Suburban Theater Fan

See it if You have a friend involved in the production if only to demonstrate your willingness to see anything.

Don't see it if avoidable! Film clips do a good job presenting this time. Lousy even terrible accents and hair! Painfully uncomfortable seats.

Also Trivializes rather than ennobles. The “docudrama” play can succeed but this one fails. Is it intended as amateurish? Lots of “jokes” about Medicare aimed at earning easy laughs from this aged audience. Many empty seats. Many people left at intermission.... Read more Read less

See it if ready for "serious" theater. Beautifully staged, imaginative and very faithful to the novel. Outstanding cast!

Don't see it if in the mood for "light" entertainment.

See it if You enjoy Tom Stoppard’s intellectual plays. Clever staging in the round facilitated by the ensemble. Lovely cast. “Relevant” and realistic.

Don't see it if You have difficulty following quickly spoken dialogue in English. Lots of serious conversations. The words fly in this play!

See it if You can! A sentimental journey guided by a master through his life and songs. Wit, grit, humor shine in tales of adventure, home & friends.

Don't see it if You dislike singing with harmonica, guitar and piano. You loathe American rock and roll. “Because the night” will not be a joy for you...

See it if you have seen Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” and want to explore his work with Bill Irwin a masterful interpreter of Beckett.

Don't see it if “Serious” theater and Existentialist grappling with insanity are not for you.

Also Bill Irwin is already a MacArthur Genius award winner—this show he has created and stars in shares that genius. If you can, go!! Absolutely fabulous!... Read more Read less

See it if This is your once in a lifetime opportunity to see Shakespeare in the Park. You love Marvel cartoon type villainy!

Don't see it if Othello played for laughs with Iago as the main character and Othello as the fool would drive you crazy (hence my bad review)!

Also This production presents “Othello” as a comedy not a tragedy. BIG MISTAKE.... Read more Read less

See it if Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” is a play you have read but not seen performed. An exquisite production! Great ensemble! The songs shine.

Don't see it if Not in the mood for Shakespeare’s comedy.

Also The Acting Company shines!! The actors’ play together exquisitely. Too often Malvolio dominates the show but here Feste, Sir Toby, Maria and Sir Andrew are superb. I adored Feste, the fool played by Joshua David Robinson!... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy puppets (a la “War Horse”); people as animals ( a la “Lion King” & “Cats”);fabulous singing from female leads!Versatile ensemble!

Don't see it if Under age 6. People in scary costumes= frightening =crying children! Or if you dislike a kid-dominated audience. Poopy, stinky diapers.

See it if You love great theater. Superb acting. Written by Edward Albee. Set in a gorgeous drawing room (actually a bedroom). Three great actresses!

Don't see it if Under fifty. Plenty of people should not see this: you can not turn off your cell phone;unable to concentrate on a serious drama;lack humor!

See it if A dramatic play poking fun at private school and college admissions strikes you as interesting. Who deserves admission?Check your privilege!

Don't see it if You prefer theater where the characters do not scream and lose patience with each other. No singing. No dancing. No jokes or humor or irony.

Also A better production than it deserves. The novel, “Admission” by Jean Hanfff Korelitz offers a finer, more amusing view. Tina Fey stars in the movie version.... Read more Read less

See it if What lurks beside your idyllic country house?”Contemporary “Our Town” set in a community mental health center. Great acting. Tons of crazy.

Don't see it if Not a fan of “You Want it Darker” by Leonard Cohen.“Dear Evan Hansen” & “Come from Away” are as gritty as you get. Seek pat endings.

See it if A lovely family musical, beautifully staged with marvelous acting, singing and dancing. Bring children. Fine for all ages. A fairy tale.

Don't see it if You cheer the Russian Revolution. This is a bit of nostalgia for the lost Tsarina. You are not willing to suspend disbelief.

See it if John Lithgow delights you. One man show appeals: 72 year Old waxes nostalgic and sentimental.m More like a talk at a Y than a play.

Don't see it if You want to see a play. This is a talk with stories. You loathe sentimentality (I do)—it annoys me. You dislike a visit to the barbershop.

See it if You are a fan of Robert Fairchild who has created and dances the Frankenstein role. Live organ, piano and harpsichord plus a mezzo-soprano!

Don't see it if Looking for a “finished” work. This is better viewed as a workshop than a “polished” work. Script and continuity issues galore. Not for kids

See it if You enjoy a contemporary story presented with singing by a fantastic cast playing multiple roles.

Don't see it if You detest musicals. “Bah humbug” is your motto.

See it if high energy Shakespearean comedy performed by amazingly talented actors delights you. Twelfth Night has terrific fools in subplots.

Don't see it if Zany and funny are not appealing for you or your party. You do not wish to brush up your Shakespeare.

Also The Multi-talented Fiasco Theater ensemble sings, plays instruments, slapstick, falls in love and speaks Shakespeare. The great core members plus some excellent additions! I am a huge fan! I have seen Fiasco Theater on Broadway and at TFANA. Three cheers for a true ensemble! It is a delight to see them work together.... Read more Read less

See it if You adore watching Mark Rylance. Brilliant acting:humor & madness. Lovely operatic music. Set in 1735 London and Spain. Real costumes!

Don't see it if Portrayals of madness upset you. (This one is quite moving.) You loathe operatic music. Not suitable for children. The play is a tragedy.

See it if You like a "creative" reading:opens in a brothel. The Duke (Jonathan Cake) lies on stage, shooting heroin. Talented cast. Moral decadence?

Don't see it if character development & integrity matter to you: Pregnant Mariana wears an orange is the new black prison uniform--but she isn't jailed.

See it if You don't mind contemporary staging of a play set in Ancient Rome. You enjoy Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater.

Don't see it if Hot or wet conditions bother you: we saw someone faint from the heat and the show was stopped! Extra drama at no additional charge!

See it if You adore Danny Devito: he's the only one allowed to be funny & he is! It is important to you to see this Arthur Miller play.

Don't see it if You dislike histrionics, cliched class & sibling conflict. Loose threads & holes in a plot annoy you. Hate to see talent wasted?

See it if Sutton Foster and Shuler Hensley lead this revival. Great songs, clever, intimate staging.

Don't see it if you loathe musicals and can't enjoy "Hey Big Spender."

See it if you love or even like musical theater. I have seen "Hamilton" three times and have tickets for a fourth. Worthy successor to "A Chorus Line.

Don't see it if you have trouble with fast-paced, lively shows. The pace is staccato. If your hearing is poor, listen to the music in advance.

See it if you enjoy a guy's show where the women are to be teased and tossed but are ancillary to the plot.

Don't see it if you are feeling feminist ire and a sensitivity to misogny. Tired of the "Old Boys Club" and no longer amused.

See it if in the mood for a charming, short (75 minute) show. Good for a date, to start a conversation.

Don't see it if In the mood for glitz, music and polish. This is “off Broadway” with a quiet, contemplative thought-provoking tempo.

See it if magical evening, celebrating Christmas at the home of spinster sisters in 1906 Dublin. Audience eats & drinks as dinner guests.

Don't see it if Unable to suspend disbelief to enjoy dinner “theater” in a historic townhouse, Irish Historical Society.

Also Do dress up! Dinner and drinks are served to the “audience” who are also guests at the Dinner Party. The Irish Historical Society, a beautiful townhouse is on Fifth Avenue and 80th Street, across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is an absolute treat of an evening: someone else’s family drama hosted by refined gentile ladies who love classical music and opera. Sub-plots: alcoholism, Irish-British tensions, memories of the Great Irish famine. A bit of Chekhov and Ibsen too.... Read more Read less

See it if If you feel like chanting when prompted, “I’m mad as hell and not going to take it any longer.” If watching Bryan Cranston is treat enough.

Don't see it if You expect a farce.It’s reality. Not fun. Not funny. Tony Goldwyn looks pained.Other actors shout. Two hours. No intermission.

See it if A fan of Edie Falco or Peter Scolari—marvelous to watch and a treat to hear as a long-married couple. Rapid fire dialogue=live theater!

Don't see it if you are politically active. Cynical, mean view of beloved real people. Not on par with Wm Kennedy’s Albany novels. Not worthy of the cast!

See it if A great staging with superb acting of Eugene O’Neill’s devastating portrait of an addicted mother and her alcoholic husband and sons.

Don't see it if Three hour show about a family crashing on the shoals (hear the waves approaching their beach house): you know how this ends..

Also Pair with Denzel Washington’s “The Ice Man Cometh!” Eugene O’Neill addresses the question: How do people support and destroy each other? (Especially in the days before medicine and therapy). Remember, to cheer yourself, that his daughter, Oona married Charlie Chaplin and lived happily ever after (without him).
Jeremy Irons’ accent swings in and out: some Philadelphia, some marble-mouthed, Long Island lockjaw— adding to the live show’s charm.... Read more Read less

See it if A Harry Potter fan:characters come alive!Lively staging. Great movement. Special effects.🦉Spectacle! Recommended for 12 years old & up.

Don't see it if Under twelve. NOT able to suspend disbelief. Are sensitive to strobe or flashing lights or loud noises.

Also See Part One if you can only see one. It is more interesting and surprising. If you have not read the books, read the plot synopses (online). Not the same audience as “Frozen”(older).... Read more Read less

See it if You love the songs. Renee Fleming and Joshua Henry superbly deliver the musical’s memorable numbers. Updated choreography. Fine ensemble.

Don't see it if the plot matters to you: it can not withstand scrutiny. My husband sat through the show but said no more shows for him for a while.

Also The Saturday matinee we saw was twice (2!!) stopped by ill audience members. The first number was stopped by an older man’s illness and “removal” by EMTs. A young boy seated in front of us (center orchestra) slept through the first act and awoke vomiting in the second. The show stopped. Numerous doctors and the stage manager appeared and helped escort the ill boy and his family out of the show. This was actually horrible. These events colored the experience. A sick person should not be brought to a show!!! A child can not be expected to remain asleep for the whole show!!!!
Carousel tickets read “no one under four” but for Carousel, 12 sounds like a more appropriate age!!
The performers did an excellent job of resuming after each audience interruption.... Read more Read less

See it if You like classic, BroadwaLerner & Lowe musicals. Excellent supporting actors. Clever staging. Similar to “She Loves Me.”

Don't see it if Expecting the movie version. Theater in the round: you are above the stage.

Also I may be underrating the show. I saw a preview performance on March 22nd, nearly a month before Opening night, plenty of time for improvement!! Lights need to be focused on the performers (too dark to see them!). Sound needs better projection.... Read more Read less

See it if A magical musical would delight you. Singing, acting, staging, costumes: the full package. Fun for all ages.

Don't see it if In the mood for serious drama.

See it if A contemporary family drama appeals. Pleased to see people of different abilities portrayed with sensitivity and humor.

Don't see it if A play about adult siblings burying their father is not appropriate or appealing.

See it if Turning the economic theories of Adam smith into a play—a farce sounds like fun. It is! Comedia del’economics! Marvelous acting.

Don't see it if Satire and spoof are not your thing. If moral ambiguity and self-examination exhaust you or go over your head.

Also The usher sat other people in our excellent third row (aisle) seats and told us to sit in the back row until at least the intermission when we could let her know if we wanted to move. I decided this was part of the play: Check your privilege?
P.S. yes, we moved up at the intermission. No, I did not express my displeasure that she had given away “our” seats and insist that she move the other people back immediately. What would you do?... Read more Read less

See it if “Serious drama” has a place in your schedule. Three character play set in England:educated people dealing with nuclear disaster.

Don't see it if You opt for upbeat Theater with a positive message.

See it if Carol King delights you. This is a wonderful staging of her rise: the songs are the story. “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

Don't see it if You dislike Carol King and contemporary music.

See it if Bernadette Peters is Dolly! A great Broadway musical. The orchestra is superb and having fun. The cast and staging are fabulous. Pure magic!

Don't see it if Not a fan of classic American musicals. You are not willing to be amused.

See it if a “drawing room comedy” set in today’s Washington, D.C. with brilliant actors and jokes poking fun at those currently in power might amuse.

Don't see it if You are a Republican or Conservative. As we left, I overheard someone say, “It wasn’t that funny for me because I am a Conservative.”

Also The all-star cast is fabulous: Uma Thurman, Blair Brown, Phillipa Soo, Josh Lucas.... Read more Read less

See it if Brigadoon opens again! Lovely Lerner and Loewe music, enchanting singing, original WHEELDON choreography. Witty. Clever production. Sweet!

Don't see it if you disdain romantic musicals and refuse to be entranced. You would prefer to cry over the NY Giants or Knicks?

See it if You enjoy charming musicals. Lovely swing tunes appropriate for the 1940s setting. Terrific choreography!

Don't see it if you are looking for a serious drama.

See it if Ready for a lively show with great swing music, singing, humor plus a serious story about WWII and race relations. Go to DUMBO, Brooklyn!

Don't see it if (Everyone should see this.) A trip to Brooklyn is easy!

See it if You can laugh at adolescent angst. You enjoy a "contemporary" ensemble theater piece.

Don't see it if Do not bring children under age 13. It's a show about a teenager's suicide. Be warned!

See it if you are interested in commedia dell'arte.

Don't see it if improvisation and slap-stick annoy you. You prefer "serious" theater.

See it if You like an "out of the box" show. Used the whole theater with cast members coming into the aisles. Strobe lights: flash! Great costumes.

Don't see it if You prefer sedate and quiet shows. Dislike rock and roll and "loud" shoes. Are sensitive to blinking or flashing strobe lights.

See it if mocking Mormons and Africans is light-hearted fun for you. Clever musicals amuse you.

Don't see it if you dislike mocking Mormons and Africans. Clever musicals annoy you.

See it if you are in the mood for a musical to see with your girlfriends. Sara Bareilles songs are good. The plot is light (like meringue).

Don't see it if You are with guys who would prefer "School of Rock" or "Kinky Boots."

See it if you want to see a clever, satirical contemporary comedy.

Don't see it if you prefer period pieces or classics.