Moose Murders

See it if you want old-fashioned musical with lovely tunes and light, amusing tale. Great choice (again) for Encores. Gotay & Worsham esp. good.

Don't see it if You want something new or edgy - or you want lead w/powerhouse singing. Cusack's voice lovely for some scores, but not for belting Berlin.

See it if you want a DARK play (not a comedy) about family secrets and unresolved past. Harsh, intense, often unrelenting - w/shrill characters.

Don't see it if you want thoughtful story or characterization. Good performances undermined by weakness of play's overall construction & darkness.

See it if you want an impish spoof of PAJAMA GAME (music set to new - and often sexually graphic - lyrics). Earnest actors, lively engagement.

Don't see it if you expect the highest caliber professional polish. This is a workshop-in-waiting - eagerly trying out material. Spoof could be cleverer.

See it if you like LaBute's desire to shock with what's behind seemingly polite facades, or plays where characters speak apparent truths w/o guile.

Don't see it if you don't appreciate somewhat rambling, albeit usually interesting monologues (2 of the 3 pieces) where characters reveal un-PC thoughts.

See it if you want a classical chamber concert rather than a play. Minimal story/dialogue, but lots of lovely music, skillfully performed.

Don't see it if you expect compelling storytelling. Play seems to omit opportunity to make interesting its tale of conductor's opposition to fascism.

See it if you want the warmth of a Xmas fireside, family & friends, and a child's holiday joy -- with Xmas music amidst Thomas' lovely prose poem.

Don't see it if you want major plot or flashy effects. This is sweet, heartwarming, beautifully staged, with lovely performances & singing (esp. Barasch).

See it if you like naturalistic drama, evocative of THE HUMANS or THE PROFANE -- about Iraqi-Americans grappling w/cultural boundaries & dislocation.

Don't see it if you want something big & splashy. This is thoughtful drama -- although the messages are a bit muddled at times. Superb acting all-around.

See it if you want an emotionally powerful tale of love, family, & principle in an era of greater marriage equality. Great acting, riveting story.

Don't see it if you're not comfortable with the loves and lives of same-sex couples, or confronting the residual power that society's bigotry can confer.

See it if you want intense family drama in context of 1981 N. Ireland troubles. Gripping story, well-acted.

Don't see it if you want spectacle. This is drama of N. Irish farm family grappling with country's long struggle between IRA and UK - & resulting deaths.

See it if you want intense, ripped-from-headlines drama re young black men in police custody. Superb acting by all and terrific, understated staging.

Don't see it if Similar in style - and some themes - to SWEAT and LOBBY HERO. Not as good as former, better than latter. A bit 'TV movie' in feel/style.

See it if you want clever/witty -- but not particularly thought-provoking -- exploration of nature of truth. Great acting from all three.

Don't see it if want something more intellectually stimulating. This is light entertainment - glibly & wittily addressing Franzen- or Frey-like author.

See it if you want brilliantly written/staged adaptation of classic. SUPERB acting in gripping tale of power of race & class in US -- sadly timeless.

Don't see it if you're not prepared for story's emotional wallop evoked by award-worthy performances (esp. Daniels, Keenan-Bolger, Glick, & Jackson).

Also Second act a bit slow, but probably a function that this was early in previews. Confident that they'll work it out.... Read more Read less

See it if you want mash-up of HAIRSPRAY & KINKY BOOTS promoting LGBT acceptance. Great dancing. Acting standouts are Kinnunen, Schworer, & Ashmanskas.

Don't see it if Sweetly earnest, if at times patronizing, with sometimes indifferent music (altho "Zazz" in Act 2 is great!). Many theater insider jokes.

See it if you want a sweet, tender, clever chamber (4-person) musical re: lives & loves of 20-something NYers. GREAT writing, songs, & performances.

Don't see it if you want big & splashy. This is spare & lovely. Similar in style & tone to LAST FIVE YEARS. Songs (esp. "I'll Be Here") pack a punch.

See it if you want original music that superbly captures American Songbook - telling tender story of gay male cabaret duo in closeted love in 1960s.

Don't see it if you're not open to gay romance, cabaret performance, gay American history, or classic 1940's style music. THE MUSIC IS THE TRUE GEM HERE.

See it if you want SUPERB acting in admittedly hard-to-watch tale. Story of Job applied to family of man in recovery: pain/sorrow test faith/spirit.

Don't see it if you don't want wrenching, intense tale of tragedies, struggle, & grief - powerful piece. Evokes Jordan's YEN or McCraney's HEAD OF PASSES.

See it if you want GREAT ACTING in tour-de-force solo where O'Regan brings to life 20+ roles. Story like WAR HORSE (PP less emotional), w/out puppets.

Don't see it if you're not interested in story of country lad who soldiers in WWI - and experiences the pain and inanity of war, esp. that brutal one.

See it if you want a still-relevant, well-acted play re: nexus of political and personal views - in 1930s piece about unions, strikes, and loyalty.

Don't see it if you wouldn't appreciate an overlooked play. Great staging, although play's central theme sometimes distracted by sub-plot of marriage.

See it if POSSIBILITIES: 4 one-acts a la Stoppard+Brecht+Orwell re: despotism. AFTER-DINNER JOKE: Dated, slow, albeit good premise (int'l charity).

Don't see it if Expected more from Caryl Churchill's piece, which felt like extended and simplistic analysis of charity vs. politics as motive for action.

See it if you want an intelligent piece of theater that entertainingly tells of 20th century women's history through lens of popular music. Well done!

Don't see it if you're not open to thinking about the evolution of women's roles -- from property to (greater) equality. Gotta love fun pop music, too.

See it if you want naturalistic theater and plays that try to tackle white male privilege - and can tolerate very confused writing & minimal plot.

Don't see it if Tries to be THE HUMANS or even ADMISSIONS, but is more like depressed time with TV "Friends" Ross, Chandler, & Joey. Sadly, not worthwhile.

Also Clever use of frame around stage to make the piece look/feel like a museum-type diorama of a specimen worth examining. Unfortunately, this clever aspect of set was the only clever element to this otherwise confused and disappointing piece.
Like others, had trouble figuring out the purpose of the two "Persons in charge." Humorous intro, but not fundamentally relevant for the play, and they never meaningfully appeared again.... Read more Read less

See it if Intense and often confusing play that seems like it's about big themes such as "finding one's purpose," but is ultimately about far less.

Don't see it if you want something profound. Tries to be HEISENBERG, but ends up being a cautionary tale about trust, strangers, money, and security.

See it if you want DARK comedy/absurdist satire re bigotry & madness that follows Swiftian thinking to violent ends in context of N. Ireland troubles.

Don't see it if you're not prepared for gruesome - and fundamentally unnecessary - violence, amid much talk of N. Ireland politics. Very hard to watch.

Also Several audience members walked out of an admittedly difficult piece. Ultimately, the violence was unnecessary to the theatrical endeavor - and led to a weak ShowScore number despite clever political comedy in first 1/3 of play.... Read more Read less

See it if A witty, intelligent 45-minute play stuffed into 90 minutes; the remaining 45 min is clever but only loosely connected to the primary play.

Don't see it if Exploration of contemporary LGBT social/political themes - w/ SUPERB acting. But, unfocused writing detracts & is ultimately unsatisfying.

See it if you liked HEISENBERG or Egoyan's film "Sweet Hereafter." Intense & often confusing dyad play tackling personal, relational, societal issues.

Don't see it if Solid acting & direction can't compensate for authorial overreach in trying (w/o success) to make play's (hidden) theme bigger than it is.

See it if you want the essence of this superb Sondheim musical - deconstructed & reconstructed to excavate the show's heart. Strong music+plot combo.

Don't see it if you want meaningful character development along with story & music. Stripped down (and slightly expanded) book too full and yet slow.

See it if you want riveting piece re: role and power of civil disobedience in a democracy. Three actors superbly play all roles in Vietnam-era trial.

Don't see it if you're not prepared to grapple with complex social & political issues. Powerful & intense. Creative staging at times confusing or slow.

See it if you want an ebullient, modern day, rock-soaked MUSIC MAN. Fun, funny, with rock music that fits and enhances story & character. Enjoyable!

Don't see it if you want something new or innovative. This is a feel-good, upbeat tale -- albeit with cliched characters/story. Nothing edgy, but good fun.

See it if you want compelling first-person narrative of life and challenges of gay male commercial sex worker. Wonderful performance, well-staged.

Don't see it if you won't appreciate frank talk about male-male sex, or sex for money. Play is wordy (editing advised), but a unique theater experience.

See it if you like "magical realism." Intelligent & thoughtful premise, but wooden dialogue. Great insight, tho, into US-Mexico immigration history.

Don't see it if you don't appreciate poetic text, or "Twilight Zone"-type story. Acting was so-so, except for Del Fabro who was excellent.

See it if Why adapt a movie for stage if not going to use uniqueness of live theater to tell story in new ways? That's NETWORK'S problem; see movie.

Don't see it if Frenzied/confused/confusing staging can't make up for passionless story-telling. Cranston is great, but other performances indifferent.

See it if you want *brilliantly* staged blend of story & a cappella gospel. Evokes HISTORY BOYS &"Dead Poets Society" in school for young black men.

Don't see it if you're not comfortable with young gay men exploring sexuality in context of schoolboy homophobia and pressure to conform. Cliched at times.

See it if you want quintessentially Stoppard play re science vs faith, nature vs nurture. Intelligent, but feels like late-night grad student debate.

Don't see it if you're not prepared to think about philosophy, science, consciousness, and god. Terrific acting in academic, intellectually-grounded play.

See it if you want theme park spectacle & effects more than quality theater. Terrific Kong mechanism evokes emotion - which music & acting do not.

Don't see it if you want music or dance that enhance story; they're extraneous in this beauty-beast tale. Show is entertaining, but good B'way theater? No.

See it if you want run-of-the-mill bio with mundane, linear storyline. Seemingly interchangeable performances among 3 leads. Mackie fashion show!

Don't see it if you want creative telling of Cher's tale. Pedestrian structure represses energy. Cher's music interspersed with Fats Waller(?!) & more??

Also See it for the Mackie costumes and the periodic concert-like feel.

See it if you want exploration of loneliness of 2 connecting via social media -- amidst issues of N. & S. Korea, and husbands separated from family.

Don't see it if you want engaging theater. SLOW, with repetitive chorus "performing" the buzz of facebook, online dating, & instagram. Contrived & tedious.

See it if you want exploration of assimilationism & anti-black violence in US, presented sitcom style. Important topic, oddly/disappointingly shown.

Don't see it if you want clear, compelling piece. Great acting can't rescue confusing cognitive dissonance. Comedy can reveal pain, but doesn't do so here.

See it if you want a mash-up of MOTHER COURAGE & Capra's "Lady For A Day." Great acting in so-so play (is it comedy or tragedy?) about Joan's mother.

Don't see it if Quite slow. Imagine medieval mom's reaction to daughter who hears saints & leads army. Tale told thru tertiary characters a la R&G ARE DEAD.

See it if you appreciate tender spoof of Merman's musicals, current B'way, or Mormon missionaries. Sweet satire w/campy score evoking Merman's hits.

Don't see it if you want polish and spectacle. This is a sweet, off-off-B'way show -- and is ably performed by a hardworking cast of 3. Sometimes slow.

See it if SUPERB use of Dylan songs which feel organic to story & characters in compelling tale of Depression-era boarding house residents in Duluth.

Don't see it if you're not drawn by exceptional theater w/Eugene O'neill-type story/characters + GRAND HOTEL-type structure + Dylan's music. Pulls you in!

Also I predict this will move to Broadway.

See it if you like quirky comedy & oddball characters. Not as funny as ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, but entertaining British romp thru championship snooker.

Don't see it if you want something serious or contemplative - or don't like wordplay comedy. Offbeat way to integrate snooker play itself might seem dry.

See it if you want superb acting (esp. the divine McTeer) & smart writing. A proto-feminist Margot Channning opts to perform Hamlet - shocks critics.

Don't see it if you want flash/action. This is thoughtful & talky -- & overly wordy at times. Intelligent - albeit overwrought - dialogue. Needs a trim?

See it if you want thought-provoking theater about the nature of consent, responsibility, and sex. Strong performances about hook-up and aftermath.

Don't see it if you're not prepared for frank discussions of male-male sex, or intense interaction over fraught post-hook-up situation. Powerful. Worth it.

See it if you want a fun musical full of laughs and heart. Mash-up of FULL MONTY + SCHOOL OF ROCK + WEDDING SINGER. Great performances, esp. Klaitz.

Don't see it if you want something serious or w/ message. This is warmly cliched, humorously predictable, all-around fun. Music is so-so, lyrics clever.

Also Sound needs work. Band overpowered singing, making lyrics hard to discern in any songs sung as a group. Saw it early in previews, so hopefully they'll work this out ... esp. since the lyrics (when heard) are wickedly funny.... Read more Read less

See it if you want boisterous fun where "Arcadia" story integrated hilariously with Go-Go's upbeat music. Great performances (esp Milligan & Durand).

Don't see it if you want something serious or deep. This is delightfully silly fun, with a sweet message about diversity & acceptance embedded within.

See it if you want great performances (esp. Menzel, Brittain, Gelb) in a witty play about youth, beauty, love, lust, and aging in relationships.

Don't see it if you want concise/tight story-telling. This is clever, timely ideas packaged in an occasionally long-winded -- albeit well-staged -- play.

See it if you want a flawlessly staged production of a little-known theatrical gem. About politics and love in 1920s UK - but timeless in essence.

Don't see it if you want flashy spectacle. This is brilliant acting in an intelligent and superbly presented play. Evokes Noel Coward, but more political.

See it if you value the works of classic musical composers. Sweet show w/ lovely score. Despite many revisions, though, book still needs work.

Don't see it if you want strong direction or performances. Admittedly enjoyable music/lyrics weakened by community theater-level production.

See it if you want a beautifully executed classic musical - w/ SUPERB performances (esp. Mueller, Henry, Mendez). Masterful R&H score, lovely tale!

Don't see it if you want something edgy or aggressive. This is a flawlessly, emotionally-laden production of one of the truly great American musicals.

See it if you liked Stoppard's INVENTION OF LOVE. Clever, witty dialogue and superb performances bringing Williams and Inge to life, lit, and lust.

Don't see it if Overly long & talk-y (could cut 1/4 of play, particularly Inge's long monologues). Act 2 didn't live up to the wit and energy of Act 1.