Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin

See it if you're comfortable w/hammy, mannered acting. Stories are great (altho their impact is diminished) as are songs (altho HF's voice is meh).

Don't see it if you have high standards. This is cruise ship fare, complete w/sing along. HF annoyed me, even his piano flourishes. Accent is inconsistent.

Also I really liked HF's Leonard Bernstein, so this was disappointing. Berlin's life story is fascinating, but it was not well told. The evening grated.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like Irving Berlin, I think you will like this one. Good songs done well by Felder. Good direction.

Don't see it if If you don't like songs by Irving Berlin or if you don't like musicals.

See it if you're an Irving Berlin fan & want to hear his music & learn about his life (superficially), enjoy Felder's type of show

Don't see it if you're not a fan of Berlin, don't like ragtime, movie music of the 30's & 40's, or music of Broadway in the 30's-50's, or 1 person shows

See it if From a Steinway, an American immigrant counts his blessings of wartime patriotism. Encouraged sing-along. Berlin lived to over a century.

Don't see it if Some loss. His singing is soft at times, perhaps to masque inadequacies. Slow. He had over 25 chart toppers, why not more represented?

See it if A man with had great talent, so many songs, you know some. If you love music and want to know more.

Don't see it if If you do not like this music, and think it old.

Also This show tells you something about his life. Meeting his wife and personal heartache in his family. How he came to America, and all the not so good with the good of trying to get by.
I grow up hearing alot of his music. Love the time period. Its like going back in time. This show is very well done - its excellent. The strength and love this man have for this country that he wrote and gave us "God Bless America".... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Irving Berlin or you would like to know more about one of America's greatest composers. One man show very informational.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of Irving Berlin or do not like any one person shows.

Also I have seen other shows about Irving Berlin but they always include more music than story. Felder tells Berlin's story using pertinent music and touching acting. One note, at times he sings very softly so if you are hard of hearing, sit close or get hearing aid. Best to sit on left since he plays the piano a lot.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy shows about famous American composers and the songs they wrote.

Don't see it if you don't like to hear tunes from the Great American Songbook performed by a man whose vocal delivery leaves a lot to be desired.

Also Felder's show about Leonard Bernstein was so much superior. This show was a genuine letdown. At 105 minutes, this show is way too long. There were way too many sing-alongs with the audience.... Read more Read less

See it if you love the work of Irving Berlin.This is a very good look at his life and his music.It's a bit heavy handed at times, but Felder shines

Don't see it if you are opposed to schmaltz and feelings.Felder is super talented but it does force you to feel.I didn't like the singalong part. Too trite.

See it if you want to witness Felder's terrific performance. He is totally committed and succeeds with the acting, singing, and piano.

Don't see it if you're not interested in a one-man biography show. It was slow and dragged at times.

See it if You enjoy history of musical theater, if you want to learn about Berlin, if you like biographies, if you like one man shows. Nice set.

Don't see it if you don’t like one man shows. Some audience participation singing songs which can be silly. A bit slow at times. No intermission.

Also Felder excellent pianist. Wonderful Q and A after. Felder speaks well, has done massive amounts of research.... Read more Read less

See it if Classic Hershey Felder at his best. Theater A at 59 E 59 is a perfect intimate venue for his magical performance. A delightful evening.

Don't see it if If you are expecting a full musical production or if you do not like a solo show.

See it if you love Irving Berlin. Felder spins tales and plays with great aplomb. This is the perfect role for him.

Don't see it if you aren't a Berlin fan, or you are looking for more drama in your one man shows. It's very much a historical bio.

See it if you want to know about the man behind so many of the songs all of us know by heart. This is a masterful piece done with thought and style.

Don't see it if you simply don't care about Irving Berlin and the treasury of excellent music that he gave us. If that's so, go anyway and learn!

Also In the interest of full disclosure, I was in the group that went to Berlin's home every Christmas Eve to serenade him with his songs. One year we met him, and he kissed me! Ergo, this piece grabbed me early.

That said, I know more about Berlin's life than most, and yet found the intelligent way his life was presented to be nothing short of perfection. This man had tragedies in his life that will rip your heart when you see this show. He was a man of little education, which, I believe, was a strength in allowing him to write for the common man. No references from mythology here (like Porter and Hart). This man had his heart on his sleeve--Always.

This show is an education and a revelation. I'm so glad I saw it, and may indeed return. We cannot dismiss Irving Berlin--he was a master and helped pave the way for the other titans. When I become Queen of this town, this show will be compulsory for all. Know that an immigrant from Russia is the one who gave us God Bless America.... Read more Read less

See it if you have an interest in Berlin's work. Even though I was familiar with his songs, the scope of his outcome is just amazing.

Don't see it if you're put off by sentiment, as Felder does get emotional retelling some of the sadder aspects of Berlin's life.

See it if you're ok w/1-man bio shows & don't mind being coaxed into singing, while hearing/learning interesting background on Berlin's life & music.

Don't see it if you're not into 1-man shows, over-the-top Liberace piano-flourishes, & high-drama vocals mixed w/overdone sotto voce. Too bad. It all works.

Also Saw original production @ The Town Hall 2yrs ago.

Warmer & cozier @ 59th, it works a TON better here (especially lighting & back-projection).

HF illuminates the origin of many of IB's songs w/an often gentle vocal delivery (IB was not a singer so there's no need for HF to try to imitate him). Yes, sometimes HF goes off the deep end & turns into Martin Short's "Ed Grimley" from SNL, but then we see a video clip of Al Jolsen doing an era-stylized "Blue Skies" from 'The Jazz Singer', & we GET it.

As amazing as HF is on the piano (IB was not), the show is beautifully simple, often humorous & moving. IB's story felt deeply personal to HF; thus, it didn't feel like a put-on "acting job" to us. Kudos to HF's performance & dedication to detail (the guy even co-designed his own set).

As presented by HF, IB deals w/life's unexpected twists & turns better than most. Nice lesson for all. This 2hr-show is a warm, filling, delicious piece of a grandma-casserole, which EVERYone should experience.... Read more Read less

See it if You are an Irving Berlin fan. Especially if you love his music but have yet to investigate his personal history.

Don't see it if You are looking for great vocal performances of Berlin's songbook. You are under a certain age and wish to get all the references.

Also "The song is ended, but the melody lingers on." -Irving Berlin

Hershey Felder's Berlin is a wonderful look at a man who was, in many ways, the consummate American rags-to-riches story.

Felder's playing is remarkable and filled with ease. His impressive runs and flourishes, even at pianissimo dynamics are smooth as butter.

Felder's vocal performance is less convincing than his instrumental performance. It seems a bit too stylized, especially when, I the show, you hear an actual audio recording of Berlin singing. Berlin's actual singing seems a little less oddly stylized.

The narrative of the show is clear, the framing device inviting, and the timeline easy to follow. Fortunately for the show, unfortunately for America, the piece is quite prescient.

Despite a rather large performance from Felder, the piece manages to work both as an exploration of Berlin as a historical figure and as a human being.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to learn about the life of Irving Berlin and hear songs. Great acting. Loved the format of it. Must see

Don't see it if You do not like biographical pieces.

See it if if you love Irving Berlin's songs with patter between songs; if you enjoy singing along at various times; if you enjoy being entertained

Don't see it if you don't like one person shows; if you expect Hershey Felder to look like Irving Berlin

See it if you enjoy Berlin's music and are interested in learning a little more about his life. Felder is charming and the show is an enjoyable event.

Don't see it if you need fast-paced or profound theatre. This is just a stroll through Berlin's life and music. Nothing more. It is old-fashioned, but fun.

See it if you feel, as I do, that an evening spent with Irving Berlin's music is never wasted, and you can enjoy an overview of his life and career.

Don't see it if you can't overlook over-the-top acting, some ugly loud singing, and stylistically inappropriate florid piano accompaniments.

Also The best parts of the evening are the places where he encourages the audience to sing along. You become aware of how well known some of these songs are and how much a part of the fabric of American life.... Read more Read less

See it if If you want to see an American success story and hear marvelous music beautifully performed, you will love this.

Don't see it if You don't like an inspiring story and a small intimate musical with superb showtunes.

See it if You are a fan of Irving Berlin and want to hear his [interesting] life story told through his music by a talented artist.

Don't see it if You don't like one-man shows. You have never heard of Irving Berlin/ you don't like Irving Berlin's music.

See it if you want to learn about Irving Berlin and/or is you enjoy his music...

Don't see it if you don't like one person shows...

See it if informative, delightful one man show. If you like music, are interested in the ubiquitous Irving Berlin's songs & his backstory.

Don't see it if You don't like one man shows--have no interest in Irving Berlin or his music. Prefer intense thought provoking theater.

Also Saw in previews.Disregard the scathing overly analytical NYT review whicn totally discounted the enjoyment factor Hershey Felder brings to the stage & audience-well received by all.... Read more Read less

See it if WONDERFUL in every respect: great music, a heartfelt story of success in show business, and a love story. Although Berlin was exceptional

Don't see it if you do not like Irving Berlin's music

Also in its talent, his love for his adopted country, it is not unique it is shared by the millions of emigrants living in the United States, and proud to be Americans.
Hershey Felder is able to bring to life Irving Berlin’s talent, intelligence, and wit, in the most remarkable and captivating way. This show was a very satisfying theatrical experience for me.... Read more Read less