Bar Mitzvah Boy

See it if Jule Styne could not write a bad melody; lyrics clever in a few songs; over course of performance show grows on you; professional cast

Don't see it if this is hokey, cliche-laden musical; performances somewhat rough/cast uses scripts; singing no more than passable; thin piano backup

See it if You are a big Jule Styne Fan.

Don't see it if You want to see a first rate musical.

See it if primarily of interest to Styne completists. Ben Fankhauser shines as the older sister's bf. Peyton Lusk is terrific in the title role.

Don't see it if British accents annoy you. Jewish family troubles are the same in London as in Brooklyn. Breezy -- well done. Piano only.

See it if You like Tim Jerome who is excellent as the grandfather.

Don't see it if You want an interesting intelligent story about a bar mitzvah. This s not it. Story inane. Stock characters. Rhyming lyrics simple

Also Mother is miscast. Too old.. she could be grandmother and way too screechy. Dull staging. Not one prop.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a rare Jule styne performed originally in London's West End in 1976 about a 13 yo boy trying to understand what makes a man

Don't see it if you don't enjoy scaled down versions of big musicals that eliminate dancing and production numbers.

See it if Want to see the full canon of Jule Styne shows.

Don't see it if Tired of cliched shows - dated and not very interesting characters

See it if you like a good story with an incredibly talented cast, so typical of the York Theatre productions

Don't see it if you need full, splashy productions

See it if you enjoy seeing well acted rarely produced shows with good songs by famous composers.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy Jule Styne's music, older shows and/or shows dealing with religious rites of passage.

See it if you're interested in Jule Styne's lesser known work and/or an enjoyable, if not dazzling show.

Don't see it if you're not interested in a story about a Bar Mitzvah gone awry.

See it if you can appreciate the pressures on a family in preparing for a catered event with more than 100 guests.

Don't see it if fail to see the universality of the situation, which in this case pertains to a Jewish family.

See it if you are Jewish or have experienced a bar mitzvah. See it to understand more about what a 13-year old goes through on his special day.

Don't see it if Jewish themes do not interest you. Don't see it if you are expecting a full-blown musical.

Also Peyton Lusk, the 13-year old, playing the lead was fabulous. He was also terrific in "Falsettos." If you are a parent of a teenager, you will feel for the adolescent. The Hebrew spoken was impressive, but you do not need to know Hebrew to appreciate the show. It is worth the price of admission.... Read more Read less

See it if U are friends/family/associates of this work. U are okay with mediocre script, forgettable music, stereotype roles & senseless racial slurs.

Don't see it if U value respect for people of all backgrounds. U believe God is about love & theater & artists should promote tolerance & healing NOT hate.

Also I saw the preview & was disappointed this mediocre revival play even with a modern new script is unappealing & not universal for audience.
Script may be new but remains painfully dated (politically incorrect too!) with a schmalzy steretype Jewish family of unlikeable characters that are cartoonish except for the lead/Bar Mitzvah Boy. Characters underdeveloped & plot is thin about who cares type of petty things & gets more annoying since the comedy & music/lyrics are meh too!

The worst part is the Unecessary hurtful discriminatory racial slurs like "Chink" & "Chinamen" used in some dialogues that are totally senseless & has no relevance to a play set in 1978 modern progressive London about a kid studying the Torah & Commandments & a seemingly good Jewish family
portrayed as stereotype bigots espousing racial insults. Hebrew singing & Torah reading plus racist slurs don't add up to a modern universal play! No sugar coating wrong! IT IS OFFENSIVE & viewers have the right to say it!... Read more Read less

See it if you appreciate a charming, witty, intimate musical about family relations and traditions/

Don't see it if you only enjoy full-blown musical productions

See it if you like a story about family and tradition with a wonderful cast in addition to music by Jule Styne and Don Black.

Don't see it if you don't like hand-in-script performances although they can offer wonderful experiences with "old" musicals.

See it if You like Jewish culture; if you liked Fiddler and Falsettos; if you want to discover a cute gem of a musical.

Don't see it if You don't like the Mufti's style of simple productions; if you don't like "undeveloped" projects; if you don't like cute/fun stories.

Also Such a wonderful and intimate, production, cast, characters, and singing. Was a real joy!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a touching story about growing up around your crazy family.

Don't see it if You are expecting a big broadway over the top musical.

See it if you want to see something funny and entertaining

Don't see it if you only want to see great sets in plays

See it if you are a Jule Styne completist

Don't see it if you are hoping for a musical with an absorbing plot and great music

Also Hallelujah Baby was such a pleasant surprise that this feels even more bleh by comparison... Read more Read less

See it if You're interested in rare Jule Styne works, you've been Bar Mitzvah, or you know anyone who ever has been.

Don't see it if You need fully staged shows to be happy

Also This show was originally a full-scale lavish (and unsuccessful) production in London's West End complete with Peter Gennaro choreographed dance numbers. I can't imagine how it could have been done on that scale. But with this (new) script, and done as a chamber musical, it's very sweet, and very nostalgic. I was moved to laughter and tears. The cast was excellent with special shoutouts to Lori Wilner, Ned Eisenberg, Ben Fankhauser and especially young Peyton Lusk as the title character.... Read more Read less