Hans Christian Andersen: Tales Real & Imagined

See it if You like fairy tales. The singing was good. Liked the personal stories but some of the detail went long in some parts

Don't see it if You do not like reimagined fairy tales. Play running time a bit long. Many left at intermission due to vagueness in story line

See it if you are fanatical about the author, are a fun of the absurd

Don't see it if you have anything better to do

See it if You want to see something completely different - music, some acting, singing, puppetry.

Don't see it if You want any kind of story that you can follow. You want any type of insight into Andersen's life - maybe you had to know it already.

See it if you have an abiding interest in the title character

Don't see it if you hope to see a coherent rendering of an interesting man

See it if You enjoy biographies done imaginatively and if you like to see possible reasons for writers to write.

Don't see it if You do not like puppets or serious works.

See it if You like Britten and Purcell music You want to know more about him but only a little more

Don't see it if Don’t take children! Very pretentious “High art” Puppets were distracting and confusing l

See it if you are interested in H C Andersen

Don't see it if you like a little zip in your biographies

Also Sorry. I did not enjoy this dark version of H C Andersen's life.
I recommend you rent the Danny Kaye version. It isn't an accurate portrayal of the man (it doesn't pretend to be) but at least it will leave you with a smile on your face and several songs in your heart.... Read more Read less

See it if you might like a whimsical glimpse rather than a comprehensive chronicle about the emotional formation of a literary icon.

Don't see it if you are unhappy with incompleteness, non-linear and non-narrative storytelling, or oddball puppetry.

Also If you don't come looking for the ultimate origin story of HCA and if you keep an open mind, you will be treated to an off-kilter but lovely experience.... Read more Read less

See it if If you wish to learn more about Hans, very good musicians

Don't see it if Did not like the puppets, did not like the the structure of the play, slow

See it if the puppetry is interesting, but overly long and slow

Don't see it if too long and slow and very confusing and definitely not for children

See it if interesting puppet work but not enough to warrant the 2 hours

Don't see it if You can’t contain yourself for 2 hours . 90 minutes would have been enough

See it if Unless it's raining outside and you have nowhere else to hide, don't waste your money

Don't see it if The orchestra and music were superb, but too high in caliber for the elementary and boring script. Worst live theater show I have EVER seen.

See it if Saw it yesterday. Very unique show. Incorporates actors, some singing, puppetry,small orchestra that includes TWO GRAND PIANOS.

Don't see it if You hate puppets. Those were adorale!

Also It was difficult to make up the words of the songs. But there only a few so it didn't spoil the overall experience.... Read more Read less

See it if If your interested in the life of hans Christian Andersen. Some good music in this show.

Don't see it if If you do not like puppetry. was confusing and slow at times.

See it if You enjoy 19th century music. You have some familiarity w/HCA. You want a concert with dialogue. You like puppetry.

Don't see it if You're expecting a biography of HCA. You prefer dialogue-centric storytelling: most is through music & puppetry. You prefer modern music.

See it if you want a review of Andersen's life, mostly troubled, that led to his exploration of the arts and resulted in his tales, some shown here.

Don't see it if you expect a review of Andersen's works-only a few are given some show here. The excellent live music and okay puppetry have a difficult fit

See it if Puppetry introduced to this ongoing chambre music canon.Lamenting his rejection, Hans births dark kids' tales. Opera in English.Grand pianos

Don't see it if Series always provides an abundance of riches and can be uneven trying to throw all forms of high art into the mix. Can't top their Van Gogh

Also "The world is not as your mother says, but what the neighbours say."

See it if a look at his life and some of his stories, with puppets and singing.

Don't see it if singing Opera or classical music.

See it if you wish to see a very creative telling of Andersen's life and look at his fairy tales in a different way. Great use of music and puppets.

Don't see it if you don't like classical music especially 20th century, countertenors, or if you only like a straightforward play.

Also Puppets are used but in a dark way to portray his life and his tales. This is not for children. First act needs some tightening but second act very good. This show is not for everyone. I really like this company's shows and their use of live classical performers, instrumental and vocal as well as puppets. There was no use of dance and very little video in this play unlike others in the past. There was some Purcell but mostly 20th century classical music used. Really indepth look into a person's life. Read the notes in the playbill before the show starts since they are very informative of the music, composers and life of the character.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to learn a little about HCA's life. You enjoy great music with interesting puppetry. You like eclectic shows

Don't see it if You want a streamline production that has an understandable beginning, middle, and end. This feels like blurry polaroid snapshots.

See it if go 4 musicianship, tolerate puppets & depressive storytelling, like H.C.Andersen, 2 support Ensemble 4 Romantic Century, like experiments

Don't see it if no love of classical music, dislike hybrid forms, poorly formed puppetry, gay subtext & front-text, trying to figure out the mimed sequences

Also Musicianship is their forte, storytelling is their not so forte

See it if I loved the idea of the show, was confused by the totality. I love Anderson's stories. You have to know them to get some of them here.

Don't see it if A show of many parts:acting, music, singing, puppetry, storytelling. Too many parts, not all of equal quality and not all well put together

Also I saw the first preview. Great elements need pruning and refining.

Pianists-wonderful
Puppets-many too small
Puppeteers-need more training
Puppeteers-need better costumes
Singing-was it in English?
Stories-not always clear... Read more Read less

See it if you are VERY familiar with all of Hans Christian Anderson's stories or just very interested in very experimental theater.

Don't see it if you don't want to see a relatively disjointed production(exposition, puppetry, opera, classical music)that only peripherally work together.

Also I'm not sure how the opera and classical music actually fit the story. It was beautiful, but not a continuous theme in Anderson's life at least according to the notes. It was continuous in the show.

The outline of HCA's stories sprinkled throughout the show would probably be understood only by someone who had recently read all of HCA's tales.

I kept thinking that if this show was at HERE and I decided to see it I probably would have enjoyed it more. It is what I would expect there.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in terrific music, interesting staging, & the story of HCA's life. But the beautiful elements don't mesh perfectly yet.

Don't see it if You're planning a family outing-this isn't aimed at kids, despite the clever puppetry. Read notes in the playbill for better comprehension.

See it if you get there before the show to read the several pages of playwright's & musicology notes in the Playbill: you will otherwise be lost

Don't see it if you are unfamiliar with HCA's fairy tales (which represent his sad, unfulfilled personal life)

Also I love fairy tales but this show doesn't do them justice. Nice live music, interesting countertenor singing, evocative stage set & the costumes. But although poor, sad Hans Christian Andersen is portrayed as an imaginative writer he is emotionally impotent trying to fulfill himself in his real life. By focusing on his reticence, the play becomes slow & boring.
I love puppetry but was disappointed by the puppeteers' ability to use them effectively in this show. MANY of the puppets were VERY SMALL & meant for an intimate theater. I wondered how anyone sitting in the back rows could see them at all. Why did they bother to construct a nice, large 'puppet stage" and not make that much use of it. I think this show needs to be thoroughly rethought.... Read more Read less