L'Alphabet Du Plaisir

See it if you want to see Daniel Craig. Yes he looks sexy on stage. Yes Ruth Negga is good. But individual performance can't save this incoherent play

Don't see it if Hard to follow with gender/race switch/multiple roles/modern outfits. Actors often don't engage with each other but with audience instead

Also Should win Tony best blood on stage award if there is one such award. Heavy handed with light/sound/frightening visuals but the core theatrical value is hallow... Read more Read less

See it if Off the chart creativity. Pure magic. Unparalleled talent. Breathtaking acrobatics. Phenomenal light/costume. A feast for senses. Masterful!

Don't see it if Don't miss this knockout fun show! Decadent yet elegant. Playful yet thoughtful. Artistic yet romantic. Sexual yet tasteful. Worth the trip!

Also I've seen at least 6-7 of Théâtre XIV's previous shows before. This one is certainly one of the best. Not only each act is brilliant, the whole show wraps around the concept of 7 deadly sins is well constructed with carefully chosen songs and lyrics. They even have 7 cocktails for the 7 sins. A perfect date night or fun night out with friends. Austin McCormick's history with French court dancing yields magnificent results. Marrying pageantry with pleasantry. I am sure the Sun King Louis XIV would be delighted too.... Read more Read less

See it if Heartfelt drama about mourning and a second chance later in life. Writing level is high. Acting is convincing. Set is simple yet functional

Don't see it if Matthews & Santos are so strong in the play, making Smith look average. Sister in law offered $$$ for breakup is a bit of stretch for me

Also Overall the play feels organic and flows naturally, unlike playwright's previous work «Daniel's Husband», which I felt was written just to make a statement about gay marriage... Read more Read less

See it if Still relevant plot albeit some shift in gender politics 20 years later. Both leads gave superb performance. Using driving as a metaphor

Don't see it if Some humor can be a little off-putting at times. Strong supporting cast. The play will make you uncomfortable. 2nd viewing much better

Also After seeing Indecent and this play, both by Paula Vogel, I'm convinced that she is a major national talent. I will run to see any future play she writes!... Read more Read less

See it if Light hearted entertainment. Uncomplicated fun. Story is fresh & touching. Music & choreography follow standard musical school traditions

Don't see it if Unpolished. A few songs have potential while the rest are quite flat. Every 3 minute audience will be reminded of the family's Jewishness.

Also Joshua Harmon must be the playwright most consumed by being Jewish. I am tired honestly after seeing 2 shows written by him....why reduce yourself to always wearing a label of a group while there are opportunities to transcend that/any differences?... Read more Read less

See it if There is no conversation so (3) actors use background music as pacer. Easy to understand by gesture. Almost like a real-life puppet show

Don't see it if The theme is universal. Many audience members were sobbing. This troupe from Basque country delivered high artistic and humane value

See it if Very poor direction. Little theatrical value. Feels like a high school production. Some drag dance with American pop songs. Too political

Don't see it if I'm a French speaker so don't need subtitles. The show switched to English for no reason in mid-show then switched back. What's the point?

Also The story has some touching moment but the transformation onto stage provides no additional insight. Solo show is hard to pull off but this one did not even try. The director lacks vision and imagination. Several audience members walked out. Last scene has a witch whipping pictures of French presidents. Really? Quelle horreur!... Read more Read less

See it if Highly polished comedy. Fantastic sets design. Lead actresses are skillful in both acting and singing. Light hearted fun. Lots of dry humor

Don't see it if Sondheim's music feels old school now. Despite good intent in bringing views on modern marriage, the show can be trimmed to make same point

See it if The presentation is excellent, from staging, lighting, choreography, to voice performance. Superb casting with wide range of black actresses

Don't see it if The content is really dated. It seems to imply that black women are the ultimate victims of society. They are all unhappy due to black men

Also I had difficulty following the first half of the show, due to shorter verbal content and distraction of sound and movement. Gratuitous use of N-word. Not exactly feminist. Black women don't need men to be happy.... Read more Read less

See it if Other than a few good sets design and a few funny jokes, this show is catering to teenagers. Close to zero substance. Lots of stereotypes.

Don't see it if Really little value in terms of music or dance. 2 leads are solid. All others are forgettable. Near completely brainless and a time waster

See it if you're adventurous and open to interesting forms and content. Visually stunning and wild. Imagination soars. 3 lead actresses are amazing

Don't see it if will benefit from serious trimmings. Some parts have difficulty holding audience's attention

See it if Uplifting & light hearted entertainment. A nice tribute to Gander's residents who welcomed the world during 911. Perfect show for tourists

Don't see it if The musical is nicely executed but lacks drama. Playwright sampled a range of people that are forgettable. Music is not really Newfoundland

See it if you enjoy ballet / modern dance with some circus moves. Show is beautifully done with European flair. 2 French-language songs are both nice

Don't see it if this show might work better in a performing art place like Lincoln Center. This is quite different from typical Broadway

See it if you'd like to see Debra Messing. This piece is a nice vehicle for a star. It's light, cute and sweet. Supporting cast plays multiple roles

Don't see it if Acting can be a little exaggerated at times. I thought it is quite on point in portraying American life in small Midwestern town.

See it if Super ambitious. This musical is about birth of America. From history, dance, to music, this is a MUST SEE for anyone likes depth in theater

Don't see it if This is opposite of Disney-lized Broadway. Imperfect, sure, but I enjoyed every minute of it, because it is like life. Complex and touching!

Also The creative team made many choices defying conventional musical theater wisdom. So not everyone will like it. I applaud their courage. This is not an audience-pleasing, formulated musical. It's raw, messy, full of life, with complex storylines and characters. I feel I witnessed a page of real history of my city and my country, during a tumultuous time. Few musicals dare to take this kind of bold step and vision. Tremendous efforts were put in for historical accuracy. I'm honestly floored by its big heart. If every U.S. citizen watches this musical, we will be a better society... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like catharsis for Jewish people's more than 1000 years of suffering. Playwright must be very angry & sentimental when he wrote this

Don't see it if Best part of play is first 1/3 when family members openly debate. When they all agree to the victimhood, sparks of the play are long gone

Also It's not a bad play per se. But the only thing this play achieved is to inform about Jewish people's suffering since beginning of recorded history and a laundry list of recent antisemitic violence in France. If you already know both, you should consider skipping the show. There's really little theatrical or artistic value beyond informing, despite good acting and staging. Audience basically watched "a French Jewish family decided to move to Israel" documentary. Cast ensemble singing La Marseillaise at the end can't save or elevate the play.... Read more Read less

See it if Outstanding dancing, vocals, and sets designs. For these reasons alone, the musical is worth seeing. It's a shame that the book is weak

Don't see it if A very difficult show to pull off. Imitating Michael Jackson is super hard. Book focuses on family & perfectionism, not much else

See it if you like mindless entertainment. The show centers on lead actor's drag performance which is quite good. You can't help but laugh a lot

Don't see it if Some parts are certainly over-acted. Some parts are overly long and can be trimmed. Majority of songs are mediocre with a few exceptions

See it if an unconventional musical that does not fit typical musical formula. Not singing-centric and more of an experience. Plenty aspects to enjoy

Don't see it if if you or loved ones had LSD based therapy the show will resonate more with you. It doesn't have clear climax or big finale, but delightful

Also The staging/set is something to behold. The large space is utilized well to multiple effects... Read more Read less

See it if You like character study type play. It's well written and well acted. Despite all odds, there is hope at the ending

Don't see it if you saw it on Off-Broadway before.... it's near identical. I sat on 2nd row so can understand well. Can understand some have trouble hearing

See it if you want to see the 13-year-old lead actor carrying the show

Don't see it if the songs written for this show are simply subpar...despite good intention and relatable story-line, this musical never takes off

See it if you like improvised rap singing with lots of audience inputs. The one I saw, not every segment worked out great. OK for 1st time viewing

Don't see it if honestly I felt bored after 30 minutes. No "Love Supreme" anywhere to be found. They needed to show their Tony award trophy twice on stage

See it if Cleverly using food as aspiration for life. Entertaining with substance. The mean Clyde serves as device to bring back harsh reality for all

Don't see it if No reason not to see it. Nice character development. Bitter sweet. Not preachy and is not a play about race. Most people will enjoy it

See it if you like Vegas style, over the top shows. You like high school level jukebox musical, mix and match hit pop songs. Tailor made for tourists

Don't see it if you'll be disappointed if you expect or pay too much. Creativity centered on set and lighting designs. The musical itself lacks authenticity

Also It's baffling that they invested so much money on sets and lighting but don't bother to invest on writing a few new songs, given that they already have songs from the movie at their disposal. 2nd act is certainly better, with a play within a play storyline, and attempts to repurpose existing pop songs in different context such as Tango. Female lead is much stronger than the male lead. The musical tries to be everything at once, but often appears to be corny, shallow, or empty.... Read more Read less

See it if certainly a BLM revival. A rare look at backstage. Actors are giving their powerhouse best. Complex and thought provoking.

Don't see it if It needs serious cut and refresh as it's no longer 1955. Often unfocused. I found it a bit difficult to follow and comprehend

Also It raises interesting question of whether actors could/should question a script. For me, an actor playing a killer doesn't have to agree with or believe in killing. But for some people, they might have different opinions. The play does remind us how much progress we've made as a society, and how long a way still to go... Read more Read less

See it if A difficult, complex, heart-wrenching storyline goes with beautifully rendered Dylan songs. Stellar cast & vocals. Unique & heavenly!

Don't see it if You like Disney or formulated musicals with upbeat tone and happy endings. You prefer simpler storyline concentrated in small # of actors

See it if Intended as snapshots of black male lives...but selected stories are too broad, too universal. Can be for any race, not necessarily black

Don't see it if Compared to recent black-themed play "Pass Over", the material is clearly inferior, and honestly not really worthy of Broadway.

Also Actors were good in acting, but due to the underdeveloped content, created very few sparks for the 1h50m runtime... Read more Read less

See it if Essentially watching a lip-synced interview. True life story is captivating. Limited creativity. Basically like watching a video clip

Don't see it if This show had technical problem causing 45-minute delay both this Wednesday and Saturday. They better get their act together!

See it if you're open to unconventional theater structure where actors have no in-person interaction on stage. Good writing with substance. Profound!

Don't see it if Endless monologues wear you down. It can be trying, especially first half. Hang tight, second half is better

See it if probably the best "Woke" theater experience. Excellent writing and theatrical elements. I especially like one actor playing 2 opposite roles

Don't see it if you don't like race-centric theme. Some parts of it can be hard-hitting or preachy. Smallwood's acting stands out as he embodies street life

See it if you like good acting and good writing. It's based on a real story. The show is intense and captivating.

Don't see it if you don't like interrogation. The entire play is about interrogation.

See it if The actor/writer did successfully bring back his youth and black life of the industrial era of Buffalo suburb. Good blue music

Don't see it if One man plays 20+ characters and as the narrative too. Very difficult to follow. Some people seated near me walked out

See it if A fun show. Fast paced. Spot on acting. Enjoyable experience and very entertaining

Don't see it if Music does not stand out

See it if Don't miss it if you like West Coast break dance. This troupe's group dancing is a sight to behold! Very diverse dancers.

Don't see it if It's basically Romeo & Juliette story, with communication mainly conveyed by lyrics of pop & hip-hop songs. Full of youthful energy!

See it if A few good songs and some good singing but that's about it. Creative and quirky

Don't see it if Made something out of nothing. Have potential but end up baffling. Not much artistic value. Don't understand why NY Times gave critic's pick

See it if Difficult subject matter. Good acting. Deals more of a cop's response at time of shooting than shooting itself

Don't see it if Does have quite some down time and feel need to develop a bit further

See it if Good storytelling about history of drinks. Good drinks: Irish coffee, Bloody Mary, Bellini, along with mini pastries

Don't see it if Can use some cut towards the end

See it if By focusing on relationships between black characters, this play sets it apart from other race-focused dramas

Don't see it if Excellent revival. Worth seeing

See it if you like to see talented magicians from across the globe. Polished production. Entertaining night out. Children-friendly

Don't see it if you don't like Vegas style shows

See it if Stuffed every LGBT issue. Messy, overly sentimental. Should be trimmed to within 3 hrs instead of 6+ hrs. Nothing really new or insightful

Don't see it if Other than a few characters mirror each other, there is little artistic value. Too many monologue/narration over acting. Boring stereotypes

See it if a story of pioneer women in science, worth seeing just for tour de force acting alone. Writing is intelligent

Don't see it if the tone is hard hitting feminist, a bit too obvious at time

See it if you like great singing from lead cast members. Musical largely sticks to original form. Good dancing

Don't see it if Pacing slightly off. Sing-through a little difficult to follow. Supporting cast not as strong

See it if you're a David Byrnes fan. This is a concert with no plot. Songs are his old songs, not new. Musicians are great, artfully presented

Don't see it if I never heard these 80's songs so I'm biased. A bit like a blast from the past. Tunes are somehow monotone

See it if More of a celebration of Yiddish language and Jewish heritage. Good music and some good dancing

Don't see it if Story is quite dated...3 hours of mostly about marrying daughters. Can be tiring due to talky nature with subtitles

See it if All around great acting. Performed with such passion. Educational and informative history reenactment.

Don't see it if you don't like politics or history

See it if It's a good play with a good central promise; however, is delivered too conventionally with endless one-liners full of cultural references.

Don't see it if Can easily trim 30 min or so. Lots of negativity. I got it, the lead character is a smart ass, but no need to give a speech each time

Also On purpose I think, this play casts attractive female and unattractive males.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a fun and entertaining night out. Quite some feats I've never seen done by other performers.

Don't see it if you prefer a plot line. Some feats might be beyond belief

See it if a tour de force play/production, with everything at its peak form. Not to be missed. Every detail provides multiple possibilities to think

Don't see it if you don't like heavy/deep subject matter. This play is very European/French, not usual American entertainment

See it if you like fantastic vocal, dancing, staging, and acting. Super entertaining. Lots of fun and humor

Don't see it if juvenile plot line bothers you. It's after all about high school...so be prepared for high school cliques and clichés!

See it if Totally original. An interesting story, uniquely Filipino. For the story alone is worth seeing

Don't see it if the musical part is mediocre. Too much down time for a musical. Perhaps the subject matter is too dark for musical.