Weegie

See it if want to see an imaginative reworking of a classic.

Don't see it if you don't like innovative and creative reworkings of traditional material​.

Also There are so many clever and fun things about this show and you must see it to really get it from​ the riveting cast-I loved Damon Duanna's crooning, rock star cowboy (He would be perfect as Orpheus in Hades Town too)--the incredible black and white live close-ups flashed on the back walls, the intense love/hate song between Curly and Jeb, the weird interpretive modern dance dream sequence, the long picnic tables on the stage with audience members laughing and showing discomfort, the intermission where you served chili and cornbread--a and hang out on the stage--the long passages in utter darkness. I really loved ALL of these elements-- made me so glad I had a chance to experience this one.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to be transported by gifted actors who give nuanced, complicated performances in a period drama that is epically romantic.

Don't see it if you don't want to sit in the pocket of emotion, don't want to see people experience grief, don't want to see real-time​ performances.

See it if I saw it with Patrick Page (of Hadestown) who was a delightful recipient of Nassim's clever meandering one note play.

Don't see it if A non-toxic​ introduction​ to cultural awareness with lovely players--and an open audience.

See it if This is not the hit parade I was expecting, this was a dextrous and clever bio story with outstanding performances.

Don't see it if Incredibly cover and ambitous use of charcters, song and dance and integration of complex stories about multiple players.

Also This was far more entertaining, then I expected. The songs were all abbreviated​ and were highlights, but boy were they well executed-- the performances were flawless, and high energy and held meaning. This show far exceeded my expectations and I would love to see it again... Read more Read less

See it if Absurd premise brilliantly played out by a very funny cast--raucously entertaining, and not dated at all.

Don't see it if Every performer was just​ smashing--and this excessively silly musical was fun in the best of ways.

Also I recently saw the movie and was able to compare--very good redesign and clever rewriting of this premise so it is not offensive to women, and just a good old laugh fest. Great cast!... Read more Read less

See it if Two love stories entwined with an incredibly inclusive cast and music that stays with you for days.

Don't see it if Don't like stories revolving around mythology, or double love stories.

See it if Fascinating and clever inside story of a night on the campaign with Hillary & Bill in 2008. Great acting and just super clever.

Don't see it if Very talky show about a specific time in history and reflection on what could have been. Funny and down to earth.

See it if Story of two white affluent families facing off over an issue with their teenage son's. Brilliantly laid out. Great writing.

Don't see it if You want to see other classes/races represented.

Also Great writing, exceptional acting, surprising plot, with unexpected twists, not the same old typical story. If you liked American Son, this is a similar type of issue related drama. Except, the writing in this is tighter and the acting by Mia Matthews is extraordinary. Worth seeing just for her performance.... Read more Read less

See it if If you love all incarnations of Alice, you will like this well performed and intensely charged high drama musical.

Don't see it if You want fully drawn characters and clear connections between book and song. Also, if you don't know Alice, this would be bewildering.

Also Set in the underground in London during the Blitz this version of Alice has a love story, and is a deconstructed narrative retelling of the story of Alice from memory. The characters are clever, I like the concept, and quite a few of the songs I loved the choreography, the performers were great but overall the whole thing was messy and flawed and needs a lot of work. Still very worth seeing.... Read more Read less

See it if A live reenactment of children's "Dick and Jane" readers performed by lively and talented actors in a pulsing, repetitive​ intense fashion.

Don't see it if It's a series of crude, intense, rhythmic performances, that are angry, intense, and just plain nutty. And peanut butter is actively used--

Also It's weird, odd and I wouldn't say isn't worth seeing, I just wish I found it funny, and profound. Instead, I was bewildered, and happy it only lasted 70 minutes.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a messy complex version of Lear with all violence on stage depicted and a stellar female actor portraying the King.

Don't see it if You sit on a side of the stage as much action takes place on right or left of the ​stage and unless you have center seats you miss a lot.

Also It is worth seeing this historic production with Glenda Jackson as Lear. The performances are excellent, the sets and costumes are clever, the Philip Glass compositions performed on stage are exquisite.
It is messy and complex and needs a lot of work--and I suspect will get much better later in the run. Even though things are slow, drawn out-- and too much all around, I still recommend seeing it. But it is utterly dark with NO light anywhere --so you will leave in the depths of despair, be warned.... Read more Read less

See it if Lyrical thoughtful feminist retelling of an African Folk Tale with music and dancing, intelligent, great acting and good dialogue.

Don't see it if Way too long, needs a big edit, the African accents are hard to follow and inside jokes remain inside most of show.

Also Great acting, Incredible choreography, fascinating and clever staging, an amazing vocalist and dance number in the middle of the show--which is utterly inspired, but a lot of questions: is the similarity to Cinderella intentional? Why white faces in the afterworld?
The message resonates but needs a lot of work.​ Worth seeing but currently flawed.... Read more Read less

See it if Painful, excruciating, slow, powerful, rich, beautiful, extraordinary and sad, intensely sad. And worth seeing.

Don't see it if Enslavement, women's history, and the history of medicine are complex subjects worthy of representation.

Also I don't know how these gifted performers can sit in this piece night after night. I was profoundly moved yet sick to my stomach. This is truly the power of art. I'm so glad I saw this play, but I could not see it again for some time.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see fabulous acting, writing, and characters that are very deep---layered, and complex, something to ponder for a long time.

Don't see it if It's a complex deeply layered political play that is three plus hours long with actors with strong accents--that is not for everyone.

See it if Excellent production, thoughtful, tasteful rendering of taboo subject. Acting Superlative.

Don't see it if Pornography is a touchy topic, and this is a ​multidimensional portrayal of someone involved in the industry.

See it if I don't care for the rambling patter of LaBute's monologues. They attempt to challenge and make you think but are cliched and shallow and

Don't see it if don't go far enough. They just meander along the border of dangerous. Acting was decent, but not worth sitting through​ this mush.

See it if This eight-hour extravaganza is unlike anything I've ever experienced. The play is acted around/through a reading of the novel Great Gatsby.

Don't see it if You don't like experimental, or outside the box theater or don't like the novel The Great​ Gatsby.

Also This play is in four installments with a dinner break. It starts out with a traditional set of an office, and one of the characters picks up a copy of the book and starts reading from it.
As the play progresses the characters change from being office workers to characters from the novel--but the entire story is still and always remains a story-- seen through a palimpsest of other stories. It is simply phenomenal.
Its a difficult adjustment to simply listen at first-- but once you adjust to the clever duality of the experience and the shifting of staging and characters you are deeper into the story than if you were reading/listening or watching. Simply transformative. I read the novel as a teenager, and I regularly listen to audiobooks but neither experience prepared me for this life-altering​ show.... Read more Read less

See it if The retelling of a historical trial in the round, where actors shift position and role, where you sit on the stage amidst the action.

Don't see it if Very profound and moving recreation of a piece of history not known to everyone. A little confusing as three actors play nine plus roles.

Also You can't doze off in this profound play, as you must concentrate fully to stay with the cast which takes turns playing every character from prosecutor to judge and each of the Catonsville Nine. Because you are required to be so present, the impact on you as the audience is extraordinary. Vyer unusual--and very impactful.... Read more Read less

See it if this truly lives up to the hype: great songs, great performances, clever staging, surprising and unexpected plot twists, just stunning

Don't see it if you don't like teen dramas, complicated family dilemmas, harmony-based​ songs, complexities of social media on life,

Also This sincere reflection told through a musical is surprisingly complex and intelligent. The performances were phenomenal. Very moving experience​ all around.... Read more Read less

See it if you obviously wouldn't see this if you hadn't watched the American Idol that pitted these two together--and this was pure campy fun

Don't see it if but the attempt to make this like a 1960's TV show just didn't work and it was cliched and downright silly, but the boys were charming.

See it if Wonderful to see a story with this subject matter and focused on a strong female character.

Don't see it if This was a bit too long and some of the threads are not thoroughly examined--still ambitious and worth seeing.

See it if Clever writing, interesting and unexpected plot, great acting, uncomfortable subject but surprising twists.

Don't see it if The subject​ matter is complicated--if you have issues with addiction and trust, this may be hard on you.

See it if you want to challenge your belief system--this addresses racism, homophobia, feminism, relationships and really allows you to see both sides

Don't see it if an uneven ensemble of actors pushing boundaries will annoy you- some of the acting is amateurish--and some really polished.

See it if Very good interweaving of Thomas' poem with classic Christmas songs sung and told by excellent performers. Left feeling so happy.

Don't see it if Don't like traditional Christmas stories, operatic or serious singing with intention.

See it if if you want the fun of experiencing theater in the round and having the actors serve you weird food/drink as part of show.

Don't see it if you can't stand Shakespeare performed by inconsistent performers and don't want to eat MAC N Cheese with CHEETOS and drink Jagermeister.

See it if You want to see Sondheim in any form, love musicals, and you are a true theater geek.

Don't see it if annoyed by mediocre performances in a slow plodding production, which should have been quirky and fast-paced​.

See it if you want to see groundbreaking, utterly original material, ​unlike anything you've seen before.

Don't see it if you don't like super fast-paced dialogue, surrealism, magical realism and things that just can't be explained.

Also This show which starts out as a simple three sisters story takes twists and plays with the temporal reality of both the written form as well as the acted and performed form. It is clever beyond belief, it is funny, incredibly high energy, is flawlessly acted and so utterly original. Truly a gem.... Read more Read less

See it if A contemporary​ tale of two couples with lots of twists and turns, many a surprise but the best surprise was the happy ending.

Don't see it if Nice to see an examination of relationships that is not dark and depressing.

See it if Gargantuan and over exaggerated expressive singing and dancing-- great costumes and a lot of fun.

Don't see it if A very predictable plot, which was a bit slow, but fun and generous performances by the whole cast. Worth seeing.

Also I wanted to see this before it's Broadway run ended--and you can tell the cast is relishing and enjoying every last second of the great success the show has wrought. The audience responded to the energy as well. That being said, I found the story a bit slow, ponderous and dated, but just decided to suspend my disbelief and enjoy.... Read more Read less

See it if I love this double love story based on Greek mythology. The music is amazing and stays with you long after the show ends.

Don't see it if I love the diverse and incredible cast-and the clever staging. I recommend seeing from Mezzanine--even more interesting to see "down".

Also I saw this in London and loved it so much I have been counting the days until I can see it again.

I did love it just as much, and I like the new Orpheus, although he really needs a hairstyle change--he's just not "handsome" enough, he looks too bedraggled, albeit sweet-- but he doesn't need to be a rock star-- but he should be swoon-worthy​.... Read more Read less

See it if A one-woman show that is dynamic and explosive. Narrator's husband arrested for viewing child pornography, but the show is about her.

Don't see it if Constant non-stop high energy barrage of information as well as a screen with large photographic images projected might leave you exhausted.

See it if you want a fun campy take on prison exploitation films from the 50's, great acting by an ensemble cast,

Don't see it if a quirky little theater and raunchy​ jokes turn you off.

See it if Mythology, Climate issues, social norms and expectations, and politics all covered in this uber clever play with a twist.

Don't see it if Very chatty with four stereotyped women in a complex shared domestic set. Very funny. Great acting.

Also Dionysus (Diane) has returned to suburban New Jersey and a cul de sac to solve the world's problems, and to stir things up with four delightful women (neighbors.) Some fabulous acting- truly charming and hysterical.... Read more Read less

See it if A woman's personal narrative about herself and her family as it relates to her own love and interest in the constitution.

Don't see it if Very focused and personal feminist story told in a straight narrative with a few surprises.

Also This was my second viewing--this time I brought my college-age son and friend. They felt like they were being "lectured" as they experience people talking straight at them for an hour and a half in lectures in general. Although entertained, it wasn't special to them.... Read more Read less

See it if Very clever and ambitious way to talk about race, art, and representation, in both a historic and contemporary perspective.

Don't see it if You don't like fast-paced talky plays. There is so much material crammed in here, I think you need to see it twice to get the references.

Also Finally,​ a show that really addresses all the complex issues regarding race and artistic politics revolving around representation.
Amiri Baraka and his young acolyte discuss theater past, present and future, but also through many layers of discourse​ touch on many other subjects pertaining to being a man, especially a black man in America.
Great set- great costumes, great choice with actors. I think Tyler Fauntleroy, would have been better directed to show more nuances and not be so INTENSE 100% in his performance, but he was charismatic. And Kim Sullivan was Amiri Baraka. This is what Green Book could have been--- so much better.... Read more Read less

See it if Four stereotyped women get together to sing and dance, drink wine, talk chick flick movies and whine.

Don't see it if Some of the song and dance numbers are so excruciating I had to close my eyes just to get through it.

Also I thought this would be light fun and feel good, but it was insipid, and shallow drivel. People on both sides of me were sleeping and it was a matinee.
I had hoped to have a few laughs-- and feel good about female friendships, but didn't get that here.... Read more Read less

See it if great ensemble of actors tell a sweet story with a positive message about youth in Newark.

Don't see it if don't like chaotic set changes--don't care for a meandering pointless plot which ends in a message.

Also Although I enjoyed this show and the acting was superior, I just couldn't figure out the point of the play. It had a message, that was positive, but really everything about the story was banal. I left trying to figure out why adults were playing the parts of children, whether the banality was on purpose, and what the point of the story was. It was entertaining and well written, and the acting was superior, but it was simply confusing as to why this play was actually produced.
I did see it early--where kinks were being worked out (clumsiness in set changes, and a strange unnecessary intermission).... Read more Read less

See it if Fabulously complex, layered, and unexpected. Didn't know where the third act would go. Every subject explored in meticulous detail.

Don't see it if Homosexuality, value of art, identity, power in relationships, religion, sex, male nudity, status, sexual politics, race. It's all here.

See it if This isn't neuroscience, just plain old fashioned fun. Great singing. Just top notch.

Don't see it if You don't want the gift of a little Irving Berlin--feel good music. It's a warm fuzzy experience, but not profound​.

See it if You like to question issues regarding race, sexism, and relationships between men and women. Great acting.

Don't see it if you don't like intense relationship dramas with only two actors on stage.

Also I just can't decide whether I liked this play or not. It was predictable--yet not. the acting was great, the chemistry between the actors was palpable. There were a lot of great topics raised and the writing was good. I should have loved it, but somehow didn't. I can't quite figure out why. Somehow, without being cliched, it was. the topics discussed were very relevant and there were many things about the production that was just stellar. It's definitely worth seeing.
Because of the way the theater is designed you can watch the audience reaction throughout​ the play--that was fabulous.... Read more Read less

See it if a simple set, some dancers and one actor performing many parts of a classic children's story intrigue you.

Don't see it if you don't like a solo performer playing many parts, even if charming and very competent. Backlit photos ruin the set.

Also This is one of my favorite children's novels and I have seen it in every incarnation. The acting is flawless, and many crucial scenes in place. I wish, it was interpreted differently. I felt like I was watching a live version of the BBC production.
I didn't come away wanting to see Part 2--nor did I feel like I saw something new or special to add to the oeuvre​.
The simple set was fine-and the dancers were charming, but I found the projected images on the wall excruciating and unnecessary.... Read more Read less

See it if Whether a show is predictable or not if the conversation is resonant and about race it is still worth seeing.

Don't see it if I think you should see this-- having a dialogue about conflict makes us all think and change, and there is value in that.

Also The acting in this was very good, although a bit one-note., with the exception of Eugene Lee, who was sensational. The writing was fast paced--and the subject matter very worthy. I don't think there was anything new introduced, but the conversation is still worth having.... Read more Read less

See it if One man comedy performance detailing the divide in American politics--and American culture, which I found to be fresh and absorbing.

Don't see it if I expected this to be more predictable and a little bit more for the people--I was surprised how relevant and how profound it was.

See it if excruciating and uneven performances--that made the story seem banal, uneventful and uninteresting are your bag--

Don't see it if You dislike strobe lighting --the stage is boxed in and there is a great attempt to make the set cinematic to bad effect.

See it if Hysterical twisted Christmas tale--where everything goes awry--and things are just not what they should be. Acting and writing very good.

Don't see it if Despite the Christmas theme this one is for misogynists. It's worth seeing for the set alone. A wall of presents--whoa!

See it if Such a clever use of time, and sets, and the acting is just sublime-- ALL of it. Well worth seeing for the writing alone.

Don't see it if Aging is a tough subject, this one had the audience weeping/sobbing loudly. If you don't want to be moved by a family saga stay away.

See it if incredible puppetry and animatronics. Worth seeing for this alone-- an ​ensemble of actors working the Kong figure in sync is amazing.

Don't see it if Sadly, the songs are a little thin, the plot is basic--too bad not more nuanced, and dancing is fun--but it needs better songs.

See it if Bring your kids, your parents, your partners, and your friends to see this thought provoking profound personal inquiry into the constitution

Don't see it if You don’t want to think about the rights of women, humans, Americans reflected through the eyes of one very brilliant playwright. Genius.

See it if A delightful retelling of little know role of women in WW2. Great singing and acting, great music, great costumes. Compelling and fun!

Don't see it if multiple storylines and clever casting--fun music are not your thing. Maybe don't like shows about women's history​?

See it if As a brand new empty nester I truly enjoyed this candid refreshing and for me reminiscence show about early parenting.

Don't see it if don't like solo shows by a single performer--find health issues and fertility issues a trigger issue.