Susie 6156

See it if Nice story about marriage & loss with musical accompaniment. Nothing ground-breaking but appealing cast & more than decent singing.

Don't see it if Some voices are not strong enough, some lyrics are lost in the strongest voice & closing song panders to bad taste but overall endearing.

See it if You are a John Guare fan. A play about memories, real and reconceived, that goes a wild & long way round to get to conclusion.

Don't see it if A rather indulgent visit to the past. Hard to figure out just what Guare wants audience to understand & sometimes too self-conscious.

See it if Story of empathy training in corporate office hits expected notes in an outsized, over-the-top manner with clever acting.

Don't see it if Slightly manic tone may mask real pain, some roles are not quite distinguishable from others, but message needs to be reiterated.

Also A fellow patron was complaining about the misogynistic tone of the play to all who could hear. Men’s power in the workplace, however, has not been allayed by laws or by what is often dismissed as overly p.c. assertions so women remain at risk. This play is not perfect in tone but the “old boy’s club” mentality continues to exist in far too many situations & is fair game for examination.... Read more Read less

See it if Two couples face the fallout of bullying in this timely, emotional, believable story. Characters are plausible & relatable,

Don't see it if Emotions run very high so be aware that the discussion is frank,

See it if Sharply intuitive first scene of a woman’s unhappy life is excellent. Fine acting, nice set

Don't see it if Something unpleasantly accusatory in depiction of unfulfilled life. If one is unhappy to say one is either a shrew or insane Is belittling.

See it if Story of the danger of beauty acted, danced & intoned con brio. Appealing set & costumes.

Don't see it if A not very sophisticated if heartfelt cautionary tale. Needs greater depth & editing.

See it if Jeremy O. Harris is angry. His play pulls from Greek tragedy & modern themes. Lots of male nudity & strong acting.

Don't see it if Too many themes, too much histrionics & too long but you probably will want to have seen this production.

See it if Two fine actors perform monologues in two sad stories of loss. Love & heartbreak well acted.

Don't see it if Too large a performance space for these intimate plays. Also, topics & protagonists are too similar so little more is revealed in 2nd piece.

See it if Even when one does good works, ethics are compromised & one has to deal with that knowledge. Strong actors, in particular Sriram.

Don't see it if A little bit preachy but clever & quick enough to hold audience attention.

See it if Powerfully entertaining story of black actress’s 1930’s experience. Slightly hysterical writing/schizophrenic in point of view

Don't see it if First act is far too long & even misleading as to where story resolves so stay for second even if you are baffled or irritated.

See it if Immersion in one of the great American novels, charmingly related, innovatively staged. A long time to sit but so well paced.

Don't see it if This is an 8 hour production. One or two of the actors are not quite up to the ability of the others.

See it if Funny bitter look at a terrible marriage. Think Scandinavian 19th century “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” or “War Between the Roses”

Don't see it if You don’t want to believe love and hate can coexist between a long-married couple married

See it if Family history & issues are spun as different members unwillingly share information. Sort of refreshing/sort of diabolical.

Don't see it if If you're not comfortable with lots of high volume anger, this is not for you.

See it if Convincing family drama about finding one’s way back and forgiveness.

Don't see it if Accessible but not deep, more of a polished student effort. Feels very personal (which isn’t a criticism).

See it if Thoughtful one act plays where individuals try to make peace with inner demons & with the world. Ruminative but not as bitter as past plays

Don't see it if Two are monologues. Be forewarned: one topic is who writes history using Hitler as prism.

See it if Decent coming of age story set in boys’ church-based private school with wonderful a capella singing.

Don't see it if Themes are predictable if heartfelt and some lines are mumbled but the musical numbers are terrific.

See it if Women telephone operators in WW1- who knew? Interesting topic presented by winning cast who act, sing & dance while playing instruments.

Don't see it if You’ll like it so watch for its next staging. A little long, 2nd act music not on par with 1st, but that’s just nitpicking.

See it if A dose of reality hits Undine -how she deals with it forms arc of play. A measuring of upward/downward mobility told with insight & humor.

Don't see it if Image of black, middle class urban life, slightly cliche, slightly dated.

See it if If Aaron Sorkin wrote his own play I wouldn;t carp, but to eviscerate the charm, however wrong the fact of rampant racism, of Lee’s story to

Don't see it if ...serve as un-nuanced reflection on today’s world, is a mistake. Like being at a well-crafted play designed for junior high students.

See it if A clever enough sendup of the Christmas season with plenty of irreverence & scatalogical language.

Don't see it if Don’t expect a compelling story - cartoonish characters, little relatable emotion. But there are lots of laughs & is still previewing.

See it if A story of the issues of emigration & the values one holds onto mixed into a consideration of A Doll’s House. Who one is vs. who one was.

Don't see it if Lots of themes can be confusing & some plot points telegraphed early on, but a strong feminine voice. Acting/accents a bit uneven,

See it if You want to have a great topic for your next dinner party. You go to Stoppard plays for the ideas: egotism v. altruism. Well-played.

Don't see it if Once you have the concept, the play goes on a little too long. Frenzied staging detracts from measured acting. Serious but not stodgy.

See it if Three hander exploring racism, homophobia & general suspicion of the different among us but also incorporating every urban woe.

Don't see it if Characters confuse own points of view & sometimes shout over each other. Play’s intent somewhat unfocused & not original.

See it if Explores topic of passive & obvious forms of racism through experiences of three family members.

Don't see it if If play had stayed focused on the family”s need to act as though their world was fair & their reactions to the actual, it would be stronger

See it if An entertaining evisceration of the modern angst over portraying the real Thanksgiving in a grade school play. Talented cast.

Don't see it if The real damage done minority culture gets lost in silliness but the play speaks some truth and is great fun.

See it if Interesting premise where two young religious Jews deal with observance & commitment. Some strong acting; engaging first part.

Don't see it if There’s a problem with long soliloquy & ending & 2 main characters have little chemistry but overall an interesting voice.

See it if What if all black people in the US left? How would this directive be received? Clever premise, some strong, talented acting.

Don't see it if The show is loud & in-your-face. Some may find language offensive. Issue: some of best almost poetic lines are rushed & unintelligible

See it if A totally absorbing appreciation of a sad era of American history where dignity is given to those who suffered via musical interpretation.

Don't see it if Elegiac in fact & in effect, there is a necessary slow pace to the hour-long show but it’s not a criticism.

See it if One man piece about Hollywood black-listing interspersed with sweet if old jokes.

Don't see it if Rare for NYC, the material is better than the actor. This play deserves another production with a more nuanced portrayal.

See it if An interesting quasi-historical, social disquisition on the fate of black women’s role in history told in a swath of connected scenes.

Don't see it if Sometimes the stories are lost in the frenzied change of characters & scenes, 6 women playing many roles, but action is always exciting.

See it if Ethan Hawke: you’ve never imagined line readings as he can deliver. Mad, scary & endearing. Pau Dano: coiled emotions adroitly portrayed.

Don't see it if An over-the-top Cain & Abel story with physical violence that’s unclear in its final intention. Kind of a thrill ride; see it for the acting

See it if Pleasant production about a teen & his mother missing his father, his emotional need for a superhero & the one he finds.

Don't see it if Unfortunate, thin characterizations, banal lyrics & changes of range that do not improve the melodies keep this musical from being memorable

See it if Intense two-hander evolves from romance to drama in tightly plotted 70 minutes. Achingly sensitive as lovers try to understand each other.

Don't see it if Very emotive and well done, but occasionally the messages, important as they are, overwhelm the interplay between actors.

See it if A cross gender affectionate paean to a dramatic talented hair band.

Don't see it if The drama never rises to anything authentic. Is it played for laughs or pathos?

See it if Classic Irish theater, remarkably well-observed characterizations, every human emotion & historical, too in under 2 hours.

Don't see it if All the actors have Irish accents but the language is so lyrical that a few missed words hardly matter.

See it if Carnal, blistering adaptation of Miss Julie. Lots of symbolism.

Don't see it if Heavy-handed, melodramatic interpretation hampered by unintelligible and/or hit-or-miss accents. To be fair, some of the audience loved it.

See it if A poignant, honest look at a family dealing with the scourge of senility with love, dignity & humor and the most perfect cast anywhere.

Don't see it if Not everyone likes drama to contain such realistic issues, but the play encompasses all the emotions a family feels. My favorite Lonergan.

See it if Story of difficult diplomacy involving women protagonists replete with ambition, role playing & modern realities.

Don't see it if Serious stuff. Drags a bit midway, then picks up pace for satisfying resolution.

See it if Entertaining take on today's sorry political divide. Week-paced.

Don't see it if Sharp start but needs more teeth on second half.

See it if A not always successful combination of Toscanini’s struggle against fascism/with love punctuated by interludes of gorgeous music played by

Don't see it if ...six remarkable musicians. If you don’t like classical music you won’t enjoy. Music is more compelling than drama but different & moving

See it if A plot set in a halfway house, where redemption can mean getting back to outside life or working through the underlying issues.

Don't see it if Still in need of editing & some pivotal characters are not yet fully realized. Somewhat cynical use of feminism.

See it if The stresses of transition from college to working life interest you, particularly how social relationships morph as situations change.

Don't see it if This effort’s millennial focus is applicable to other life changes but may seem too self-conscious. Good script, a bit overacted.

See it if Heartwarming portrayal of love & heartbreak set in NYC’s gay lifestyle of 1971-1980. Every line is milked for a range of emotions.

Don't see it if 2 tiny caveats: wish Michael Urie did less Harvey Fierstein & more himself (but is still great) & Jack DiFalco is now too old for role

See it if ...dysfunctional family where mother gets the blame is interesting. Stockard Channing is, as always, very good.

Don't see it if Maybe you haven’t seen this particular play, but you have seen this dynamic before. Several superfluous characters add little to action.

See it if Honest treatment dealing with disappointment - in plans, in dreams, in belief structure - for young individuals & perhaps for America.

Don't see it if Lewiston is a bit hollow, although Connor character is compelling. Clarkston’s tension, with excellent performances, is palpable.

See it if Loneliness takes on depth when applied to particular situations in the two Koreas. Small stories almost overwhelmed by intricate staging.

Don't see it if The Tory is a drama wrapped in glistening technology. Remember that at denouement. Also, be aware some of the technology & music is loud.

See it if A joyous, if rueful, story of Broadway gypsy’s hopes & dreams, as they climb or descend or hang onto their aspirations of fulfillment.

Don't see it if It’s the same show you saw 40 years ago, so nostalgic, some dialogue no longer shocks, some singing shrill but the audience was thrilled.

See it if A strong solo performance running through all emotions & packing quite a punch. What may seem like rambling isn’t..

Don't see it if A play that unfolds slowly, bit by bit, & is a solo performance is not your taste.

See it if Well constructed story of the chipping away of a young woman’s identity through minor, major &/or personal incidents. Brave portrayal.

Don't see it if There is frank talk & some action around sex, race, nudity & other inappropriate social behaviors, telling a very personal journey.

See it if A modern memory piece of overlapping losses, told from 5 characters points of view. Overtones of Our Town.

Don't see it if Confusing time lines. You have to stay focused, but with capable staging & actors, you will.