william 2

See it if If you think an "old Chestnut" cannot be reimagined, then see this production.I am not usually a fan of director, but this show is genius

Don't see it if Cannot think of a good reason if you are remotely inclined to see"an old dog do new tricks.

See it if You appreciate a really almost perfect revival-actors, choreography, sets, costume, complex direction and staging. Memorable music

Don't see it if If you do not like musical theater, because this epitomizes the best Broadway has given.

See it if Some people simply enjoy incoherent Euro-trash productions which are only interesting when lurid...acting impressive however

Don't see it if Preciously pretentious......if you enjoyed the film this is based on, skip this . It is like a huge airless painting w/ incoherent content

See it if you want uncomfortable seats arranged so that there is no escape of this tedious,terrible,worst version of Sondheim's masterpiece I ever saw

Don't see it if you want good diction so to understand witty lyrics--I have seen 7 versions of SWEENY, and this was not even good enough to be worthy of SS

Also all actors were sadly miscast, annoying, and the level of production could be surpassed by a mediocre college production. Carrollee Carmello and Hugh Penaro simply out of their depths, and vocals often off-key. TRULY TAXING .....AWFUL... Read more Read less

See it if obviously you are a Sondheim fan and wish to see every show as a new revalation.

Don't see it if You are not turned on way the irony, wit, and darkness in a Sondheim score

See it if John Doyle and Sondheim- a match made in heaven! You want to be entertained intellectually, artistically, and love daring directors

Don't see it if you think Andrew Lloyd Weber is a deep thinker.....NOT.

See it if You are L.Schrieber and J. McTeer fan

Don't see it if your mind wanders and you notice how bad the set is

See it if If you want to learn a little know incident of Civil War where words and quick wit make for a "battle-ground" of intensity and laughs

Don't see it if If your mind is soft from meaningless fluff, reality TV, or retread British musicals----meow!

See it if Did not expect to like it, but almost totally loved it..music not memorable, but then neither was FUN HOME.Benjamin Walker is total package

Don't see it if you don't like loud sound, are prudish, squeamish, or appreciate real satirical social observation. MUCH better than FUN HOME

See it if for over-all excellence.....you have read ecstatic reviews and will discover that it is even better than you could imagine

Don't see it if you are Vladimir Putin or any of the Republican candidates who don't wish to see why we are who we are now

See it if You are an intelligent knowledgeable theater-goer who appreciates perfection and absorbing originality

Don't see it if you are brain dead, pseudo intellectual, or think it would be better with dancing cats.....

See it if you have a child or are a child at heart yourself, and if you love to be amazed by great imagination.

Don't see it if ....you are The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and are incapable of just letting a beautiful fantasy unfold to delight you.

See it if You want a "fun" event, very well performed and paced, great sets and costumes, choreography

Don't see it if you want great music. Cindi Lauper's songs are serviceable, instantly forgettable . They fit the story, but not much more

See it if Wit, GREAT lyrics with hummable tunes, delightful visually, Jefferson Mays AMAZING

Don't see it if you are expecting spectacle ala A.L. Weber....this requires appreciation of clever staging, quick change,music, English Music Hall style

See it if great dramatic material combined with totally original spectacle----two shows----CURIOUS INCIDENT and WARHORSE....both by same director

Don't see it if You don't want to concentrate enough to use up any grey cells......it takes a bit of work with huge pay-off

See it if you crave a total package with sophisticated adult perspective, great performances, brilliant direction and choreography and visuals

Don't see it if are easily satisfied by Andrew Lloyd Weber and rock-musicals. This will require thought and knowledge of anything deeper than pop-culture

See it if if you love classic musicals with timeless music that you will remember because you have known it forever anyway. Perfect performances

Don't see it if are bored by classy shows , and prefer TV-Video type stuff

See it if if you do not mind being bored by bad direction, really cheesy acting and a TERRIBLE script. Can't think of any reason to see it

Don't see it if you value the cost of a ticket. three otherwise good actors wasting their time and ours---the father particularly bad.

Also I think I have already written everything I can to disparage this absolutely sophomoric, self-indulgent, tedious mess . Total lack of understanding of any kind of man of any color and any sexual persuasion....preachy, cliched. If MEN were really this obnoxious there would never be any babies ever conceived! Better time with the Three Stooges or the Marx Brothers... Read more Read less

See it if Literate script with GREAT music, brilliantly performed....minimal staging at its best

Don't see it if if you don't like musical theater

See it if you are intrigued by idea of castrati, and don't mind mediocre writing, over-rated acting by two leads..beautiful production. GREAT music!

Don't see it if you expect convincing acting from Mark Rylance......or his Queen. He has no idea what bi-polarism is. Watch HOMELAND on TV to see the real

See it if you wish to see a GREAT STAR, Bette Midler, in a delicious blend of music, comedy, with fantastic dancing and the most beautiful costumes

Don't see it if you just don't like musical theater----grumpy Scrooge !

See it if you want to see LaPone and Ebersole at their best, and love a good, lavish, old fashioned Broadway escape.

Don't see it if Musical Theater, at a high level, is not your thing......you Pinter and Stoppard lovers!!!

See it if You realize that Sonheim and Lapine have created a MASTERPIECE of genius originality. I saw the original and this was better in every way

Don't see it if you are one of those dim-wits who does not want to be moved because you are close-minded to fact that Sondheim musical theater can be GENIUS

See it if you enjoy inventive theater techniques for a well-known novel adaptation

Don't see it if you have a problem when actors play more than one character, sometimes simultaneously

See it if You want to see an American masterpiece with a superb cast and production. Thrilling, and better than Wagner at 3 hours and 45 minutes

Don't see it if You find drama tiresome after 5 minutes, and are not prepared to see your own family traits in the characters.

See it if you are satisfied with a terrific set and lighting

Don't see it if 60 very slow minutes can seem more like an excruciating 4 hours as you look at the scenery before you can escape

See it if you are A. Miller fan and like unusual, not terribly successful conceptual takes on classics

Don't see it if you don't want to feel unfulfilled at end after all the pretension and histrionics of a " Eurotrash" type production.

See it if you are a masochist who likes self-indulgent sophomoric amateurish waste of time

Don't see it if you have ABSOLUTELY anything better to do! the WORST thing I have ever seen in 50 years of theater going....everything about it BAD!

See it if you are a theater obsessed teen-ager or like huge spectacle at obscene decibal level. Elaborate, great story better if done by Sondheim

Don't see it if You value your hearing. I never want to hear "Defying Gravity" again.

See it if ABSOLUTE FUNNIEST evening I have ever had in theater..........it has something to offend everyone, in the sweetest ways imaginable

Don't see it if you are a prude, fixated with religion, comatose, easily offended and / or still a virgin

See it if a total old fashioned musical for this century. Half-way through, I knew I wanted to see it again ASAP........nothing disappointed.

Don't see it if you are a person who prefers being intellectually bored, and ashamed to admit that a great night of theater can be totally satisfying

See it if great performances--except the young girl who is self-conciously very mannered. Wonderful direction,visuals, lyrics

Don't see it if you think a great musical must have great music. This score was more fitting for a daytime movie on LIFETIME TV.......truly sub-mediocre