Scotland, PA

See it if you like fresh takes on old themes - here very energetic with a mostly talented, but uneven cast when it comes to acting, singing & dancing.

Don't see it if you are not up for some camp and silliness-this is not a serious treatment of the Bard's work. If your triggers are violence or loud sounds.

See it if witty 1st Act shows Macbeth character’s path to become the "Burger King;" clever songs; hilarious use of 3 witches as provocateurs

Don't see it if in 2nd Act becomes overwrought & didactic when has 2 deal w/ Mac/Lady Mac's guilt & self-destruction; Sweeney Todd it's not

See it if enjoy a few good laughs, staging and sets; actors are hard working, Johnson is a standout; what is it that Roundabout saw in this play?

Don't see it if Rock musical w/o the rock; forgettable music/lyrics; theater version of a B movie; would Shakespeare be entertained or roll in his grave?

See it if You want a fun and silly night of theater. A clever spoof of Macbeth that doesn't require you to know anything about the original play.

Don't see it if You're looking for high-brow theater. If you're a Shakespeare purist this will infuriate. This is a silly musical, don't expect more.

See it if you are under 30. Music is not all that interesting. Plot is too obvious. Big reveals are things we've already figured out.

Don't see it if you are looking for anything even mildly intellectual in this re-telling of Macbeth. I found it interesting for about 10 minutes, then not.

See it if Macbeth set in a fast-food restaurant in Pennsylvania. Some catchy tunes. Ryan McCartan is very watchable.

Don't see it if The show takes too long to get going. It took until the end of Act I for anything to happen. The songs were not memorable.

See it if dark-comedy musical with clever songs; updating (not faithfully) Shakespeare's Macbeth to a fast-food burger joint in a town of Scotland

Don't see it if don't want burger-chain jokes or blood; want Duncan to be lovable; don't want the three witches to be stoners (no matter how entertaining);

Also 2nd Act darker and slower and possibly easy to miss McDuff's triumph

See it if A modern-day musical based on the Macbeth story is your style. Song & book quality at dinner theater level, acting fine.

Don't see it if You expect sophisticated parody of a classic play. Jokes are obvious & reliance on gratuitous swearing overused. Just falls flat.

See it if you like a 1970's version of Mabeth spoof that takes place in Scotland PA. The 2 leads have great voices and make the most of an OK score

Don't see it if You don't like black comedies, and don't know Mabeth enough to get all the references.

See it if That '70s Show X MacBeth-ish musical about poor 30 somethings in small town America allured to do harm in the name capitalism and fame.

Don't see it if Fun but could've cut deeper on the economic inequalities/struggles or other emotions fueling their murders. Guns, blood, or murder trigger.

Also Diversity: 3 Black women side characters (well, one is Lady MacBeth) but they don't pass the Bechdel test. A strong, intelligent woman plays MacDuff. One gay character. But protagonist is still a White man.
Ticket from HipTix for $30. Seat in rear corner mezzanine.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a clever interpretation of the Scottish play set in a fast food restaurant in rural Pennsylvania. Silly, but fun.

Don't see it if you are a Shakespearean purist. While a knowledge of Macbeth is not necessarily required, it certainly helps.

Also I thought this was a fun show. Without any spoilers, they went the extra mile to curate the experience. Visit the lobby during intermission! Great performances by Ryan McCartan and Taylor Iman Jones, as well as the supporting cast. Two performers who can do wrong in my book are Jay Armstrong Johnson and Alysha Umphress, and they didn't disappoint here.... Read more Read less

See it if Two hours just to escape, and be silly.

Don't see it if Looking for high brow.

See it if you are interested in knock-off of MacBeth in a knock-off of McDonalds's. Energetic, but some uneven performances. Police officer the best!

Don't see it if You prefer Shakespeare's MacBeth

See it if you liked the movie.

Don't see it if you don't like things that think they're funnier than they are.

See it if You love MacBeth, love Adam Gwon, or don’t care about a story or a book that is absorbing. The talent is wonderful.

Don't see it if You need a full book, or any absorbing songs. It’s entertaining, but nothing that moves forward, or engages current audiences. Disappointing

See it if you enjoy satire, have a weird (sick) sense of humor, like musicals & comedy, want a nice night at the theater.

Don't see it if If you don't enjoy satire, have an aversion to musicals, don't have a sense of humor esp when it comes to comedy + killing, don't want fun

Also I admit, I wasn't sure if this was going to be my cup of tea. Turns out it was more like a few shots of liquor. LOL You really need to be the individual with a sick sense of humor to really, really enjoy this. And most in the audience did! Fun take on MacBeth. Great staging and singing. Made for a fun night out with moments of anticipation. I had fun.. But it may not be for everyone.... Read more Read less

See it if The cleverest book and lyrics given the source material; winning and talented cast; all the humor is nailed by cast; great score

Don't see it if Storyline severely diminishes the weight of the Scottish play storyline

See it if you like slick, underbaked pop musicals in the Be More Chill vein

Don't see it if you want something with a consistent tone that feels in any way fresh or original

See it if you would like to see a new musical grounded in Macbeth and the fast food industry. A catchy tuner with some laugh out loud moments.

Don't see it if you dislike simulated violence and drug references. You are a purist fan of the movie or just don't like musicals in general.

Also Would you like murder with that? The fast food industry takes a hit courtesy of the standout talents of Ryan McCartan (Mac), Taylor Iman Jones (Pat) and Jay Armstrong Johnson (Banko), who was especially hilarious.
Sort of the Bizarro, World, Musical version of the origins of McDonalds, told in a parallel to MacBeth. Mehan Lawrence (McDuff) is trying to solve the murder of Burger Boss, Duncan (Jeb Brown) and hilarity ensues (How does one shoot themselves between the eyes with a shotgun, McDuff?) It's all in good fun though, until the murders and the bloody comeuppance with all the gravitas as Shakespeare's original. Great Acting, strong voices and a very cute score, Scotland, PA (based on a movie) is a guilty pleasure. The silliness and jokes will kill you faster than the menu's fat content, but like eating a greasy burger, you'll smile through it. Let's hope it doesn't get Super Sized as it was perfect for the intimacy of The Laura Pel Theatre.... Read more Read less

See it if You’re fan of 1970s tales or rural US or Shakespearean spoofs.

Don't see it if You want terrific singing and acting. Majority of male cast was not much beyond charming.

See it if you can appreciate a legitimate modernization and musical adaptation of a dark classic of the stage. Well sung and conceptualized.

Don't see it if you are rigid in your expectations of the performance of classics. This has all the elements but it remains more surface enjoyment

See it if you like musical theater that is funny and different. Find out what Macbeth and McDonald's have in common in this delightful entertainment.

Don't see it if you are a Shakespearian purist who would find a modern adaptation too cruel a punishment to your Elizabethan sensibilities Go anyway for fun

See it if You want to explore every version of MacBeth that ever existed. Or if you like modern interpretation of Shakespeare in general.

Don't see it if You want your Shakespeare to keep close to the original. This is far from a traditional interpretation.

See it if Retelling of Macbeth in Scotland, PA. Clever in parts, songs are catchy, and kudos to Ryan Mc Cartan, Alysha Umphress and Jay Johnson.

Don't see it if campy comedy irritates you

See it if you like new musicals perhaps still trying to find themselves. Don't know the movie. But I'll be watching composer/lyricist Adam Gwon.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals or dark comedies.