ZTheatre

See it if You want to see a new play that deals with today’s political climate.

Don't see it if You want a strong plot.

Also I found the playwright’s dialogue to be strong. But the lack of plot and conversation that circled itself was disappointing. Listening to debate for 2 hours was not interesting.... Read more Read less

See it if You like new plays. You like a slow burn.

Don't see it if You want more than a short story live on stage.

Also Disappointing. I understand what the playwright was going for about moments in our lives, but boy it was a long trip to that moment. Characters are underdeveloped (with the exception of the neighbor). I also couldn’t understand why the narrator character existed or why she would tell this story.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see fantastic design elements and fun musical numbers.

Don't see it if You want the fun to expand into the book scenes as well.

Also The musical numbers work. But the book scenes and performances feel flat.... Read more Read less

See it if You are fan of the 2 actors. Are in the mood for a drama about what it’s like to be father/son.

Don't see it if You want a traditional play, or lite fair.

Also Both monologues play on themes of loss, insecurity, and being over your head. Because they are by 2 different Playwrights they feel a little too different to be in the same evening. But both have compelling moments.... Read more Read less

See it if You live Annie Golden. You want a campy, silly musical.

Don't see it if You want a campy silly musical that can support its over 2 hour run time.

Also The cast works very hard and there some amazing voices. My issue they were singing a score I enjoyed. The idea is great, but after 20 minutes most of the jokes have been told and the show repeats itself.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the source material. You enjoy a good old fashioned (in a good way) drama.

Don't see it if You want it to be 100% faithful to the novel.

Also Lovely adaptation. I thought Sorkin found much needed humor where I didn’t except it. The pace did occasionally drag, but otherwise, very well done.... Read more Read less

See it if You like small intimate dramas.

Don't see it if You want big and flashy.

Also A lovely, uncomfortable drama with two great performances. I did see the original production in 2006. I found the staging of that to be more compelling. But otherwise the play holds up for me.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to think, be challenged, and uncomfortable.

Don't see it if You want pure entertainment.

Also A play that will stay with me for better or worse. Confronting and also at times very funny. Bravo to the cast, this can’t be an easy play to perform over and over.... Read more Read less

See it if You like to support new plays at off off Broadway theaters.

Don't see it if You want I finished product. This feels like it’s still finding its feet.

Also At the core there’s any interesting idea for a play, but I’m afraid the over the top tone did not work for me. Most of the characters are mean and yell at one another, and we never get to know them. It hard to understand why anyone would put up with them.... Read more Read less

See it if You like small intimate theater. 2 person show loaded with wit and sensitivity.

Don't see it if You want big production values.

Also 2 wonderful actors working their asses off. Funny but also touching.

See it if You’re already a fan of the show.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a fresh approach.

Also The direction is a combination of the original and revival Broadway productions. Staging gets cluttered. Some nice performances and voices. Trouble hearing actors during book scenes.... Read more Read less

See it if A play that’s part climate wake up call , part Hollywood satire appeals to you.

Don't see it if You want breezy comedy.

Also There’s a lot to like. It’s smart enough not to linger too long on either climate or Hollywood, just the right enough of both. For me the pacing is just too slow. The script feels evenly paced, but it’s been directed to really take its time. This effected my enjoyment. Special shout out to great performances by Hurt and Baker.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to laugh at raunchy girls night out.

Don't see it if You want a drama.

Also It’s very funny and most of the performances are great (especially Fuller and Myers). My only 2 knocks are; I wish the director had encouraged a little less yelling. And the playwright hadn’t tried to be so poignant in the end. Overall I laughed and smiled a lot.... Read more Read less

See it if A 2 character play about immigrant deportation appeals to you.

Don't see it if A lite evening is preferable.

Also There’s things to admire, including 2 very charming actors, but there’s a lack of urgency to both the script and direction. Even at 95 minutes, it feels slow. Difficult topic to handle and slashes of humor work well.... Read more Read less

See it if You like new works that are intimate and are character driven.

Don't see it if You want to be entertained only.

Also It’s a tough piece (dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault), but it’s beautiful staged, designed, written, and acted. I was moved by all three characters struggles.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a play about chance, choice, and free will.

Don't see it if You want a straight forward play with a traditional narrative.

Also The play as written feels gimmicky. The humor didn’t land. Cast was uneven.... Read more Read less

See it if You love Terrence McNALLY and or the actors.

Don't see it if You want spectacle. A 2 character play isn’t enough.

Also I think the play holds up. Great to hear this dialogue spoken by 2 actors with wonderful chemistry.... Read more Read less

See it if You like seeing all new Broadway musicals. Are curious how they adapted it for the stage.

Don't see it if You are a fan of the film.

Also Changing Beetlejuice from a villain into a sitcom character was a misstep. There are many talented folks on the stage, but they aren’t given a score or book that lets them be anything other than one dimensional.... Read more Read less

See it if A contemporary play about marriage is intriguing.

Don't see it if You want a bio show or a account of actual events.

Also At 85 minutes this play crackles with wit, intrigue, and compassion. It’s not a comment on the Clintons are much as it’s a comment on celebrity marriage. Fantastic performances.... Read more Read less

See it if You like big musical comedy. And cast that knocks it out of the park.

Don't see it if You want a serious or dark musical.

Also Exceeded my expectations. The book is great. I love that the told the basic story but didn’t feel the need to play it verbatim. The cast is sensational, fantastic comedic performances all around.... Read more Read less

See it if You like new musicals. You like different approaches to storytelling.

Don't see it if You want your musicals to have a strong book and direction.

Also I enjoyed most of the score. But the book is spread thin and the direction is too busy. Beautifully sung.... Read more Read less

See it if You like your comedy absurdist. You like the idea of work place politics and the PC movement being satirical portrayed.

Don't see it if You want a realistic take on those issues.

Also I like the ambition on display, but I think choosing to make all the supporting characters one dimensional horrible people hurts the play. That idea is stretched too thinly and after 20 minutes, their shocking dialogue becomes tired.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the play or the four actors.

Don't see it if You want a play that holds up 100%. The play it’s does feel a bit tired and not as palpable as it once was.

Also The play is directed and acted quite well. The material does feel a bit slow at times and stale.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the three actors or playwright. You want to be challenged at the Theatre.

Don't see it if You want some lite and fluffy, you want only high brow comedy.

Also Lane, Nielsen, & White are the reason to go. All three lift the play. The play still feels like it’s in a workshop phase. As it stands it’s not funny enough text wise, and the social commentary feels academic.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a fan of the playwright or actors involved. You like your plays to be issues not necessarily plot.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a tight play.

Also There’s definitely a good play here, but it’s currently bogged down. I’m not the first person to post it’s too long...because it is. Once we get to the major reveal, all of the character’s journies are obvious, which is why the play can’t support its running time. But again, there is a good play in there.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a well written, acted, and staged production about the lose of childhood innocence.

Don't see it if You prefer something comedic or do not like adults playing children.

Also A true ensemble piece, all actors excellent. Briskly stages and a funny and moving script.... Read more Read less

See it if You like the plays previously written by Wohl.

Don't see it if You don’t want a play that will take it time to get you places.

Also I enjoyed all the children’s performances and most of the adults. It’s a fresh theatrical way to look at childhood trauma and learned behavior. But it’s missing an urgency in presentation. The kids really don’t seem worried (in the writing not performance) and the adults just feel melancholy.... Read more Read less

See it if You like stories about Theatre people living in NY. You like small ensemble comedians.

Don't see it if You want big production values. You want big themes.

Also A lovely comedy that wallops you with an emotional punch in the end. Phillips’s script is funny and endearing. Plenty of laughs and a realistic heartfelt turn at the end. Great performances; especially Phillips and Torgerson.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a brand new family drama. Our relationship with food interests you.

Don't see it if You aren’t interested in a drama about our relationship with food.

Also The first hour is flat in both story telling and direction. It feels very muted. I understand that choice, but personally I was losing interest. But the last 30 minutes are very compelling. Would like to see more of the last half injected into the beginning.... Read more Read less

See it if You love “Three Sisters “, and would enjoy a satirical, emo look at it.

Don't see it if You don’t know “Three Sisters “ at all.

Also If you don’t know the source material I fear you will be lost. This is a deep-cut. Great ensemble diving in head first.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a campy and silly time.

Don't see it if You want something that takes itself seriously.

Also It hard (ha) to beat this show up because it never tries or claims to be anything other than fluff. My issue is it could be tighter fluff, at almost 2 hours the show gets tiresome. Sharper direction and some cuts and this be a lot of fun.... Read more Read less

See it if You like very meta tales of musical theatre artists in a musical.

Don't see it if You want a narrative that is straight forward and not self referencing throughout.

Also The first 30 minutes are a lot of fun. Some fun songs and lyrics. But the autobiographical nature of the show gets too heavy and it’s to feel like a therapeutic exercise. Jackson is clearly talented and I look forward to seeing other works.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a meta comedy about Hollywood.

Don't see it if You want a play that delivers more than chuckles.

Also The leading man (Hampe) is charming and engaging. Looking forward to seeing more of his career. The play itself is so slight it can’t support the morality tale. There’s so chuckles but not enough laughs for me.... Read more Read less

See it if You go to the Theatre to be challenged.

Don't see it if You want a traditional play. You want a narrative with characters and plot.

Also While I found much of the play interesting and confronting, I couldn’t get past the structure. The school assembly seems to be abandoned when it doesn’t suit what the creators want. The jumping in and out of this conceit took away from the experience and made it feel more exercise in shock.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in a historical figure you may no very little about.

Don't see it if You want a play that is constructed of more than just bullet points.

Also Great leading lady performance and some fun staging. But unfortunately the play itself has very little dramatic tense and just feels like it’s connecting the dots.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re craving an old fashioned musical comedy.

Don't see it if You’re looking for something edgy or dark.

Also A sweet musical comedy.the cast and score are the selling point. The book can be a bit creaky, relying on old jokes and repetition often. Still worth checking out if you are a fan of this type of musical.... Read more Read less

See it if You like darker, borderline performance art theatre.

Don't see it if You prefer a straight forward play, with traditional narrative.

Also The play tries to squeeze in a lot of talking points; social justice, the media, abortion, gender, social norms into 70 minutes. For me it was too much in an abstract way.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re already a Potter fan. Or really enjoy spectacle.

Don't see it if You are going for a quick paced play.

Also I’ve seen the films, but would not consider myself a fan (their fine). I found this to be told at a snails pace. Yes, the Theatre magic is fun, but hard to recommend to a non Potter fan.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a new work about jealous and ambition.

Don't see it if You want to see a polished piece.

Also The script has potential but makes its point early and circles that point for the rest of the runtime. We only see these characters in toxic moments, it’s hard to see why they ever liked one another. The lead actor is very good.... Read more Read less

See it if You’ve liked the previous play by Jesse Eisenberg.You like plays about flawed people.

Don't see it if You want an out and out comedy or drama.

Also Funny, poignant, and well acted. My one disappointments is, you can see the ending coming the minute one character shares a piece of information with another.... Read more Read less

See it if You like see new plays. Plays involving the entertainment business interests you.

Don't see it if You want a play that feels finished. This feels like an early draft.

Also The lead male gives a lovely and charismatic performance. But unfortunately, that was the only aspect I enjoyed. I found the dialogue clunky, and the supporting characters to be walking exposition.... Read more Read less

See it if The constitution and the debates around it interests you.

Don't see it if You want a traditionally structured play or solo show.

Also I think I would have found this more enjoyable as a solo show. The personal stories don’t reach their emotional core because of the framing device. While the audience ate up the last 20 minutes, I found it it be the least successful part of the evening. We know it’s scripted, asking to believe it’s a debate annoyed me.... Read more Read less

See it if You like new off Broadway plays. You like absurdist Theatre.

Don't see it if You want a straight forward plot and narrative.

Also I was on board for the first few minutes of fast past absurdity, but it quickly got stale. It was unclear to me what we were supposed to take away from this play.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re interested in plays based on real life events. Are a fan of the cast.

Don't see it if Your expecting the play to be about Murdoch exclusively.

Also I enjoyed parts of the play very much. Especially those that involved Murdoch. It is a bit slow at times and perhaps has a few too many characters for us to keep track of.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re a sucker for an Arthur Miller play (I am), or a fan of Letts and Bening.

Don't see it if You are looking for something upbeat.

Also I love Arthur Miller. I thought this is a pretty good but safe production. Bening, Letts, & Walker are great. One or two of the supporting actors, not so much. A bit of awkward staging. But for Miller fans, it’s a must see.... Read more Read less

See it if A brand new play about a turbulent relationship appeals to you.

Don't see it if You want a play that dives deeper than surface characters.

Also Even at 80 minutes this was hard to sit through. The 2 main characters are so unappealing, but unappealing with no reason. We learn so little about who those 2 are and all we are left with is banter. The election framing devise also felt weak.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a classic piece of musical stripped down.

Don't see it if You want your classic musical theatre how you remember it.

Also I was taken by how powerful the piece is when all the showmanship is taken away and all you have is honesty. Beautiful performances. Well done everyone involved!... Read more Read less

See it if A slice of life, ensemble piece interests you.

Don't see it if A plot driven, big laughs so is what your looking for.

Also I saw this groups previously play, “Miles for Mary” and really enjoyed it. This one is not on same level. There’s really no plot. And it’s not a character study as the characters don’t get enough room to breathe. I would have been ok with that had it produced more laughs, but it mostly produced smiles. Extremely talented actors, I just wish they had more to do.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a melodrama with great performances and direction.

Don't see it if You want a realistic, straight forward drama.

Also I agree with most, the third act doesn’t work. The play could easily be about 2 hrs 15 minutes. But it’s a great first 2 acts with great performances and direction.... Read more Read less

See it if You like small (2 character) socially relevant plays.

Don't see it if You want a lite or comedic play.

Also Both performances are great. Liked the script, but at times you can hear the playwright talking, not the characters. Feels like a play that was born out an idea not out of characters. The ending is written/staged is a cop out. Give us an ending, some may not like it, but it’s in my opinion better than a vague ending.... Read more Read less