Vagabond

See it if you have some utterly compelling reason.

Don't see it if you value your time.

Also As I post this, I see that the show has already closed. I've therefore missed my window of opportunity to rescue potentially innocent theatergoers from being subject to this shambles. The 'writing' came across as rambling stream of consciousness. The overall tone was vitriolic and I don't think I've ever looked more forward to exiting a venue after a show.... Read more Read less

See it if you are feeling anarchic.

Don't see it if you like logical, fact-based speculation as opposed to full-throttle, gun-in-your-back conspiracy theory.

Also I saw this show during previews, and the writer's credibility was blown in the first scene when the leading lady was supposedly watching the horrific events of 9/11 play out live on TV, but somehow didn't notice firsthand that the south tower was collapsing. Instead, she had to be told this by her husband who was in the north tower at the time and with whom she was conversing via telephone. Sadly, this was the most realistic scene in the entire play. You do the math.... Read more Read less

See it if if there's another great NYC revival like this one. Sadly, I'm writing this after the Signature Theater production has closed.

Don't see it if you prefer plot over character. This being said, sometimes eccentric personalities hold your attention better than storylines.

Also Guirgis is one of those delightful playwrights who seemingly writes in service of his characters rather than using them as his minions to facilitate an underlying itinerary. By doing so, he is able to give each of them authenticity and independence, which can lead to some very amusing theatrics. What a fabulous dark comedy this was.... Read more Read less

See it if you are interested in seeing good actors working in a poorly-written play.

Don't see it if you are looking for more than a protracted sketch.

Also I found this play quite difficult to sit through, given the fact that the characters were completely cartoonish and the scenario with all of its 'sound and fury' was utterly anemic. It was too rudimentary and unpoetic to function as an allegory and too surreal to have an emotional impact. The set was pretty cool, though.... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for a well-written play with some interesting layers.

Don't see it if you're overly analytical with regard to character motivations.

Also While the basic premise of the play might seem (and ultimately is) less than thrilling, the two leads, Rick Holmes and Kristen Bush, play their roles with such commitment and zeal that the piece is is ultimately more driven by their characters than the plot itself. Direction, supporting players and design elements are all great.... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for a mostly absurdist, intermittently funny and thoroughly miscellaneous 80 minutes.

Don't see it if you'd rather spend your time with more traditional fare.

Also I don't know much about the author, Charles Mee, but based on this and 'Big Love' at the Signature Theatre a few seasons ago I would classify his work as being a bit of a weird mash up of theatrical form and tone. There were certainly moments that made me laugh, but this was definitely a case of the whole amounting to less than the sum if its parts.... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for a very clever telling of the story of a man who used his talents in diametric opposition.

Don't see it if you expect to have a takeaway. Even though the piece touches upon some extremely interesting ideas, there is ultimately no ethical closure.

Also 59E59 Theater hosts a wonderful 'Brits Off Broadway' series of plays each summer of which this was a part. I was completely captivated by the resources of this inspiring group from across the pond, The New Diorama Theatre. The ensemble, material, set, lighting, sound design and staging (almost choreography in some aspects) all coalesce into an extremely satisfying theatrical experience.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be transported.

Don't see it if you don't have a pulse.

Also What can I say? This is the show that raised the bar for Broadway. From conception to execution it is utterly jaw-dropping theater.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Shavian.

Don't see it if you're on the fence. You'll probably be disappointed.

Also Condola Rashad gives a very uneven performance. I sat upstairs and had trouble understanding several of her words. Performing G.B. Shaw requires classical chops that she simply does not have. Patrick Page, however, is a master craftsman. He has an incredibly long monologue in the second act that is well-worth waiting for. Not an easy task, but he pulls it off with aplomb. For my money, he was the highlight of the show.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Tom Stoppard fan or enjoy mental gymnastics. It would be good to have a knowledge of what you're in for before sitting down.

Don't see it if you're not up to the task. Not a passive evening. History, literature and art are disseminated ad nauseum. Happily, no post-show quiz.

Also There were moments in the show that were allowed to breathe, giving the spectator a sense of fun at the theater. Mostly, however, I felt as though my brain was in a vice.... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for an hour of absolute unbridled levity.

Don't see it if you're priggish.

Also A co-production with the New Diorama Theatre (Secret Life of Humans), this is another fabulous 'Brits Off Broadway' import. Tears of laughter is something that I very rarely experience in my theatrical expeditions. How grateful I am to The Pretend Men for eliciting this sort of reaction by masterminding such a heartwarming bit of frivolity!... Read more Read less

See it if you're up for a meditation on dying.

Don't see it if you'd rather walk down the sunny side of the street.

Also Pretty much everything produced by the Irish Rep has quality and substance. However, one person's main course is another person's snack. For all of it's good writing, I found this piece a bit too poetic and lengthly. There was also some inconsistency in terms of the interplay between Scarecrow and the other 'living' characters, which was a bit confusing. A well-done play, in any event.... Read more Read less

See it if you're able to catch Randy at a venue near you. (I'm writing this after having seen the penultimate NY performance.)

Don't see it if you're freaked out by puppets. Randy is irrepressible.

Also I was just as amazed by the brilliant animation of Randy as I was engrossed with his comedy. I was astounded to realize that everything was accomplished by one individual, Heath McIvor, who didn't even put his name in the program, presumably in the interest of keeping the illusion completely intact. Bravo, Heath!... Read more Read less

See it if you'd like to get an overview of this group of students who were caught in the crossfire of politics and social injustice.

Don't see it if you crave some deeper insight about what happened. The subject matter is worthy of a better script.

Also It's certainly an interesting account and the cast is terrific, but the play comes off as a series of loosely-related sketches rather than a cohesively plotted narrative. It has several lovely a cappella musical elements and might have been better off as a bona fide musical in which songs could have aided in the storytelling.... Read more Read less

See it if you are awed by this ancient art. Vitaly's show has a traditional feel, but his repertoire is absolutely outstanding.

Don't see it if you're just too damn jaded for some fine legerdemain!

Also I knew nothing about Vitaly before seeing his show, except for the fact that he was/is one of a small group of elite magicians who fooled Penn & Teller on 'Fool Us'. He picked me to volunteer for one of his bits last night, and I was completely dumbfounded even though I was at arms length from where he performed. That was no small feat given that the trick was so visual and realistically should have been 'figured out' at close range. He elicited audible gasps of disbelief, as well as some well-earned laughs. Go and be amazed!... Read more Read less

See it if you appreciate thoroughly engaging, one-person performances.

Don't see it if you can't abide by the former.

Also Playwright Dennis Kelly has certainly given Carey Mulligan a mouthful, and she chews it up and spits it out with vigor. I was impressed with her sheer stamina. However, I was a bit confused with the overall context of this piece. At one point CM acknowledged an audience member, which was slightly jarring and made me question the circumstances via which she was dispensing her narrative. I'm not a big fan of breaking the fourth wall in theater, especially if it doesn't serve the material. Given the 'confessional' tone of the play, I almost wish that this was written as a two-hander with a secondary character acting as our proxy. Aside from this, it is a gripping yarn. It is a bit like the sister play of 'Harry Clarke'.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of the marvelous Mint Theater Company productions. If this is your first time, you'll have a memorable initiation.

Don't see it if you have no appreciation for period pieces. (Even so, you just might be won over!)

Also As with all first-rate writing, this play stands the proverbial test of time and holds its own quite effortlessly. The writer, Miles Malleson, had quite a life and I was grateful to have read his bio in the program before the play began as I felt it informed some of the content in the story. His themes are enduring, and the director and cast have lovingly brought them to fruition. The nearly century-old aesthetic is elegantly realized by the production team. Also, there is a lovely exhibition of Stefano Imbert's work inside the venue. He has been crafting the beautiful illustrations used by the Mint Company for the past several years.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see an older play with little production value.

Don't see it if you like to see how/where the money is spent. This is an Off-Broadway production on a Broadway stage.

Also I found this one hard to sit through. I found Joshua Jackson rather uninvolving. The play itself is a bit tedious. The set was inexplicably unappealing.... Read more Read less

See it if you like farce. This is not an easy genre to write (or adapt in this case), and David Ives has done it well.

Don't see it if you're unwilling to resign yourself to a silly evening at the theater. Contemporary references in an old play can be fun.

Also While I enjoyed Mr. Ives' 'The Liar' more than this play, it probably had to do with the source material. At the very least, my appetite is whet for his next original play.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a Lucy Thurber fan. I've seen just about all of her plays and this is her best.

Don't see it if you can't appreciate a well-crafted play with a terrific cast.

Also It's got less than a week to go! Grab a ticket!.