XS2211

See it if Gospel singing; Talented John Cariani (Somthing Rotten; Bands Visit) plays clarinet so we’ll; Flying moon goddess & rotating stage;

Don't see it if More suitable to be called “A Jewish Boy’s memory of his nanny.” White male savior narrative, though in a boy’s voice. No memorable songs.

Also Kushner’s book is dated. Caroline is lack of her own agency, and most of the story focuses on Noah’s (playwright himself) Jewish family.
All “machine” characters are (of course) played by black actors, singing beautiful gospel or opera.
A snapshot of a segregated 1963 southern state.
The use of “Negro” for so many times might be historically accurate, still sounds offensive.

I’m more interested in watching a people telling their own story, rather than through others’ interpretation.... Read more Read less

See it if Activism “theatre” ritual; participatory; made it clear it’s by and for Black People; 2hrs. Strong ensemble.

Don't see it if Intentionally didactic and confrontational; Audience, under peer pressure, will have to stand in circle and “express” opinions to BLM;

Also As a non-black audience, I felt “granted” a chance to witness their ritual, to which I don’t belong.
When a work is so “exclusive,” it should be stated during ticket selling.... Read more Read less

See it if An American story. An immigrants’ story. A New York Story. The summit of acting and directing!! All 3 actors pull out characters at ease.

Don't see it if No reason not to see. “The middle brother” stuttered 3 times during the 200 min show, and made me a bit worry of his continuity.

See it if Into 80s hard rock hits; raunchy humor; My companion enjoyed it .. he said it was nostalgic..

Don't see it if Super loud, almost unbearable; outdated storyline; the product of white patriarchy.. some jokes are offensive; 2+ hrs ..

See it if Gender bending lead; low budget production at a studio space; talented young actors know bard’s words well; musicians light up gloomy space

Don't see it if Odor (due to no budget for costume laundry & small space I guess); 4 floor stairs to climb; bare set and tiring seats; long queue for WC

See it if Soloist portraying marginalized ppl in US - illegal immigrant, war refugee.. based on his interview, with quick&strong physical adjustments

Don't see it if 70min; this is the answer to color-blind theatre.. anyone should play anyone, your polished craft is your respect to the character you play;

Also I wholeheartedly support the bravery of this solo artist, as a “white man”, for portraying so many non-Caucasian characters. From the lines he delivers, I can feel he’s sincerely caring about his interviewees.
2 more shows. Don’t miss it.... Read more Read less

See it if How gay men struggle to survive in Nazi Germany; Refined acting from “Max” & his closeted uncle; Intimacy successfully created;

Don't see it if Cheap props & set helped little with the make-believe; Loud gunshot; Nudity (super hot tho); Pace can pick up a little;

Also One wonders why “Max” lives through the play, when everyone else has been easily killed... Read more Read less

See it if 2 actors, gender bend; minimal set; male playing all supporting roles including the bride, female playing the monster & the doctor without..

Don't see it if ..contrasting physical/vocal/emotional shift; partly in Shakespearean English ; 3-sided theatre, can see ppl dozing on opposite side;

Also The male actor is a master of instruments and acoustic effects!

See it if Solo show; World history of Baby Boomer 1945-1969; skillful use of multimedia; super quick change among tons of characters; voice magician

Don't see it if You’re not into fun history lesson; 2 hrs with 15min intermission; no obvious plot, but with smart twist & surprise; personal & intimate

See it if 3hr of laughter; all actresses are great belters!Kate Rockwell’s clowning is perfect!Kudos to triple threat Grey Henson!High Energy!

Don't see it if Bit noisy at times; The ending number “I see stars” is too cheesy & unmemorable; stereotypical portrayal of Kenya&Africa (typical in MT);

Also Whenever Cameron Dallas sings (mostly pitchy) and dance, audience whispers & laughs; I feel sorry for him, but that’s what happens when an actor is not ready for broadway, but is cast merely for his social media influence.... Read more Read less

See it if 60min storytelling & singing from Deanna Durbin’s perspective, with reference to Judy Garland; Actor covers her cold quite well;

Don't see it if Nostalgic, nothing too Surprising; The cold does make her lower register bit coarse; Tunes feel repetitive after 30min;

Also All other characters are in soundtrack. Kudos to the actor to get the timing right.... Read more Read less

See it if A great production at a shabby off-broadway venue; African American women’s history smartly woven into a jukebox; lots of joy with bit tears

Don't see it if Some tech problems with the projector & mic; Hard movable chairs; The production encourages Sing Along, so let’s hope ppl sitting next to..

Also 5 brilliant actresses, including 4 African American & 1 Caucasian; all powerhouses!
Sadly this is the young girl’s last show.... Read more Read less

See it if 70min transcription of FBI interrogation; staged like a cold reading; casually acted; 1 row of audience are put upstaged..

Don't see it if and we can see their reaction the whole time (one lady fell asleep very soon), why? What’s the intention for staging the whole thing?

Also Vineyard Theatre hasn’t had any exciting production for a while..

See it if You admire Len Cariou; important msg of how we should take care of aging parent; realistic scenic design; intimate black box space;

Don't see it if 2hr with 15min break; No nuance in writing, feels slow & daily; no father-son chemistry between 2 actors; “son’s” laughter feels rehearsed

Also Not sure whether it’s the father character or the actor who’s falling apart... Read more Read less

See it if Community-theatre-level production, with 2 great supporting actors; most solo numbers fall flat, mainly due to weak voice projection;

Don't see it if If you wanna support downtown theatre fringe show despite the quality; if you know any actor in person;

Also The program doesn’t even list actors’ previous credits. I do wanna know those 2 brilliant villains’ background.... Read more Read less

See it if Provocative content of interracial relationship; 2hr15min without intermission!! Funny at times, dark & heavy in general; layers of parody;

Don't see it if Nudity; lots of SEX & violence; scenic design using huge mirrors that reflect actors & audience; intentionally challenging..

Also “Yale mafia” taking majority of the cast; lots of Yale reference;

See it if Drama as a venue to discuss social problems; Pure, raw emotions delivered by chanting, shouting, singing; Audience is part of the show;

Don't see it if 30min standing and moving; 60min left seated; gibberish shared by all (yet super clear in meaning); nudity of women; violence & rape;

Also Strong archetypes portrayal: mother, whore, virgin, martyr... Greek tragedy, Japanese Noh, Cambodian dance, Guatemalan Music elements smartly woven; A must see. A transformative experience.... Read more Read less

See it if Alex Riad is good at depicting young ppl in Bay Area, loved his previous work - Floor Is Lava @ La Mama; has some moving moments;

Don't see it if hard to empathize with a bunch of “young junkies” whining for 2.5 hrs; truthful acting alone isn’t worth that much time of a viewer

See it if Fan of Horton Foote’s writing; the gender norm of 1950s; unspeakable gayness hanging in air; luxurious set; “mom” is the main clown, funny..

Don't see it if .. but fails the dramatic part; 2hrs with 10 min intermission; twists about “who’s telling the truth”, not thrilling enough; southern accent

Also Signature Theatre is a great place to hang out

See it if 2 of 4 actors are brilliant & deliver touching moments; that alone doesn’t save the aimless writing; weak unreasonable happy ending

Don't see it if Feels dragging for almost 100 min without intermission; intimate black box theatre space, very close to actions; balloon explosion startles

See it if The most impressive visual effect is the flying toilet paper (as ocean water); Kid-fan of Percy book series may enjoy, but do bring earplug

Don't see it if Ensemble of 6, most actors are playing so many roles which look ridiculous (Percy’s mom=a classmate=the underworld elevator girl);

Also It’s WICKED without impressive music numbers or scenic design; Shares some creative members of Be More Chill, probably it’s just not my cup of tea; There was a constant draining of audience... Read more Read less

See it if Monologues based on interviews played by 1 actor - a shapeshifter for 20+ characters; structural racism exposed by a tragedy in 1991;

Don't see it if Racism or anti Semitic language triggers you; 110 min no intermission; very heavy content, thank god the actor finds humor within;

Also The 3rd play that I watched directed by Saheem Ali, previous 2 bring Fireflies & The Rolling Stone. All left me dumbstruck.... Read more Read less

See it if Stripped down Wizard of Oz; “tell the truth, kid”..”go home to your mom who’s worried”; kindergarten kids may enjoy? Puppet controlled by 3

Don't see it if No band, loud recorded soundtracks, actors un-Miced (bold move), some are not audible; 90min no intermission; audience are dozing

See it if Themes include cowboy macho culture, closeted man seduction.. Ambiguous; Multi-media installation; way too experimental

Don't see it if flashy & loud at times; weak ensemble; words make little sense

See it if same divorcing story, told by husband (Act1) then wife (Act2); riveting acting & accurate directing .. LOVE the ✂️ Flamingo! Surprising end.

Don't see it if Downtown theatre small production;2 gender neutral toilets, long queue may delay the show; 80min no intermission; for fun, not for sense :p

See it if Hyper-realistic acting, like watching a reality show; Requires patience to enjoy the dialogue driven acts; Dances are organically woven;

Don't see it if 4 sides audience seat; 2hrs no intermission; Real kitchen set, real cutting and cooking, real food.. better come with stomach filled;

Also Reminds me of the Tony winning “The Humans”.
Very timely in the post-pandemic time.
A “memorial” dinner of a deceased NYC dancer .. I actually looked her name up afterwards.. it was that real!!... Read more Read less

See it if Monologues woven by 4 strong actors; 90 min no intermission; THOM SESMA was a show stopper and gave it a powerful ending; Japanese/atom bomb

Don't see it if Challenging for actors & audience - long monologues one after another in form of letters; scenic design beautiful but bit too indicative;

See it if All 3 actors are Broadway veterans, esp. “Regina,” a powerhouse with perfect comedic moments. Small black box theatre & stage with smart set

Don't see it if Was a fun night of laughter, but wouldn’t provoke thoughts; Several impressive numbers, then got repetitive; Abrupt transitions; 80 min.

See it if Khmer folk song in rock&roll style; Khmer Rouge’s story told in a fantasized & romanticized way; perfect casting, brilliant actor-musicians

Don't see it if History purist; loud music; Khmer lyrics with no subtitles, missed a great chance to introduce/educate, should have slipped sheet in program

Also Act 1 is a bit nonsensical, especially the clownish style of “dad” in an ensemble of realistic acting.. isn’t believable as “Asian dad” but rather fits the American stereotypical version.
Act 2 is intense, but lacks depth, and doesn’t resonate.
The directing is super tight, and the cast are crazily talented.
Signature Theatre is doing great job introducing new generation of playwrights!!... Read more Read less

See it if standup solo talkshow backed up by 5 brilliant musician/actor;Rock&Roll concert with original numbers discussing pain & death; Superb set!!

Don't see it if Cancer/loss of love/death triggers you; loud music; breaking 4th wall & sing along; chaotic last scene; 65min of teasing the “death”;

See it if Street dance (mainly urban) masters, strong ensemble with sparkling solos; choreography seamlessly matching the music & lyrics; high energy!

Don't see it if Similar dance style, could feel repetitive after 2hrs; Floor movements & footwork blocked by front row audience; budgeted set; vague story

See it if You’re ready for a new version; hormone-infused choreography; smart use of live-footage & LED and backstage; Understudy Tony’s acting!!

Don't see it if 1hr45min nonstop; “I feel Pretty” deleted, song sequence&intention changed, “Officer Krupke” not funny anymore; young actors’ debut!!

Also Ensemble use their physical language to create an immersive atmosphere that grabs me. Wept a lot.
Tony & Anita are stronger in acting than in singing. Maria’s legit voice doesn’t harmonize well with other cast members.... Read more Read less

See it if Mexican indigenous folklores performed by 3 indigenous actors & 1 musician; visceral; created an ethereal atmosphere; Smart minimal props

Don't see it if You don’t want subtitles - spoken in Spanish, Mayan, etc; 1 actor is gender non-binary and tells the story of childhood trauma;85min nonstop

Also Involves minimal audience interaction; the 1st two audience may be teased... Read more Read less

See it if Aftermath of a school gunshot; perspectives of various agents; all actors are great; playwright aims to provoke but not to resolve

Don't see it if Audience seated at both sides of a middle ground/stage, can see others’ faces in scenes; 80 min no intermission; super depressing ending

See it if Fringe gem; 6 actors all have their moments; Strong lead & brilliant ensemble; Live BGM is so fitting; Smart writing by a young playwright;

Don't see it if Soho Playhouse’s mainstage functions at its best, change of light&sound creates an underwater experience; Death&mourning, heavy topic;

See it if Fringe style small production of friendly 4ppl cast; fast spoken words accompanied by live music; 1 singer has great voice; new studio space

Don't see it if Can’t figure out its relation with the Greek classic; Cast encourages audience participation; Casual intro talk; 2hrs with 1 intermission

Also I don’t think anyone cares about the production history before they fall in love with the show. The casual intro starting this show is not a very affective one.
The tunes are hypnotic, and not very fun to sing along.... Read more Read less

See it if A cappella of history of cocktails (Irish coffee is tasty); nice bar venue; 4 hardworking actors managed to pull off various accents;

Don't see it if Many small accidents (some are actually funny); material not in actors’ body yet, they don’t feel the joy, thus neither can we;

Also The tenor needs to work on his high notes, tho his acting is adorable; Harmony requires more rehearsal to achieve; unmemorable numbers except 1-2, including the coffee song;
2hrs with 10min break.... Read more Read less

See it if Modern adaptation with Pop/rock elements; musician as narrator (Shakespeare clown); smart use of limited space&props; audience interaction

Don't see it if 2hr with 10min break; 40ish seats; close to the action; requires lots of imagination; act2’s pace slows down, and not as witty as act1

Also Gwen Kingston not only rewrites the book, but also delivers a powerful, moving performance as Anna (and Ventriloquy is a bonus!); Sam Khazai is so well cast for his attractiveness; Michae Sazonov is so adorable as an actor & a human-being... Read more Read less

See it if 80min of personal burning-man adventure & the problematic history of IQ test; shifting from comedian persona to lecturer persona; forceful..

Don't see it if ..but lack ease at times & may exhaust some audience; Cultural references (names) hard to get for foreigner’s ear; Weak ending in Love&Peace

See it if The falling apart of a small town/family; smart writing makes you empathize with these strangers; 2hr50min passed in a wink;

Don't see it if Horrible scenic design & seating: 2 side areas are behind the stage, 4 pillars are blocking sight. 2 intermission with long toilet queue

Also Edmund Donovan is so powerful and inspiring as an actor (Good job, Yale Drama), manipulating physical/vocal features at ease to portray a mentally broken son.
-
The following lines are echoing in my head:
But there’s always this moment when I look up and someone looks at me and they’re like “you’re being weird.”
.
.
I’m so tried of being weird mom.... Read more Read less

See it if 2 acts, 2hrs, 1 intermission, 1 singer & 1 pianist (both highly talented); The actor has full control of stage, bring us to Berlin, London..

Don't see it if Plain set; Spotlight turns the room hot; Acoustic at La Mama basement is passable - thank god the singer is skillful with the mic!

Also I knew nothing about David Bowie or his music before the show. I will do my homework after this show.... Read more Read less

See it if Solo show, 75min of genuine life story: making peace with dad, battling cancer, fulfilling childhood dream; heartfelt live music; with humor

Don't see it if Little acting craft; no singing skill; tho better than a highly skillful act; intimate basement cabaret venue, 1 toilet room for each gender

Also What makes a great performer/performance? From this show, I realize it’s definitely not “crafts”. Thank you, Keith, for your courage & willingness to share your story.... Read more Read less

See it if Maury Yeston is a genius, so is the cast of 5+1 pianist; A revue with smart choreography and number sequence; 75 min of joy;

Don't see it if You want a plot; Revue is more fitting for cabaret setting, since disconnected songs could be challenging for both actors & audience;

Also Justin Keyes is so funny and charismatic, and Jovan E’Sean, a newly grad from Pace, is a rising star!
The theatre is hidden inside a church on 54th St, rather than on Lexington Ave as Google Map states.
Toilet space quite limited.... Read more Read less

See it if a lesbian Jewish comedian’s autobiographical show - the versatile actor acts out all Jewish mothers, including her own; unique perspective

Don't see it if .. to milestone events in this country’s recent history, including 9/11 & AIDS epidemic; 75min of swift witty lines;

Also I missed some Jewish reference as a non-Jew, but enjoyed the show regardless. This show hit me hard.... Read more Read less

See it if Black men’s struggle against HIV+; calling for shattering the shame; great performance by trio; raise questions with humor; unique writing

Don't see it if LGBTQ problem is not your problem; sex, nudity, alcoholism, suicide trigger you; 90 min without intermission; minimal audience engagement

Also It’s 1 in 2 for gay black men. It’s too striking a fact to ignore. Yet, it’s not getting enough attention.... Read more Read less

See it if In preview, cut from 4hr last week to 3hr now; doesn’t feel long due to lively language and intriguing acting; 10+ actors portraying tough,

Don't see it if .. broken, underprivileged women; Some scenes are weaker probably due to recent rewrite (1 actor shouts out “line” at one point);

Also If life is a constant struggle, is it still worth living?

See it if So much tension between each pair of characters; sitting at my chair edge expecting for more; 75min well spent

Don't see it if You feel weird when the playwright is playing one character; the buildup takes a bit too long; small space with coded toilet; plain set

Also It’s simply too hard to admit one’s mediocrity, isn’t it?

See it if The friendship between & the struggle of 2 female scientists; 90 min of laugh and tears; the acting is so REAL, so moving; echoing ending;

Don't see it if Criticism of patriarchal society may hurt some ego; No intermission; Go & Watch it!!

See it if Reimagines an African-American woman’s involvement with Carter’s presidency; raises awareness for equal rights & global warming; 1st preview

Don't see it if 100 min no intermission; 2 leading actors shift into opposite gender.. while the drag lady is comical, the🙍🏾‍♀️Carter isn’t convincing;

Also The female lead (President Carter) tripped quite a bit with lines, and didn’t really transform into a different character in drag. All supporting actors’ work’s solid.... Read more Read less

See it if I thought about leaving during intermission. Glad I didn’t. Act 2 is deeply moving. Act 1 covers two unrelated themes thus fulfills neither

Don't see it if Black life in mid 20c USA - freedom rider, school discrimination, etc. Sadly, feels relatable today. Monotonous music makes ppl dozing.

Also Theatre easily accessible near time square station; has elevator; bare set; small band visible on stage... Read more Read less