Tony 7264

See it if You are a fan of Sam Shepard's writing and are unfamiliar with this rarely produced play.

Don't see it if you prefer naturalism to absurdism.

Also Shepard once seemed the quintessential theatrical voice of the countercultural generation.
Now the work seems dated and obvious.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Adam Driver.

Don't see it if you are not an ardent fan of Lanford Wilson's plays.

Also "Burn This" was never one of Lanford Wilson's best plays though it has some very moving moments. The romance at its core remains unconvincing and the production is sluggish - except for Adam Driver's theatrical performance.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy classic Broadway musicals and appreciate Cole Porter's clever lyrics.

Don't see it if you have fond memories of the Marin Mazzie/Brian Stokes Mitchell production.

Also Tamed down for the "me-too" age, the production is enjoyable but never catches fire.... Read more Read less

See it if you relish the opportunity to see this rarely staged Jacobean tragedy.

Don't see it if you do not like modern updates of classic works.

Also John Webster's dark and violent revenge tragedy comes off in this tone-deaf production as a mixture of farce and campy melodrama. This is a great play but you would never know it from this production which is more likely to induce laughter than shivers.... Read more Read less

See it if you are an ardent fan of Ethan Hawke, Paul Dano or Sam Shepherd.

Don't see it if you have fond memories of previous productions.

Also The first posthumously produced revival of a Shepherd play is a vehicle for two actors to chew up the scenery which they do with relish, but little more than that.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Edwardian drawing room comedy.

Don't see it if you don't like Shaw or Galsworthy.

Also The Mint Theatre's most ambitious project since its resurrection of the reputation of Teresa Deevey, Elizabeth Baker's play is the first of several projected stagings of her work. While not great, it made me look forward to other plays in the series.... Read more Read less

See it if you like Irish drama.

Don't see it if you find Irish accents hard to understand.

Also One of the greatest plays I've seen in the last decade. They don't write plays like this anymore: plays with a large ensemble cast and with the richness and panorama usually reserved for novels. This is a play that will no doubt stand the test of time.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a play exploring the lives of characters rarely seen on the NY Stage.

Don't see it if you think drama should reveal characters and their dilemmas rather than having them tell about their dilemmas.

Also Using "A Doll's House" as a sort of template, the play explores the lives of Iraqi Christians in exile. Because of the original premise, I wanted to like this play ... but found it less insightful than I was hoping for.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a contemporary play that addresses issues of race, gender and class in bold and honest ways.

Don't see it if you want theatre that allows you to escape from the world rather than plays that hold up a mirror to the world.

Also Only 90 minutes long, but the play packs a shattering wallop. This is why we keep going to the theatre!... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy plays exploring theatre history or, more generally, with theatrical settings.

Don't see it if you like plays that are complex and thoughtful.

Also It would be more rewarding to see Janet McTeer actually playing Hamlet (as she did Petruchio in Cental Park a couple of summers ago) rather than seeing her playing Sarah Bernhardt wanting to play Hamlet.... Read more Read less

See it if you are intrigued by two actors (one speaking English, the other ASL) perform the same roles simultaneously.

Don't see it if you want to see a play with well rounded characters and where the theme is dramatized rather than simply discussed.

Also Craig Lucas tackles the Book of Job which in retrospect seems to be constant motif in so much of his work. Somewhere in here is a potentially good play; though it is currently rather dramatically inert.... Read more Read less

See it if you want the opportunity to see an obscure play by Tennessee Williams.

Don't see it if you are not interested in minor plays by major writers.

Also Towards the end of his career, Tennessee Williams returned to Depression era St Louis, the setting of his first great play. Unfortunately, lightening did not strike twice! The cast of characters consists of four lonely spinsters of varying dispositions and sensitivities, but instead of Williams' usual pathos and sympathy, they are treated as comic grotesques.... Read more Read less

See it if you are an A.R. Gurney completest.

Don't see it if you think theatre should offer something richer than TV.

Also Sub-par Gurney.

See it if you want to see an example of a classic 20th Century American musical ever so slightly tweaked to make it suitable for the 21st Century.

Don't see it if you like musicals with a lot of razzle-dazzle rather than musicals that are character driven.

Also My Fair Lady is indeed one of the great American musicals mostly because of the intelligence and depth of Shaw's original play on which it is based. The melodic score is merely the icing on the cake.... Read more Read less

See it if you like the plays of G.B. Shaw

Don't see it if you do not like polemical romantic comedies.

Also An obscure play well worth reviving. The Mint Theatre continues to astonish with the high quality of their productions and their ability to restore forgotten plays.... Read more Read less

See it if you have not seen a production of "Othello" in awhile.

Don't see it if you think tragedy should be compelling and cathartic.

Also There's something wrong when a racoon running cross the stage is more riveting than anything else. Shakespeare upstaged by a racoon!... Read more Read less

See it if you want to become better acquainted with the writing of Marina Carr.

Don't see it if you do not like obvious and heavy-handed drama.

Also It evokes memories of both "Three Tall Women" and Sebastian Barry's "Our Lady of Sligo," both much better plays.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to have your faith in humanity restored.

Don't see it if you like musicals that are lavish.

Also I read that the Tony Awards are considering the possibility of a new category for Best Ensemble. If so, they should consider giving this show an award in this category retrospectively.... Read more Read less

See it if you like classic American musicals.

Don't see it if you think musicals should be warm, cuddly and frivolous.

Also Justin Peck's choreography alone would be worth the price of a ticket, but there are other highlights as well, especially Joshua Henry's outstanding performance.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of GB Shaw.

Don't see it if do not like historical drama.

Also The production fails to make the case that this is a play worth reviving.... Read more Read less

See it if you have never seen a production of "King Lear" .... or even if you have seen a dozen productions.

Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare ....

Also I've seen many a production of Lear and while some have been more moving, few have been as chilling and powerful. Sher portrays Lear as a Biblical patriarch railing against the gods. Though this is a "star vehicle," it being an RSC production means nearly every actor is equally good.... Read more Read less

See it if you like shows that try to do something different, even if they don't succeed.

Don't see it if your taste in musicals includes fully fleshed out characters and complex plots.

Also This show had great promise but its possibilities were mostly squandered. There is a lovely klezmer infused score throughout but the songs rarely grow from the dramatic situation; instead they seem grafted on to scenes. The book substitutes quirkiness for character development and the scenes are often shapeless.... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays by Shaw and Galsworthy.

Don't see it if you like shows that dazzle and hit you over the head.

Also The Mint Theatre's mission is to resurrect forgotten plays. While I've never seen anything at the theatre without academic interest, this play is among the best they've ever resurrected. Jonathan Bank (the Mint Theatre's artistic director) is one of my unsung heroes.... Read more Read less

See it if You like topical theatre with a political edge.

Don't see it if You're idea of a great night at the theatre is something that makes you forget the woes of the world.

Also I find the world of high finance confusing and admit to being confused at times by this play. The production is so fast paced which is probably necessary but also added to the confusion. Still I found the play powerful. There are bon mots worthy of David Hare that help the script transcend its various influences (Mamet, Caryl Churchill, etc.).... Read more Read less

See it if You are an Anglophile who likes intelligent old plays.

Don't see it if You didn't like "An Inspector Calls" (Priestley's more famous play) of several years ago.

Also The production is uneven. The cast initially struggles somewhat with their accents and in distinguishing and delineating their characters. But they get better as the play goes along, and the play itself is deeply thoughtful and moving.... Read more Read less

See it if You like book driven musicals, the kind that us hardly written if late.

Don't see it if You only like dark musicals.

Also The best book of a musical in years. The comic timing of the cast is superb.... Read more Read less

See it if you like over the top comedy.

Don't see it if you like your comedy with some sophistication.

Also Taylor Mac tries to do for "Titus Andronicus" what Tom Stoppard did for "Hamlet" with "R&G Are Dead" but the result is closer to a spoof on the old "Carol Burnett" show.... Read more Read less

See it if you like theatre that is audacious, provocative and original.

Don't see it if you like plays with tiny ideas and tidy emotions.

Also Arguably this is Suzi Lori Parks' best play to date. The quartet of actors is excellent, anchored by Daveed Diggs' spellbinding performance. Utterly urgent and compelling. I hope that the Public Theatre moves this play to another venue for an extended run as it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.... Read more Read less

See it if you admire the plays of Lynn Nottage even though this is not among her greater plays.

Don't see it if you have no interest in satires on Hollywood and the way that African American women have been stereotyped.

Also One associates Lynn Nottage more with moral earnestness than social satire and the satire here is funny, but a little obvious.... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays in school settings such as "The History Boys" or "Tea and Sympathy."

Don't see it if the idea of dramatic scenes punctuated with choral musical interludes seems unappealing (even though it works superbly here).

Also The cast is superb, especially Jeremy Pope. A star is born!

See it if you are a Fugard fan and have not yet seen a production of this play.

Don't see it if you like dramatic plays that are riveting rather than repetitive.

Also Tedious, repetitive, and obvious; the production cuts out the intermission but it might have been better to cut out the repetitions of the play.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be reminded of what being human means.

Don't see it if you like theatre that is larger than life rather than theatre that holds a mirror up to life.

Also More of a character sketch than a play. Lucas Hedges' final monologue is beautifully delivered and will lodge a lump in your throat.... Read more Read less

See it if Neil Simon type gag lines are your idea of great dialogue.

Don't see it if you're homophobic.

Also The characters incessant talking and whining about their lives is a reminder of why the 1970's were the "me decade." The first half is more structurally innovative, but it is the more traditional second half that is actually emotionally and dramatically richer.... Read more Read less

See it if you feel that you need to see yet another retelling of the story of Joan of Arc.

Don't see it if you think historical dramas should have insight and use interesting language.

Also Quite simply, it was hard to understand why this play existed as it offered no new insight into an oft-told tale.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy great acting and a play that beautifully meshes the personal and the political in complex ways.

Don't see it if you like plays with tidy emotions or in which the characters have to be likable.

Also Stockard Channing is giving the performance of her life in an already illustrious career. The play is well written and beautifully structured.... Read more Read less

See it if you need to be convinced that Beckett is a great writer.

Don't see it if you don't like one man shows.

Also The result is insightful and illuminating, affording greater appreciation into Beckett's genius. It's like taking a master class with a great professor.... Read more Read less

See it if you like clever wordplay.

Don't see it if you don't like British humor.

Also You can count good plays about sports on one hand. The Nap is definitely one of them. Richard Bean's sensibility is a mixture of Joe Orton and Ben Jonson.... Read more Read less

See it if you want the opportunity to see a revival of this rarely produced musical.

Don't see it if you want to see a fuly staged production as this one is just a step up from a concert version.

Also This show is so stripped down and minimalistic, they do not even give out printed programs. Not printing a program listing the credits is an insult to all those involved; Actors Equity should complain at the very least! CSC says this is part of their "green initiative" and yet they had plenty of printed flyers in their lobby advertising their upcoming season. I for one will not be patronizing CSC in the future unless they reverse this policy.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy obscure, rarely staged musicals

Don't see it if you like musicals with a strong book as well as a strong score.

Also There are many musicals with glorious scores attached to silly books, but On a Clear Day may be the silliest musical ever written. Even the glorious singing of Melissa Errico and Stephen Bogardus can't do anything to redeem the show once the singing stops.... Read more Read less

See it if you have never seen Glenda Jackson perform live.

Don't see it if you only like plays that are strictly naturalistic.

Also Glenda Jackson is alone worth the price of admission, but this is one of Albee's greatest plays and the set by Miriam Buether is astonishing.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a very fine production of an O'Neill classic.

Don't see it if you do not like somber and serious drama with little to no comic relief.

Also Though Denzel is the raison d'etre for this production, there's a dozen other great actors on the stage as well. Though it runs nearly four hours, I was never bored.... Read more Read less

See it if you are in need of a nap.

Don't see it if you like theatre that is cutting edge.

Also Alan Ayckbourne is a grat comic writer but you would never know it from this play.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy linguistic pyrotechnics.

Don't see it if you don't like rhyming couplets.

Also David Ives has become the heir apparent to Richard Wilbur in translating 17th Century French comedy into English rhymed verse. A constant and sheer delight!... Read more Read less

See it if you relish the opportunity to see a rarely staged play by Tennessee Williams.

Don't see it if you do not like stripped down and minimalistic productions.

Also For a play about the clash between spirituality and sensuality, this production of Williams' very fine drama is strangely lacking in either.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Stoppard and like clever dialogue.

Don't see it if you are not well versed in the writings of James Joyce, Tristan Tzara, Lenin and Oscar Wilde.

Also Some plays are best not revisiting. Travesties is the play that made me fall in love with Stoppard almost half a century ago. Now I found that the cleverness got in the way of a deeper intellectual debate about art and politics. This time it seemed the work of a sophomoric prankster and wordsmith showing off, ultimately more clever than profound.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Mark Rylance fan

Don't see it if you think a good play should have a good script not just a good set.

Also Even Mark Rylance couldn't save this one. My mind kept wandering throughout to other roles I would love to see Rylance in (Krapp, Falstaff, Richard II, etc.)... Read more Read less

See it if you like stand-up comedy that is bold and invigoratingly political

Don't see it if you think building a wall with Mexico is a good idea.

Also This show is a prime example of how humor can be used to make bitter truths more palatable. Leguizamo's amiable persona can win hearts and maybe even change minds.... Read more Read less

See it if you like plays about big important issues (war, censorship, totalitarianism) even if the play doesn't say anything much new about them.

Don't see it if you don't like plays about historical figures or plays presented in a non-linear timeframe.

Also Set in Russia and Eastern Europe from 1920 to 2010, and featuring Issac Babel as a pivotal character, Rajiv Joseph's play tackles big issues but is short on originality or insight. The unevenly acted production doesn't help much.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see everything and anything Brian Friel wrote.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of Irish theatre with heavy accents and even heavier stereotypes.

Also This is Brian Friel's last play and not one of his best. The production hardly does it justice. It is unevenly acted and lamely directed. Perhaps a better production would have found depths in the play.... Read more Read less

See it if You like innovative Shakespeare productions that are fully theatrical.

Don't see it if you don't like Shakespeare, or are a Shakespeare purist who only likes traditional productions.

Also Director John Doyle specializes in stripped down versions of classics and this production comes in under two hours. He has trimmed the play of its excess and brought it to life with a flawless cast of ten, a jazz piano score that is lively and lighting that is simply magical.... Read more Read less