High Button Shoes

See it if you like old-fashioned silly musicals. Lots of singin/dancin. Plot is gossamer thin. Urie/Wolfe delight. Orchestra shines. Clever staging.

Don't see it if you want meaty works. Occasnly, too much of a gd thing; needs cuts. JR ballet is historic curiosity; soft shoe great. Chase scene dazzles!

See it if Flashy production numbers are the major stand-out in early Styne vehicle Robbins choreo provides added oomph Urie tries hard but strains

Don't see it if Vaudevillian roots show to detrimental effect 2nd act totally falls apart despite Wolfe/Gregory duet But these shows are why Encores exists!

See it if Beautiful dances. The aim of Encores is to go back. It does. It is 1947. Comparison exists. Huge band does the job. The young lad stars.

Don't see it if Do not expect today's standards. It is mid 20th century humor.

See it if Classic Older Musical with dancing, and fun. Its silly too. Has a little of everything.

Don't see it if Its carefree, light and New Brunswick, NJ gets to you.

Also People say its Dated, Yes it is by today standard but that why it enjoyed, and laughable. Free care, just fun.... Read more Read less

See it if you like a very light hearted old fashioned musical from Styne and Cahn with original Jerome Robbins choreography.

Don't see it if you like sophisticated songs and dance numbers or lush musicals.

Also The beach dance number is absolutely hysterical. Very talented cast and great staging of a show that is a little dated. Encores as usual did a great job of presenting a show.... Read more Read less

See it if Don't want 2 miss any of Encores experiences, Michael Urie breathe life into Phil Silvers material, pleasant enough is good enough

Don't see it if history lesson of 1947 BWY musical structure, style and subject matter is not enuf 4 your entertainment $

See it if Some fine dancing. Orch sounds great. But the plot is silly. Urie is funny but not smarmy enough, like Phil Silvers. No memorable songs.

Don't see it if Encores should have done "Little Johnny Jones" instead. It's an antique, for sure, but everyone loves the Cohan score and the "Cagney"scene

See it if you like revivals of old musicals.This 1 hasn't been revived for a reason---it's dull. Despite the usual full blown Encores production, yawn

Don't see it if you want a show that really has something to say, isn't predictable, and has characters you care about.This has none of that.

See it if The major dance number's terrific. A couple of catchy tunes. Urie plays a sarcastic, panicked fraud rather than a debonair, egocentric one.

Don't see it if Plays about conmen really should have tighter plots than this. Aside from the bright spots mentioned above, it’s a tepid show.

Also Pros: After the show I looked up the songs I liked (“Can't You Just See Yourself in Love with Me?" and “Next to Texas I Love You”). I prefer the Encores! cast to the voices on the original recording—which sound so stagey/over embellished/almost operatic in comparison. I raised my score because the difference is so stark and, I think, an improvement. These aren’t all showstopping songs but this production’s listenable and lovely.

Cons: A weird lack of close relationships to root for. The boy and girl didn’t seem very attached even though they get two good love songs. The sisters are so little acquainted they almost have to introduce themselves to each other. The people who I thought were father and daughter were actually husband and wife. The two cons weren’t a partnership of equals—which could have been really entertaining.... Read more Read less

See it if you LOVE Michael Urie and Kevin Chamberlin but Urie disappoints

Don't see it if you anything better to do

See it if you are a fan of old musicals & aren't very picky. The Keystone Kops number at the beach is a knockout. Pleasant, unmemorable score.

Don't see it if you want more challenging material; sharper humor. There's nothing terribly wrong, but little that rises to the usual Encores high standards

See it if Seeking the balm of old-fashioned fun, frolicking ensemble casts, and Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn music and lyrics in a nutty present day.

Don't see it if you seek stunning/surprising set-design, costumes, or singing--which is uneven; need something edgy and unpredictable; dislike datedness.

Also Michael Urie was a significant draw for me to see High Button Shoes: I always appreciate his brand of humor and physical comedy. But a singer he is not (really, he’s fine—just not Broadway-level-show-stopping, which is what we should expect from Encores!). Betsy Wolfe is another top performer but her character leaves little for her to do to impress or show range. I found the dance and screwball/vaudevillian numbers the most entertaining but also a bit empty, lacking full flair. There’s some hamming it up, as if the performers know the audience is expecting some campy, outdated moments. As a whole, I was entertained more by characters like Kevin Chamberlain’s sidekick (great with Urie, really—I could see them as a two-man show with something better-written and fresh) and naïve lovers played by Marc Koeck and Carla Duren. As a whole, you’ll enjoy this throwback more if you remember its original era and don’t mind the creakiness and hollowness beneath the otherwise delightful humor.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see what was happening between Oklahoma! and The Music Man on Broadway,or if you want to see the early genius of Jerome Robbins.

Don't see it if Fluffy yet worthy musicals are beneath you; you're expecting a rousing Styne overture; you've outgrown sweetness on Broadway.

Also I have much more to say:

I may be the only person still standing who has seen a production of this show before now--warm and fond memories were revived last night.

Why the delectable Michael Urie was directed to be imitative of Phil Silvers, the original star, is beyond me and my companions. He has his own well demonstrated and proven comic chops, and I felt diss-served by not seeing that in action. He rose above it all and delivered a fine performance.

I felt no discernible chemistry between Ma and Pa and couldn't believe she really wanted to dance with him.

We were sitting upstairs under the overhang, which may be why I found the music not loud enough for my taste.

This is a musical that will show you what happened after Oklahoma!. Also, it's inconceivable that this show did not influence Meredith Willson as he was writing The Music Man. From that perspective alone it's worth seeing.

The Jerome Robbins ballet is breathtaking, and I applaud everyone involved.

Catch it!... Read more Read less

See it if Everyday hustlin'! Trickster tries his new cheat and almost marries a woman for the money. Fun and beautiful choreographed sequences.

Don't see it if Dated story not particularly relevant. Emotionally flat: no highs or lows. No real plot development.

Also Ticket from the website for $27.50 using coupon. Side mezzanine seat.
From what I could tell, like 2 people of color in non-speaking roles.... Read more Read less

See it if you like old-fashioned musicals & enjoy great choreography. Lots of singing and dancing. Michael Urie works really hard - it sometimes works

Don't see it if you don't like contrived, silly plots. There are some tuneful numbers.

See it if enjoy nice (though non-memorable) music, dancing, and a very slim story done as only Encores can do it.

Don't see it if need a better story-line and better songs. actually dozed off for a while and didn't really miss anything.

See it if A relic from 1947. Book involves 2 con men's adventures. Energetic cast .Best parts involve the Keystone Cops in 2nd act. Urie excels.

Don't see it if Pleasant, fluffy entertainment. This is definitely a musical from yesteryear that has some good moments.

See it if You enjoy a song and dance show and performers who give it their all.

Don't see it if The lack of updating will bother you. Plus Checkov this is not.

Also Michael Urie is a good comic actor, but he has no business singing (or imitating Phil Silvers). Surprisingly, he’s the one sour note (all puns intended) in the show.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a Michael Urie fan; as always he does an excellent job. You enjoy musical theatre &/or are interested in old historic shows.

Don't see it if You'd prefer a show with some memorable songs; fully staged productions--this is an Encores performance.

See it if you're a fan of theatre history and throwbacks to vaudeville comedy.

Don't see it if you're not a fan of old fashioned musical comedies with paper thin plots that are just set ups for gags and dances.

See it if you were dying to hear the song Papa, Won't You Dance With Me performed live.

Don't see it if you were dying to see Jerome Robbins choreography because the only remnants of Jerome Robbins came in the Bathing Beauty Ballet in Act 2

Also This show should be buried alive and NEVER revived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Read more Read less

See it if you see every Encores production. Orchestra shines as usual. A few good dance numbers. Cast tries hard to sell the material.

Don't see it if Not sure why this was revived. Completely fluffy story that doesn't hold up at all. Music ok but nothing special.

See it if Michael Urie and some fine Jerome Robbins choreography beautifully executed is enough to keep your attention.

Don't see it if you expect memorable lyrics and music or an entertaining book even for such an old chestnut as this is. Talent does the best it can.

Also Overall a very disappointing season from our beloved Encores! Hope next season takes us back to the high standards we exect.... Read more Read less

See it if Highly entertaining old-fashioned musical with stunning Jerome Robbins choreography, silly story well payed by excellent ensemble

Don't see it if You don’t love dance because the choreography makes the show particularly second act Sunday By the Sea

See it if You want to experience what people thought was entertaining in 1947. A second-rank musical from the "Golden Age".

Don't see it if You like your theater realistic, meaningful and you hate musicals whose only purpose is to make you forget your troubles.

Also This score was an ear-worm in my childhood. Admittedly the songs are hummable but not memorable, but Jerome Robbins' choreography is brilliant and memorable and the dancing was terrific. Michael Urie pedaled hard but he is not Phil Silvers. But Rob Berman and the orchestra and the enthusiastic cast made the evening a delightful theatrical experience.... Read more Read less