Last Days of Summer

See it if you want to see a top cast with real singing and acting chops

Don't see it if you can't stand that M.Night Shyamalan knows nothing of the Christianity he embraces, you will not tolerate Steve Kugler's pseudo judaism.

Also First the cast led by the brilliance of Bobby Conte Thornton. Teal Wicks, Don Stephenson, and Will Burton all show off their Broadway chops. The balance of the cast also shows excellent talent including the children. The cast is often able to overcome the unforgivably bad sound design (when will directors learn to take the amplification off and find and trust competent singers?).

There is not enough space here to relate everything that is wrong with this production when you set aside the cast and orchestra. It would take several pages. But let it be said that shows first developed in small city rep companies are usually best left there. There are many Fringe and Off-Off Broadway Shows that are far more worthy of a major production than this mess. When you know the entire story after the first scene, real topics are skirted and avoided, costuming is wrong (that's just lazy for a WWII piece) and history ignored you are left with little worth seeing.

Why did DarylRoth invest in this?... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy a light-hearted musical baseball story, with great acting & great singing

Don't see it if you're not interested baseball-themed musicals

Also The acting and singing was outstanding, particularly by the young kids in the show. And there was some nice dancing. The story was somewhat predictable, as you might expect, but hey, so what. It held your interest throughout.... Read more Read less

See it if You like a simple story told in a familiar way. The performances are very good.

Don't see it if You need a strong central conflict. The show is sentimental but harmless.

See it if you like throwbacks to a simpler time and want to see an adorable cast of up and comers

Don't see it if flashbacks bother you or you are looking for a particularly memorable score

See it if you love thought-provoking, baseball-themed musicals

Don't see it if you are not interested in musicals

See it if to experience a cute and touching 1940's themed coming-of-age tale with some great (albeit underutilized) singing and dancing talents

Don't see it if bothered by an emphasis on child actors, desire a memorable score, or need loads of big production numbers

Also There were definitely some fantastic singing/acting performances, especially from Bobby Conte Thorton, Will Burton, and Teal Wicks. There were also some fun/energetic dance numbers, though they felt like a tease due to short duration and overall scarcity.

The score was pleasant but largely forgettable; maybe one song had earworm potential (never have to say goodbye). Unfortunately, many of the lyrics and even some of the dialogue was missed, especially from the child performers.
I'm not sure if this was due to sound design, proximity to the orchestra (2nd row), or just poor enunciation.

The story certainly had its holes, and it wasn't exactly thought-provoking, but it was fun, cute, had plenty of laughs scattered throughout, and it made for an overall entertaining evening.... Read more Read less

See it if want to see the equivalent of a children's book w/ mediocre songs added. I feel sorry for the talented adult cast members given bad material

Don't see it if can't stomach smart-alecky child actors. 2 1/2 hours of a poorly cast, unintelligible kid who's in virtually the entire show is 2 too many

Also Spoiler Alert: I feel badly for D. Binstock as adult Joey. He has to mope around the stage for the entire show shadowing his younger self. His rage at Charlie, his pro-baseball/makeshift Dad, is wholly unbelievable, but we're asked to accept it as the driving force of the entire show.
Will Burton gets a fun number as Stuke imagining he's Rita Hayworth. Having him play a closeted baseball player hits a lot of weird notes, although he's such a likeable performer, he nearly makes it work. Like the Japanese internment camp scene (don't ask how Joey is able to visit his friend there), Stuke's sexuality comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere.
The very talented Jeslyn Zubrycki as Rachel has a lovely song in the second act.
The decision to set the whole thing in an attic as a flashback places too much burden on a denoument that's far too obvious and a little laughable (i.e. I'm mad at you because you got killed in WWII so I'm not going to read the letter you wrote to me before you died?!?!?)... Read more Read less

See it if you like baseball and an old-fashioned show with a few enjoyable tunes.

Don't see it if you don't like baseball and want memorable songs.

Also The lead kids were very good, the baseball players were fun, but the Joe Margolis character was annoying.... Read more Read less

See it if You liked the book! This is a family friendly show, and is also good for even the non-theatre lover. Well cast, too.

Don't see it if You're looking for an extremely deep, thought-provoking show.

See it if You want to see great performances and a sweet production. A really great group of singers and dancers not often seen in a NJ theater

Don't see it if you don't like stories that can be a bit sweeter than you want and maybe a little more predictable than you want as well

See it if You love musicals & a good story line with excellent actors/singers.

Don't see it if You don't like musicals.

See it if love baseball

Don't see it if you dislike the beautiful new GSP

See it if Like heartwarming musicals. Sweet, entertaining, and funny.

Don't see it if You don't like hearwarming shows.

See it if You enjoy musicals at all. You like shows set in the 1940's. You like to see father/son style bonding/mentoring.

Don't see it if You couldn't care less about the period or about musicals in general. You don't want to see shows about dealing with loss.

See it if musical nostalgia from 1940, touching on issues from a young boy’s perspective. Large talented cast / great first performance of season

Don't see it if You hate musicals, or nostalgia

See it if you like an intimate show you like kid performers who did a fabulous job

Don't see it if you have a short attention span. The play needs some editting

See it if Great music, singing, acting and story line.

Don't see it if If you don't like kids don't see this show.

See it if One of the best shows I have seen. Great story line with a great cast. Loved every minute. Very entertaining. The new theatre is great.

Don't see it if Great for every age.

See it if Show was very well done. Singing was amazing. What beautiful, powerful voices!The young boy in the show was fantastic.

Don't see it if You're not accepting of different faiths and different people.

See it if You like musical theater, historical fiction, sports etc.

Don't see it if you do not like musical theater.

See it if Teal Wicks has a lovely voice and It was fun to see Christine Pedi as the aunt, because I listen to her all the time on Sirius XM 72.

Don't see it if If you don’t want to spend the entire second act trying to figure out where you heard the melody to “ Who Knows You Better Then I”...

Also Spoiler alert.. totally derivative of the song “ I’m Nothing Without You” from ‘The City of Angels”!... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy seeing child actors

Don't see it if you don't like shows that deal with going back in time.

Also The acting was terrific - especially the children. The set design was great.
The adjustment of the audio system was poor at best. It was uneven from actor to actor and the orchestra drowned the actors out to much.
In general the audio overall was too loud and poor at best. It truly needs to be mixed more properly in the future especially since it is a new theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if I saw it, I loved it! I think this show has relevance to an over 50 audience, men, people of all faiths, but especially Jews.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy comedy, poignant family relationships, baseball, nostalgia and an outstanding cast