could and it has. Matthew Shepard, anyone? It was not THAT long ago. This play is sometimes didactic and prosaic, but it has powerful moments and is worth seeing.... Read more Read less

See it if you can sit through 40 minutes of child actors not enunciating or projecting well, unless you are way up front.

Don't see it if you find that huge time lapses between acts do not make for lucid transitions.

Also I really enjoyed Small Mouth Sounds. This time the small mouths were nor forceful enough. There's a powerful play inside this underpowered production. Four of us felt the same, but it was obvious there were many in the house who were moved. As were many critics.... Read more Read less

See it if you ache for a tuneful, well-constructed and hilarious musical COMEDY. A breath of fresh air.

Don't see it if you have no funny bone.

Also This revival is every bit as lovable as the first one 10 years ago. The cast is a hoot, and the show gives each character a song in which they stand out. Chris Dwan is a force to be reckoned with, he is that good. And I thought no one could top Josh Grisetti last time out.... Read more Read less

See it if if you enjoy raucous comedies about millenials, in this case with a fascinating African American slant.

Don't see it if you are not into very loud comedies. This one is directed with such an emphasis on screeching that there is frequent loss of comprehension.

Also About an hour in, the scene with Justin is hilarious and touching and borderline creepy, all at once. This is what the whole play could have been.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Sam Shepard completist and revel in dysfunctional family dynamics.

Don't see it if you are a Sam Shepard fan and are looking for cohesive style. For me the disparate acting choices were all over the map.

Also It just did not jell, which was a surprise coming from the estimable Terry Kinney. And I adore Maggie Siff ("Billions"). This came off as Martin McDonough lite. Early preview jitters perhaps? I must report, however, that my accompanying friend absolutely loved it.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in Ancient Greece and want to reacquaint yourself with the intricacies of early democracy.

Don't see it if ancient history bores you.

Also No doubt about it: this is a long play. However, it is eloquent and holds the attention most of the time. Since Socrates left no writings, it conjures up a very enticing what might have happened scenario. The cast is splendid.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Guare fan. We have not heard from him in a while, and this rumination on life has its moments.

Don't see it if you are into linear plot development.

Also The good: This is not Four Baboons Adoring the Sun. Whew. It's much funnier and more wistful.
The less good: This is not Six Degrees of Separation or House of Blue Leaves, but deserves to be seen in light of those masterworks.... Read more Read less

See it if you, like I, know nothing about the title character and are open to having a wild ride and learning something along the way.

Don't see it if you must have linear plot development in order to enjoy a play.

Also Stick with this, because the total is way more than the sum of its parts. And the cast is brilliant.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Cole Porter and one of the best of the Golden Age musical scores.

Don't see it if you saw the previous revival with Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Alas, this one pales in comparison.

Also Don't get me wrong: it's likely that you will have a helluva time. However the production is very jokey, and the excessive physical schtick, particularly during numbers such as "Where is the Life that Late I Led?" and "Always True to You in My Fashion" serves to detract from the wonderful lyrics. We the audience would "get it" without all the fuss.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of new musicals. Yes, it's based on a perfect movie, but at least it's not a jukebox musical. The cast is terrific.

Don't see it if you want your memories of the film left intact. The film was nigh perfect. The musical is not, but has lots to recommend it.

Also David Yazbeck's score is lively, catchy and clever. The lyrics are often hilarious and what's even more impressive, most of the songs are full of character. You actually think to yourself: "Hey, this character would speak and sing this way."... Read more Read less

See it if you are charmed by high school musicals that remind you (often lovingly) of many others of the genre.

Don't see it if you have low tolerance for aggressively over-amplified hyperkinetic shenanigans.

Also Somewhere there is a more cohesive show here. There are many very entertaining aspects to each act, but they both wear out their welcome eventually. The cast is ingratiating and talented. We were years beyond the target demographic. I wish it well.... Read more Read less

See it if you are in the mood for an evocative and sui generis experience.

Don't see it if you are expecting a linear traditional "play." This is definitely not that, but you will be rewarded.

Also I could see this again with many of the rotating roster of actors. That's how genuine is the emotion the Nassim generates.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Lynn Nottage fan. I am. She's a wonderful writer with lots to say.

Don't see it if you are loathe to acknowledge the racism that has long plagued Hollywood casting and writing.

Also While imperfect, this is a hugely entertaining and smartly serious satire.... Read more Read less

See it if you loved the film Moonlight. Here again the lives of African American men, both gay and straight, are examined with empathy and insight.

Don't see it if you feel like you've seen and heard the story before: harassment of gay males in a Christian private school. But you'd be wrong.....

Also A terrific group of actors! Kinetic direction by Trip Cullman makes the entire experience cohesive and moving.... Read more Read less