Jeff Hunsicker

See it if you're a fan of Raul or Brandon, who are excellent as the brothers; you love Sondheim; you want to see how inventive a staged reading can be

Don't see it if you really hated the original run or soundtrack (I'd argue that a re-visit is worth your time, though); you want a fully-staged production

See it if you enjoy Malloy's offbeat characterizes and storytelling; you like beautiful a capella chamber music

Don't see it if you want something epic and big like Great Comet; you don't like non-instrumental music

See it if you like dark comedy with intense characters; you want a see subtle design elements masterfully enhance a great play

Don't see it if mounting tension and the threat of sibling violence is too unnerving for you.

See it if you love Lynn Nottage's work and/or to see a different side of her writing

Don't see it if you don't like plays about old Hollywood or confronting its racist/sexist nature

See it if you like well-acted and well-performed one-man shows; you enjoy existential ruminations on the randomness of life; you love Michael C. Hall!

Don't see it if sparse one-man shows aren't your thing; you're looking for complex staging, design, or even a finished stage

See it if you like quiet, slow-burning plays

Don't see it if you want a lot of action or a plot-driven narrative; you can't watch a moving 100-minute play without a break

See it if you already love the material; you love great performances set in unique staging; you love beautiful music and a heart-breaking story

Don't see it if you don't like theatre in the round; you don't like fairy tales with magical characters; your kids are too young (it might be too scary!)

See it if you haven't seen this very good play staged before; you are interested in exploring the East vs West dynamic in a ever relevant way

Don't see it if you think Clive Owen is too "attractive" to play an awkward character; you dislike nudity

See it if you're in for a provoking night at the theatre with great performers and a beautifully-written book

Don't see it if you like simple, linear stories; you don't like complex ideas about humanizing people good or bad

See it if you can afford the tickets

Don't see it if you are a monster who hates things like joy and fun and brilliance

See it if you want to see this rarely-produced gem, performed by a top-notch cast

Don't see it if Sondheim musicals aren't your thing (although at 90 minutes with no intermission, it's certainly not a long evening anyway!)

See it if you like a musical with a dark, insidious mood and jarring, angular choreography

Don't see it if Fosse's sharp choreography and/or the original performances are the only Cabaret you'd like to see

See it if You want to experience a heart-rending story of inclusion and trying to navigate life that's really honest and beautiful

Don't see it if You're looking for a real game-changer. It's very traditional in the musical sense; you don't want to cry

Also The interesting question about this show is its inherent privilege. Evan lies and manipulates everyone around him, especially Zoe, but is ultimately seemingly forgiven, without too much trouble. Does Evan deserve it? Is the fact that he's a white guy deter most of us from seeing him negatively in the end? I think that element certainly is there. But he also suffers from severe anxiety and may even be on the Autism spectrum. So maybe his condition affords him sympathy, since the advantages of white male privilege are often manifested in a confidence that Evan really doesn't display much. In mulling the show over, but having only seen it once, I would lean toward forgiving some of the malice toward the character. Ben Platt's performance, at least, seems to show that Evan gets in over his head almost too quickly to react. As a story revision, I might add him getting more therapy or clearly going back on medication at the end. I also wonder how casting a POC would change our interpretation... Read more Read less

See it if you're going to see any show in New York

Don't see it if ... I have no answer for this. See it.

See it if you want to see a beautiful, moving story that should be talked about more often; you love Lea Salonga or the other great actors featured

Don't see it if you're looking for really original or exciting music; you don't want to feel deep feelings about a sensitive subject

See it if you are into quick, witty dialogue by skilled actors; you want to see a light examination of the failings of the babyboomers to their kids

Don't see it if you want something really deep or scathing

See it if you're looking for a sweet, intimate show with excellent music

Don't see it if you want bombastic, over-the-top Broadway-style staging

See it if you want some light-hearted laughs; you can't get enough Monty Python and won't a re-interpretation of the (much better) movie

Don't see it if re-hashing a good movie with too many unnecessary songs isn't appealing to you; you don't like homophobic and antisemitic jokes

See it if you love thoughtful, engaging theatre that doesn't dumb itself down for you

Don't see it if you can't keep track of multiple, nonlinear storylines; lack of intricate set is bothersome to you

See it if you want to be mesmerized by fantastic puppetry

Don't see it if a somewhat schmaltzy story will bore you

See it if you are young at heart; you want to see a successful, albeit very literal adaptation of a Disney movie

Don't see it if Disney doesn't do it for you; you're expecting something inspired like The Lion King

See it if you want a fun time, with a surprisingly bittersweet ending

Don't see it if you hate goofy comedies; shows-within-shows bother you

See it if you want to be impressed by a comedic acting masterclass; you want a fresh, original take on a classic film

Don't see it if you can't keep up with multiple character changes; you want something naturalistic

See it if the performers are all very good (like this original Broadway production!)

Don't see it if you want something that is truly profound and will stick with you after you leave the theater.

See it if you enjoy Wohl's fantastic writing (she's always so good); you want to commiserate about the futility of trying to save our dying planet

Don't see it if you want something highly uplifting or hopeful; you cant laugh in the face of coming disaster

See it if you've never seen the show or a spectacle-type show like this; you like great singing (but only so-so songs)

Don't see it if you dislike bland portrayals of titular female characters; you're not in the mood for a dated racist/sexist story; you can't sit for 3 hours

See it if you'd like to see a brisk, fresh, current take on a modern classic; you want to see Atticus Finch grow, played wonderfully by Daniels

Don't see it if you're too attached to the novel's or movie's slower pace (this production is focused almost entirely on the court case, typically Sorkin)

See it if you want to see a well-acted comedy with a few touching moments; you love Lynn Nottage like I do

Don't see it if you are looking for a hard-hitting or highly dramatic play like Ruined

See it if you want to see a faithful re-mount of a good classic

Don't see it if the show bores you otherwise, because there's nothing really new or engaging here to change your mind about it

See it if you like Lonergan's witty dialogue; for Chris Evans especially, but all the actors, who give strong performances

Don't see it if you're expecting a mind-blowing experience. It is good, but nothing you haven't seen before. The ideas aren't necessarily new or revelatory.

See it if you like heart-warming stories of empowerment and overcoming adversity; you love hearing some great gospel/soul/R&B music sung masterfully

Don't see it if you're unprepared for a truncated version of the story (it moves briskly through the plot); a 'Broadway'-ized Urban Play is unappealing

See it if you want to be moved and entertained by a touching story and a relatable cast of characters

Don't see it if shows about 9/11 are 'too close to home;' you don't have the bladder for a 2-hour show with no intermission (it does move well, though)

See it if you are intrigued by a parred down production of this classic; you love delicious pre-show pies!

Don't see it if you want a big, full production; you don't want an actually frightening Norm Lewis shouting in your face!

See it if you want to be blown away (hehe) by incredible performances, an emotionally-charged story, and the best rock musical songs ever written

Don't see it if "raunchy" material (ie a man in drag playing a transgender character humping an audience member's face) offends you

See it if you're a fan of any the stellar cast members; you want to see one of Miller's lesser known and less heavy works

Don't see it if you want an edgy or very modern revival

See it if you enjoy Sarah Ruhl or the actors who all give great performances; you want to ruminate on love and sex, and where they intersect

Don't see it if you're looking for a conventional play; you don't want to think afterwards; bisexuality makes you uncomfortable

See it if you're looking for an absorbing plot, amazing set, and a commanding lead acting role like you've never seen before

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with characters on the autism spectrum; you are prone to epileptic seizures

See it if you want to see top-notch actors singing a beautiful score, telling a heart-wrenching story

Don't see it if you cannot deal with sad life occurrences; you do not like gay love stories

See it if you want to see a fine, it not outstanding production of a classic; you want a take on the play that tries to keep it relevant to today.

Don't see it if you're expecting a life-changing or very exciting production

See it if you want an evening of light fun, with a somewhat surprising layer of wit and cleverness

Don't see it if you don't like Broadway spectacles (even self-aware ones)

See it if you like Tyler Perry, I guess; want to hear some amazing gospel singing that's smashed into random parts of the play for some reason

Don't see it if you can't deal with Perry's sexist, overbearing religious nonsense, or bad writing, or the overflowing cheese

See it if you want to laugh; you like quick-fire improv comedy

Don't see it if you want something more thoughtfully-written

See it if you want to see a powerhouse leading performance; the idea of alternate realities/life paths intrigues you; you like Tom Kitt's style

Don't see it if you're expecting something as intense and shattering as Next to Normal; if a middle-of-the-road rock-ish musical theatre score will bore you

See it if you love pro wrestling; you enjoy examining the psyches of larger-than-life characters; you appreciate sharp, fresh writing

Don't see it if you for some reason still believe anyone intelligent who watches wrestling thinks it's not staged; you don't like fake violence

See it if you want to laugh a lot

Don't see it if goofy comedies aren't your thing

See it if you want to see probably the best new American play of the past 20 years; you want to see acting at its finest

Don't see it if you can't sit through a 3-hour play; you are faint of heart when it comes to edgy material (nothing graphic, but for the language and drugs!

See it if you want something fresh and original; you love incredible hip-hop and Latin music; you're looking for an engaging, original story

Don't see it if you're looking for a big, epic story a la Les Mis or Hamilton; you dislike fast lyricism (yes, it's rap but is Sondheim all that different?)

See it if you love Angela Lansbury; you want a light comedy

Don't see it if you don't like dated Noel Coward plays

See it if you like rhythm and creative ways of making music

Don't see it if you want a plot or story; you hate loud noises