Dear World (New York City Center) NYC Reviews and Tickets
About the Show
Production Covid-19 Safety ProtocolsMember Reviews (100)
See it if Donna Murphy! All the singers are great.
Don't see it if It's what is sung that is useless. There's something to be said about nostalgic, this is rotting.
See it if You are a fan of Donna Murphy and want to see her in a very dated and mediocre show. She sings beautifully.
Don't see it if You dislike dated shows. Old fashioned is fine but this was probably not great even when it initially premiered.
See it if You’re a fan of Jerry Herman, Donna Murphy or others in the cast, you want to listen to the played by large orch. & great singers
Don't see it if You’re expecting Hello Dolly, Mame or La Cage, you’re a male corporate big shot, don’t like Jerry Herman scores,
See it if you want to see a rare showing of Jerry Herman's show. Encores does a wonderful production of it although some of the story is strange.
Don't see it if you like the more mature shows of Jerry Herman. Read more
See it if features charming triumvirate of eccentrics-force of nature Donna Murphy who dominates stage, kookie A Harada & A Burns; 1st rate orchestra
Don't see it if w/o memorable tunes or a credible plot, no strong reason to revive old fashioned musical like World Read more
See it if You want to see one of the strangest, oddest flop musicals that is almost never revived.
Don't see it if Your tolerance for ridiculous stories is low. The book of this show is off-the-wall — in an extremely stupid way.
See it if you’re looking for a show that can add some optimism to our often cold, greed-ridden world. This is a charming, whimsical gem.
Don't see it if whimsy isn’t your thing or you can’t take on-the-nose commentary on the state of the world.
See it if you like to see all the Encores! shows (I do, they are usually wonderful). The problem was not the production, there was so much talent.
Don't see it if you want to see a show that will move you...or that will even make sense. Read more
Critic Reviews (5)
CRITIC’S PICK: "Considering our current climate of reactive, out-loud politics, the melodramatic straightforwardness of Lawrence and Lee’s story doesn’t seem as far-out as it once did. Now, as then, Herman’s tuneful, yes-we-can score holds a steady beat for all to march to."
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“The flaws of Dear World are pretty apparent. It doesn't quite make sense, nor does it really work as a musical comedy. No, this production does not make a sudden case for ’Dear World ’as a neglected gem, but it does give this cuckoo crazy musical the best possible contemporary production it could want.”
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"Dear World," the not terribly successful 1969 Jerry Herman musical based on Jean Giraudoux’s "The Madwoman of Chaillot" (1945), was basically a vehicle for the brilliant Angela Lansbury. It needs a star to pull off its quirky inconsistency and New York City Center Encores! has a gem, Donna Murphy, who, though under-rehearsed due to a Covid scare and carrying her script, gives a colorful and moving performance as its central character, Countess Aurelia.
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“This is how it should be done...It has it all: a lush orchestra playing a forgotten score, Broadway luminaries, laughs, romance, social commentary, and some minimal, but captivating design.”
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more than just a vehicle for Donna Murphy…. It’s also a vehicle for other terrific talent, especially two of Broadway’s funniest character actors, Christopher Fitzgerald and Anne Harada, as well as a wonderful dancer named Kody Jauron ….I certainly gave Herman’s songs a dutiful listen, but I think I understand what might have kept audiences half a century ago from fully appreciating them – because I don’t fully appreciate them now either.
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