Mel A

See it if you want an excellent production of a classic.

Don't see it if you're looking for light subject matter.

Also I expected the supertitles to be much more distracting than they were.

See it if you like intentionally over the top plots with a lot of heart.

Don't see it if you're looking for a serious show.

Also It helps to know going in that it's inspired by blaxploitation films - I didn't and was a little thrown by some of the writing until I read the program at intermission and figured it out!

It was a fun show to see - feels like I got to see what can be a really great show in its last stages of development and polishing.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to hear a whole lot of theories about consciousness rapid-fire, but in a fun way.

Don't see it if you don't like rap or want a slower, more deliberate discussion of these theories.

Also I'd say this is the best of the rap guide series, no contest. Still prone to letting outside politics into the flow, which can be a bit jarring, but otherwise well structured.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a fantastically constructed drama about family ties.

Don't see it if you're looking for something lighthearted - while this has light moments, it's a heavy work.

See it if you want a campy take on the trials of being a high school girl with excellent vocal performances. Think updated Heathers.

Don't see it if you're not a fan of camp, or are expecting a flashy production.

See it if you want to have a good laugh while learning more about the impacts of chronic illness on families.

Don't see it if you're opposed to discussions of sex - it's a pretty relevant theme.

See it if you're already a big fan of Mike Birbiglia.

Don't see it if you have Netflix - there's better standup on there.

See it if you're interested in the stagecraft aspect - the gorilla is really cool! I also love the performance of Christiani Pitts.

Don't see it if you're expecting something more complex than the original B-movie material (which I think is unfair to the show, tbh).

Also I really don't understand why people are ragging on this show. No, the plot isn't complex - but neither is any other incarnation of King Kong! That said, the clever technical aspects of the show and the choreography absolutely held my attention, far better than most shows I've seen in the last year. I'd forgotten to eat lunch and I didn't even notice how hungry I was until intermission, and I promptly forgot when act 2 started.

The choreography is complex and ambitious - I definitely was not expecting a large company in this show. I also thought the set was incredibly clever.

Not all the songs are memorable, but the opening of each act (Queen of New York, Wonder) and the lullaby are all things I would listen to again.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a funny and touching mixture of character sketches, stand up, music, and video interviews.

Don't see it if you're looking for a conventional play or musical.

See it if you want a fun, intelligent take on what queer spaces mean to their inhabitants.

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with plays about gay men, or hate Scottish accents.

See it if you want a cabaret-style performance that feels particularly relevant in the current cultural moment.

Don't see it if you want a play or something entirely lighthearted.

Also shoutout to whoever did the costume design, and to all the musicians involved!... Read more Read less

See it if you want to support shows that include ASL in really creative ways and has superb acting all around

Don't see it if TRIGGER WARNING: depictions of suicide and substance abuse, discussion of sexual abuse.

Also The acting was great - I wish that was enough to make me like this play.

It tries to be way too meta: characters talk about writing a play that tracks the book of Job while in a play that relies on the Job narrative. TOO MUCH.

Similarly, the number of awful things that happen to nearly everyone just goes too far, even for a drama. It feels like the playwright is just piling on for..fun? spite? It wears on you in a way that I couldn't even appreciate. I just felt taken advantage of at the end.... Read more Read less

See it if you really love Carole King, or want to see a good ensemble performance with some great singing.

Don't see it if you're looking for a high-intensity show.

See it if you can commit to a long, convoluted, often painful story which fails to provide resolution.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to discussions/depictions of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse/manipulation.

See it if you want to see some great acting and writing.

Don't see it if you're looking for something light and disconnected from the modern world - despite being old the central conflict holds up.

See it if you want to see a solid cast perform a decently written queer piece.

Don't see it if you're looking for a completely polished work - the conclusion is still a bit rough.

See it if you want to see a really cool incorporation of dance into storytelling centered around women's experiences.

Don't see it if you're looking for an even treatment.

See it if you want a touching look at queer life not so long ago that will make you laugh (gotta love Tennessee Williams).

Don't see it if you're sensitive to portrayals and discussion of homosexuality.

See it if you want to watch Billie Piper do some truly amazing acting in a very intense play.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to depictions of self harm and/or about struggles with conception.

Also This is so well written, and the staging is incredibly clever.

It had a bit lower impact on me than others who saw it, I think because I don't relate to the desperate desire to conceive that drives the main character.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for some out-there, queer theater.

Don't see it if you're looking for something conventional or are uncomfortable with queerness.

Also I liked a lot of the first half of the play, but it felt like the magical realism took over the plot and the narrative tried to cover too many things by the end to really have a cogent conclusion.

There's definitely potential in the piece, but it needs to figure out it's scope a little more before it can shine.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in minority experiences and how the political intersects with the personal.

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable watching cis straight white men be jerks - there's a few scenes that were tough for me to sit through.

Also This play reminded me how much I love ASL! (I'm a hearing person, but I learned some ASL in middle school).

Lauren Ridloff in particular does a wonderful job with the expressive movement and signing.

I love that this show has a closed-captioning type app and ASL interpreters for anything not signed on stage - it's a wonderful inclusive practice that I'd love to see from more shows!... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of intense dramas, Eugene O'Neill, and stories that aren't about redemption. Also Denzel Washington.

Don't see it if you're looking for something light, upbeat, flashy, or short (it's almost 4 hours).

Also I don't know what other people are complaining about, I loved this production. If you can't handle a 4 hour character drama, don't buy tickets to a 4 hour character drama. I thought the arc of the play was perfect - redemption isn't often there and I don't always need it in my theater.

I saw it in an early preview, when the actors weren't mic'd, but I had a really good seat so it didn't matter much.

The man playing Don over-acted a bit in my book, but again, I saw an early preview so I'm sure that will stabilize by the time it opens. David Morse is quite good as Larry.

A fun, theater-nerdy treat in seeing it early was getting to watch Denzel when he needed a line in the middle of his long monologue in the 4th act - he was so smooth through the whole thing I didn't actually realize what had happened until I heard the script guy say something.... Read more Read less

See it if you want an eerily accurate portrayal of rural Wisconsin and the associated politics/relationships.

Don't see it if you're looking for something light.

Also As someone who grew up in Wisconsin near a lot of farms, holy shit did this hit home. From the accents, to the style of dress, the geography, the references, and the character types, it was a damn near perfect representation of the people I knew growing up. And it shows a lot of what's cruel about the people I grew up with. I'm glad it breaks the pattern of shitty white men being redeemed at the last minute by a twist of fate - there's nothing redemptive about them, and this play shows that really well.... Read more Read less

See it if you know someone in the cast?

Don't see it if just don't. (see below)

Also First off, there should be a content/trigger warning for this show: there are allusions to adults having sex with minors and a brief assault/attempted rape that I really wish I would have known about going in, especially because they don't really add anything to the plot! There are a lot of other unnecessary things too - most egregiously, a child's intersex identity becomes a prop in unnecessary family drama rather than something to be thoughtfully explored.

The language is also ridiculous - I was a brilliant, overachieving 13 year old and never spoke in language anywhere near that flowery. It's like the writer couldn't decide what time period the dialogue was from and just did a bit of everything.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a hell of a high-energy show and an audience that's super excited.

Don't see it if you want people to be calm or reserved - the audience sang along on a number of songs when I saw the show.

Also Ephraim Sykes is a national treasure, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

My only complaint is that the second act just can't quite live up to the first. It's not the second acts fault - being bound by history, the most exciting parts all happened early and there's not much to do about that. It's still fantastic, just a bit of a come-down after the end of the first act.... Read more Read less

See it if you're open to a stripped down, intense reworking of a classic - more revivals should be this bold!

Don't see it if you want a fluffy, light, old school version of Oklahoma.

Also I really loved this production (though it's been about 20 years since I've seen any other production). It leans into the uncomfortable parts of the story unflinchingly while allowing all the characters an obvious humanity.

A number of the staging & lighting tactics (I'm not going to describe them to avoid giving it away) were absolutely brilliant - I thought they added so much intensity to the show!... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for something with a lot of conflict, both between and within characters

Don't see it if you're looking for something polished - the premise is good, but the writing resorts to cliches at pivotal moments.

See it if you're looking for an emotionally devastating musical that doesn't force a happy ending to make the audience comfortable.

Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with a frank treatment of how some queer youth are treated, or are uncomfortable with the use of slurs.

Also This is a show you need to sit with for a while after watching. And I mean that in the most positive way possible.... Read more Read less

See it if you didn't see it off Broadway or in Jersey, I guess?

Don't see it if you saw an earlier version of the show. They RUINED it in the transfer up. It went from being earnest and lovely to a hollow caricature.

Also I'm unspeakably disappointed in the transfer up to Broadway after seeing this show off-Broadway in fall 2018. It was one of two shows I have ever loved enough to buy merch, and now I'm embarrassed to wear it. Fans of the earlier versions will feel betrayed by this rendition - at least I certainly do. Jeremy is now just annoyingly whiny rather than believably isolated; Christine is a mockery of a weird theater kid instead of a lovingly effusive portrayal; Brooke and Chole are even more oversexed for no good reason; there's a passing but utterly failed attempt to add emotional depth to Jake; the SQUIP has an annoying fake-sounding vocal pattern for no good reason.

The one good thing I have to say is that the understudies are spot on - I saw Troy Iwata filling in for George Salazar and he was excellent.

I saw it in early previews, so I'm hoping against hope that they rein it in and return to the earnestness of the original by the time they open.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see 3 very nimble actors in a 360 degree production about the moral conversation around the vietnam war

Don't see it if you're looking for a flashy production - this is pretty stripped down, which adds a lot to the show.

See it if you're already pretty far left and want someone to give you new info to support your views.

Don't see it if you're unimpressed by pandering to a liberal audience.

Also Brinkman claims to want to change minds, but some of his raps mix in other, more political issues and risks alienating the very population he claims to most want to connect to. I'm not a fan of the president, but making a diss track about him isn't going to win you new supporters, even if your other evidence would have. Similarly, mixing in the morality of gay marriage isn't necessary but makes it feel like a liberal slam piece (and this is coming from a flaming lefty).

It's a cool idea, but fails to live up to its own ideals of keeping the focus on the issue at hand, not politicizing it, and inviting everyone in.... Read more Read less

See it if you really love Cher, and don't mind hearing other audience members more than the cast.

Don't see it if you want an original take on the singer biomusical. Same devices as Summer, just Cher songs.

Also Seriously, you'll hear some audience members more than the cast on like half the songs. Even after you and the staff ask them to be quiet. Really didn't pay to listen to some lady from Nebraska sing, but that's what I got.

There is one very, very impressive dance number in the second act.... Read more Read less

See it if you're looking for a piece of queer children's theater

Don't see it if you want a more mature/adult-oriented production; this is clearly written for children.

See it if you want the best fusion of a musical, a concert, and a drag show that I've ever seen. I'm going again ASAP.

Don't see it if you're looking for a standard staging/show, or can't handle loud music.

See it if you're a fan of Michael C. Hall and can appreciate the subtlety of his performance.

Don't see it if you'd struggle to find the art in what feels like 70 minutes of stream of consciousness rambling.

Also I think this is one of those times when a show just isn't for me. Michael C. Hall is objectively good in this, but I found myself needing to focus on the intricacies of his performance rather than other aspects of the play in order to stay engaged. I stayed for a talkback and it was clear other audience members got far more from it than I did - I don't really feel like I got much, other than a greater appreciation for MCH.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a human. Seriously, it's that good.

Don't see it if you hate modern musicals? I really can't think of much of a reason not to see it.

Also I tried to find a reason not to like this show - I just couldn't. It takes all the normal high school story tropes and tells them in a way that doesn't get boring or feel cliched, despite being a well-worn concept. Multiple characters are relatable, and all are easy to find empathy for.

Normally I need to walk out singing the songs to love a musical. I didn't quite have that experience here, but it didn't matter. The whole thing is so well constructed.

Just go see it.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a creatively presented telling of a fascinating life story.

Don't see it if you're looking for a traditional play.

See it if you want a fun, hilarious queering of Elizabethan versions of greek tragedies. SUCH A GOOD TIME. I can't quite describe how much fun I had.

Don't see it if you're looking for a serious drama, or are opposed to any representation of the queer community.

See it if you want to see some fantastic acting by the lead in a very intense play.

Don't see it if you're sensitive to discussions of childhood sexual trauma or suicide.

See it if you're up for a modified version of the movie with some excellent singing

Don't see it if you're attached to an exact repeat of the movie, or loud audiences bother you - they wouldn't shut up!

See it if you like bad british accents?

Don't see it if you have anything else to do.

See it if you're looking for SNL style obvious parody (but it'll still make you laugh)

Don't see it if you prefer subtle theater

See it if you're ready to buy in to a production that's part improv, part punk show, part shadow puppets, part moral story, and part drinking game.

Don't see it if you're looking for conventional theater or are uncomfortable with participation.

See it if you want great singing and a 3 generation story.

Don't see it if you're bothered by women always being expected to forgive everything and their forgiveness being the moral high of the story.

See it if you can handle dark humor.

Don't see it if you want something light, or you're sensitive to portrayals of violence.

Also The first act outshone the 2nd a bit, but that's the only criticism I can really offer. It's well acted and clever, and another excellent reminder of how shitty and toxic men can be, and how willing people are to enable them and go along with it.

I got the bonus of a very involved audience, whose commentary added to the humor immensely.... Read more Read less

See it if you want a surprisingly funny dialogue driven drama where no one gets to be the hero.

Don't see it if you don't like dialogue driven shows - the script is really what carries the play.

Also I could have done without the last scene - it felt like wimpy white boy wish fulfillment tacked on to the end of what was otherwise a very insightful set of moral quandaries.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a revival that stays true to the original writing but interacts constructively with the current moment.

Don't see it if you're looking for a more modern musical.

Also I loved Eliza, but wasn't a fan of this portrayal of Henry.

See it if you want a good old fashioned family drama where redemption isn't necessarily on the table

Don't see it if you're not interested in queer stories or family dramas.

Also I'm surprised people are calling this dated - the homophobia some characters show is still very real. Admittedly, HIV treatments have gotten better, but that's hardly the central point of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of any of the performers

Don't see it if you need your shows to keep up with the times

Also All the performances are truly amazing - I was especially wowed by Joshua Henry (Billy), Amar Ramasar (Jigger), Lindsay Mendez (Carrie), and Brittany Pollack (Louise); Jessie Mueller was fantastic as always.

I hadn't gotten to see Carousel before, and it turns out I'm not a big fan of the musical itself, but the performances are just so good that I'm glad I went.... Read more Read less