Kurtal

See it if you want to see three actors at the top of their game; you don't mind a complex story told non-traditionally

Don't see it if you want traditional plot structure; you have trouble with actors playing multiple roles; you're not willing to sit through a confusing text

Also Admittedly, I was at the first preview, and there were quite a few technical glitches and dropped lines...I imagine things will tighten up significantly before opening.

I struggled a bit with the structure of the show because I didn't know why I should care for the first two-thirds of the show. The story was interesting, but I could have used some more overt hints to the big purpose. The end was very moving, but it took a very long time to get there.

That said, the performances were excellent, and I hope this gets the tweaks that it deserves.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support up and coming black talent; you're looking for a male version of for colored girls...(but not as good)

Don't see it if you want a traditional structure; you want a well-developed script; you are looking for a new and fresh take on the Black experience

Also I very much appreciate what this show was trying to do, but it felt very under-developed and trafficked in a lot of cliches. It's a perfectly acceptable work, but felt (to be honest) like a middling MFA thesis. The cast did some excellent work with the material, though.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a play that challenges the conventions of storytelling and what playwriting is; you can handle deeply haunting material

Don't see it if you aren’t ready to walk out of the theatre uneasy and profoundly moved; you are looking for lighthearted entertainment

Also As I was walking home from the theatre I literally had to stop and catch my breath a few times. I am in awe of how such a seemingly simple production could be so devastating, complex, and beautiful.

This is not an easy piece of theatre in any sense of the word. It is, frankly, brutal to watch at times — and yet it never is exploitative. I will be thinking about this piece for a long time.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a tour de force performance by three brilliant actors spanning 150 years of history; you love digging into a dense text

Don't see it if following actors playing multiple characters confuses you; you want traditionally structured and written shows; you can't sit through 3.5 hr

Also This show is so brilliantly written, and the performances are amazing. I saw this at Park Avenue Armory, where I thought it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Seeing it again wasn't quite as gripping, as the proscenium setup diminished some of the visual power of the staging. But if you've got the energy to sit through nearly four hours of beautifully lyrical writing, you absolutely should.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for a light-hearted musical with some excellent performances and some very funny bits; you want to see a show with potential

Don't see it if you're looking for serious content; you want a book that is as strong as its songs or performances

Also This was a really delightful experience, and Alex Wyse and Ben Fankhauser have a lot of potential as a musical team. There were some really brilliant songs in there. And Alex Wyse's comedic timing is out of this world. Bryonha Marie Parker is a fantastic vocalist who gives it her all. However, while there were some truly brilliant bits, the overall book needs a lot of work. The plot was kinda sloppy, and the character's choices didn't always feel earned. But honestly, it didn't matter. The show was really fun, and I hope the creative team keeps working on it to work out the kinks.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a challenging play about the way that citizenship status can affect a life in expected and unexpected ways

Don't see it if you're not ready for two drastically stylistically different halves of a play; you dislike non-linear storytelling

Also While fantastic overall, there were some parts that dragged, and I felt that the second half was much less developed and interesting than the first half. I don't know if the original plan was to run this with an intermission, but I think it would have greatly benefitted from an actual break between the two acts. But the best parts of the play were deeply moving, and the cast (particularly B and G) are superb.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a surprisingly timely examination of the creative process and the future of theatre packaged into a quirky little show

Don't see it if you aren't a relatively astute theatre aficionado. A lot of the structure and content of the show requires a deep knowledge of theatre

See it if you enjoy modern updates of Shakespeare; you're looking for a fun but not fully faithful adaptation

Don't see it if you are expecting the full play -- they cut it down quite a bit to get it to 1h50 run time...and that came at the expense of some plot

See it if you want to see a 50-year old show that still rings totally relevant to today; you want to see Sondheim at his very best

Don't see it if you're against gender-swapping roles; you find Sondheim lyrics hard to follow

See it if you're a fan of jukebox musicals or '80s rock

Don't see it if you want any real originality

See it if I LOVED THIS SHOW SO MUCH! The acting was uniformly spectacular. The writing was occasionally uneven, and the pacing felt off here and...

Don't see it if there, but this story moved me immensely. It is so incredibly rare to see a diverse range of fully-formed black queer characters living...

Also their everyday lives, navigating love, loss, complexity, and daily struggle. I am so glad that this show exists, and I want to see more and more and more shows like it.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a glimpse into life in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge; you appreciate Asian American representation; you like rock music

Don't see it if you don't like stories about the ravages of war; you need all musical moments to move the plot; you're expecting a revolutionary plot

Also While I saw pretty much every plot point coming a mile away, I was still very impressed by the execution of this drama that examines the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime on one man and his inner circles. The performances (both acting and musical) were, by and large, excellent. And I'm always glad to see stories featuring populations that are woefully underrepresented on stage.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Ruth Negga give a brilliant performance as Hamlet; you're a Shakespeare aficionado

Don't see it if you get easily frustrated with uneven pacing; you hate a droning underscore; you get particularly antsy after 3.5 hours

Also This is 100% worth seeing for Ruth Negga's performance alone. But oh my was it long. The scenes she's not in drug on forever.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Laura Linney give a phenomenal performance with some subpar material

Don't see it if you aren't convinced that this novel should be a one-woman show; it felt uncomfortably between an audiobook and a play

See it if you want to see a fairly interesting take on the complexities of black racial identity with some phenomenal performances

Don't see it if you want a murder mystery with a satisfying payoff; you are a white person unwilling to accept that this play wasn't written for you

Also In some ways, I recognize that I should not be judging this show, which examines biases and internalized racism within Black communities. I am a White man in 2020, and, while I found some of the characterizations reductive and arguments simplistic, I am not a member of Black America, so I am likely missing nuance and understanding that I might otherwise possess. That awareness notwithstanding, I don't think the show has aged particularly well. What may have felt groundbreaking forty years ago (this show won a Pulitzer), now feels heavy handed to me. But if you're looking for a stageful of very strong performances providing employment to a panoply of young Black actors, look no further.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of any of the performers. They all show up and give solid performances with incredible subpar material.

Don't see it if you want to see a show that knows what it is and what it has to say. I can certainly imagine a show that engages with ideas of fidelity...

Also ...monogamy, and polyamory in a modern and relevant way, but this is not that show. And before Duncan Sheik writes another damn musical, he needs to learn how to write a book song. The trope of having characters sing into a microphone only works when they're revealing inner thoughts that aren't otherwise articulated. This show was long and frustrating. The first half could have been cut by fifty percent and nothing would have been lost.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in the interrogation and capture of a central figure in the Russian interference investigation; you want to have your...

Don't see it if ...preconceived notions of Reality Winner blown up. The show is simple and straightforward, being a transcript of the first FBI interview

Also with the person who leaked documents confirming Russian interference in US elections. The text is occasionally awkward, as it is taken straight from real life dialogue. But the cast, especially Emily Davis as Winner, brings this interaction to life in compelling and captivating ways.... Read more Read less

See it if you're ready for a one-man show that engages with transphobia, racism, capitalism, and consumer culture in the South

Don't see it if you don't think that a White man should be telling the stories of people of color. Darkly has some really strong ideas, but I couldn't shake

Also the feeling that it wasn't his story to tell.

See it if you want a reinvention of WSS that brings the show firmly into the 21st century; you aren't afraid of risk taking, reinventive theatre

Don't see it if you don't like large scale use of projections; you are a traditionalist; you think that WSS *isn't* about gun violence and police brutality

Also First preview, so some technical things to work out. This show is, like Oklahoma!, going to be divisive. In his typical style, Ivo van Hove uses non-traditional staging choices and live video projection to present the story in, at times, challenging ways. But overall it worked. Gee Officer Krupke takes police brutality head on and is a brilliant and cathartic showstopper. Isaac Powell and Ben Cook gave starmaking performances as Tony and Riff. Yesenia Ayala's Anita started off a little shaky but found her footing by the end.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole show. This is a thrilling, exciting revival. But don't go if you're not ready to be challenged.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a devotee of Christmas shows; you're looking for a solid take on a classic; your Grinchy heart needs to grow a few sizes

Don't see it if you are looking for a massive reinvention of the tale; you actively dislike gratuitous audience interaction

See it if you want to see a stellar cast taking on a classic piece; you want a Broadway quality production in a beautifully intimate space.

Don't see it if you will be distracted by flying spittle; you're not a fan of the show or the movie

See it if you're interested in what would happen if Hadestown and Be More Chill had a baby.

Don't see it if you aren't a huge fan of the books.

See it if you're interested in a dramedy-style take on a Tennessee Williams classic; you want to see Marisa Tomei in a scenery chewing role

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with thick accents and broad comedy; you expect tonal consistency; you want age appropriate casting

Also This is a weird little show that floated between telenovela, high drama, and broad physical comedy. The tonal shifts were jarring at time, and the accents were thick and uneven. But once I decided I wasn't going to nitpick some of the directorial and acting choices, I settled back and had a really good time. I found Act Two far more interesting and entertaining than Act One. And I really like the staging. Definitely worth it if you can get a discounted ticket.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support new and ambitious work. This show is a two hander that examines two important eras in race relations in the US. Act One

Don't see it if is tough to get through. The structure and content are confusing and require you to really focus. But Act Two is transcendent. Danyel

Also Fulton gives a star making performance. I really really hope that they work out the problems in Act One because there is a revolutionary musical in here screaming to get out. But if you're willing to be patient and watch a show that's still finding itself, you'll be rewarded.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Migdalia Cruz devotee; you are okay with a complicated plot that never completely gels

Don't see it if you want performances or direction that can help you navigate this unnecessarily complex plot. The world isn't sufficiently built, and the

Also relationships don't feel earned.

See it if you want to see Sharon D Clarke in a breathtaking performance in this underappreciated classic; you're ready for a challenging piece

Don't see it if you want a show that will leave you humming the tunes…this is more operetta than **musical theatre**; you like a super traditional structure

Also This is such a bizarre piece that, on paper, really should not work. And in some parts, the esoteric aspects weigh down the message. But when this show works, it’s resplendent. Anchored by Clarke, the whole ensemble gives phenomenal performances. This show tries to do a lot, and not all of it works. But the sum is worth immensely more than the whole of its parts.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re open to a beautiful contemplation on life, love, and existence told in a somewhat unconventional form

Don't see it if you aren’t open to what is essentially a series of monologues; you want a conventionally structured piece

Also This show was a cross between Love Letters and a true crime podcast with a dash of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It requires a bit of patience, but all comes together beautifully and profoundly. I adored this show and was in an emotion puddle by the end... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a comedy that's full of heart with some excellent performances; you want to support upcoming Black theatre talent

Don't see it if you are looking for a consistently excellent show that doesn't have pacing issues; you're expecting anything groundbreaking

Also There's a really really great show in here, and there were plenty of really wonderful moments. And I laughed throughout. But there were some clunker moments, and some of the directorial choices were heavy handed. The transitions between scenes, particularly those with different energies, didn't work at all. The play did best when it avoided slapstick and broad comedy and kept it focused on the relationships at hand. But even with its flaws, the show is worth it and will leave you with a smile.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re open to an unconventional structure based on a transcript of a real event; you want great acting and don’t mind sparse staging

Don't see it if you are looking for flashy production value or tradition plot structure; you need a conventional beginning, middle, and end

Also I saw this show first preview, so I imagine it will grow into the space before opening. The pacing wasn’t as tight as it was when I saw it off Broadway, but that will also likely work out.

It’s helpful to know that the play is a direct staging of the transcript of the first FBI interview of whistleblower Reality Winner. Beyond that, if you’re willing to go along for the unconventional and surprisingly funny ride, you will be rewarded with a compelling modern drama straight out of real life.... Read more Read less

See it if you’re looking for a an intimate one man show that is a love letter to unconventional families.

Don't see it if you have trouble following one actor playing multiple characters; are looking for a conventional plot rather than a series of vignettes

See it if you want to support Black artists; you're okay with ambiguity; you want to see some excellent acting (particularly from Watts)

Don't see it if you want a more traditional play; you need to understand everything by the end; you don't like monologues (it's essentially two of them)

Also OK, hot take. This show is about the relationship between artists and audiences in the theatre? Either I'm super brilliant, or that's so obvious that I'm a dunce for even pointing it out.

This play took me on a roller coaster between bored and captivated. It's definitely unclear what the context was which isn't fundamentally a problem, but, as an audience member I wish I'd had more clues to at least try to come up with some educated hypotheses myself. I hope Ngozi Anyanwu keeps developing this...there's definitely something really interesting in there...but I don't think it's quite there yet.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in a small, thoughtful show about race relations and police brutality that is significantly funnier than you might expect

Don't see it if you're looking for a vastly new take on race relations...elements of it felt a bit on the nose, but it's definitely worth a watch anyway!

See it if you love Tracy Letts's work or are a fan of any of the cast members. It's a well-acted piece, but I didn't really understand the point, even

Don't see it if after the surprise climax. Mind you, I saw this in previews back before the pandemic, so things may have changed by the time it reopens

See it if you've been jonesing for theatre and are open to something theatre-adjacent. The sound design is awesome, and the ultimate message is good

Don't see it if ...but the journey to get there is pretty brutal. It was super emotionally intense, and I wasn't quite ready for the psychological venture

See it if several great pop numbers in a concert-style musical reimagining the fates of the wives of Henry VIII. although for a show purporting to

Don't see it if rewrite history, it fell short...it wasn't nearly as smart or as subversive as it claims (and clearly desperately wants) to be...that said,

Also it was a lot of fun, and I've been humming a few of the songs since I saw it. It's definitely worth a night out. just don't expect to be blown away by the story... Read more Read less

See it if you want a modern updating of the Greek tragedy; you want to be surprised by Rose Byrne's chops; you like minimalist staging

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with ambiguous motivation or violence; you don't like the use of projection/video

Also This was everything Betrayal tried to be but so much better! I was captivated by the performances by every member of the ensemble and was, frankly, surprised at the range shown by Rose Byrne. Some of the side characters were underdeveloped, but such is often the case in Greek tragedy. My only major gripe is that the kid actors that I saw were hard to understand sometimes because they sped through their lines. But that's youth for you! This was a very good production that I would highly recommend.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see Dylan's music beautifully adapted and sung; you want to see some excellent performances from a great cast

Don't see it if you want a tight, well-written book; you have trouble following multiple story lines

Also This show could completely change the dynamic by reframing the narrator's dialogue. I just didn't know who to care about in all of the sprawling plot lines. And so many of the characters' stories were left hanging. While the music and performances were sublime, the book was frustrating and slow. Like I'm mad at how good this show could be...but very much isn't.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a brief and poignant reflection on life and the inevitability of death; you don't need conventionality in your theatre

Don't see it if you want a fully developed plot; this is more of a performance art/concert/storytelling session. But my gosh it works...I wanted more!

See it if you want to see an off-beat tale of the last gasps of a 50-year marriage; you are comfortable with ambiguous endings

Don't see it if you are uninterested in the lives of people older than 50; you will mind occasional melodrama and overacting

Also I went into this show with absolutely no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. Bess Wohl's script unfolded in ways that felt both surprising and authentic, and most of her characters felt fully-developed. The entire ensemble (minus maybe Ben McKenzie) gives outstanding performances, and I was moved to tears (both of laughter and sadness) at several points during the plot. The structure of the show wasn't perfect, but the strength of the text and the performances outweighs any of the smaller issues I have with the show.... Read more Read less

See it if you can overlook a silly premise and find a show that actually has a lot of heart and some decent songs behind it

Don't see it if you want your emojis to stay in your phone.

Also I'll be interested to see what this songwriting team can do when they're working with more serious subject matter. There's some real talent there, even though this particular show is pretty cheesy.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of the movie...you want to see a charming cast in a show that is still finding its feet...

Don't see it if you want a fully developed piece...you want your secondary characters to be fleshed out at all

See it if you like your musicals to have a clear and modern point of view; you're a fan of Alanis; you like musicals about familial disintegration

Don't see it if you're fundamentally opposed to new shows built on existing music; you don't want to see sexual violence on stage; you don't like Alanis

Also I went in to this show with really high expectations. I'm exactly their target audience. I'm a big old theatre junkie who was in high school when Jagged Little Pill came out. It was the soundtrack of many of my teen angstiest moments. So by the end of the first act, I was a little disappointed. Everything felt a bit by the book. Nothing was bad...just...all very expected. But then in Act Two, when everything unraveled, the show was sublime. You Oughta Know was breathtaking. MJ's breakdown and recovery were phenomenal.

Several of the side characters remain underdeveloped, and the plot is unnecessarily complex. But the second act more than makes all of the weaker elements of act one.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for a very solid community theatre production. I was most impressed by the dramaturgical choice to center the idea that

Don't see it if Pippin is about suicide and mental illness. It actually made me reconsider the entire meaning of the show - a show I know very well. The ...

Also production is a bit uneven overall, with wildly varying levels of talent (Charlemagne lost 60% of the lyrics to War is a Science), but there were some glimmers of brilliance, particularly from Catherine and Berthe. This is definitely a strong production for the value.

One note: the Leading Player got a little out of control with his whip...it looked dangerous at times, and it flew incredibly close to the front row. Don't sit in the front row.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a super intimate updated take on a problematic musical from the early 80s; you want Alice Ripley to belt three feet from your face

Don't see it if you want a fully developed, interestingly staged site-specific piece. Don't get me wrong, this piece (both the show itself and this ...

Also production) is kind of a mess. But it's such a unique opportunity to be in a tiny space with a minuscule audience and a really solid cast. Even with all of its flaws (and there are many), this show is 100% worth seeing.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for a very talky four-hander that explores life, death, and the spaces where they meet; you don't mind some trickery

Don't see it if you want your plays to show you things rather than tell you; you mind sudden darkness; you want a clear definitive answer

See it if you want to witness a star making performance by Adrienne Warren; you love Tina's music; you want to see a better than avg jukebox musical

Don't see it if frequent and casual violence against women and children bothers you; you're fundamentally opposed to jukebox musicals

See it if you want to see two excellent actors overcome a fairly banal script. Francesca Faridany is good and Kate Mulgrew is transcendent in this.

Don't see it if you want anything more than a straightforward unsurprising biographical glimpse into two female scientists. The issues and ideas are wholly

Also expected and presented in standard ways. And the prologue and epilogue serve as awkward bookends to the rest of the text. And while the script is mediocre, this production is worth it for Kate Mulgrew's brilliant performance alone.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a master class in acting from two of the finest of our generation ... Or if you liked The Father

Don't see it if you didn't like The Father. Or if you want any sense of closure or pathos from a script.

See it if you want to see a solid but uneven production of this brilliant classic work. The cast is fantastic, and the text really holds up.

Don't see it if you want directorial choices that best highlight the text itself. I found a number of the staging and structural choices confusing and

Also distracting from the text itself.

See it if you want to see a fantastic cast working with some complex and challenging material; you're willing to be patient with an ambitious and

Don't see it if uneven piece...it's overwrought and exhausting in places. But there's something brilliant in the unconventional structure and writing