Scotland, PA NYC Reviews and Tickets

74%

(316 Reviews)

Positive

74%

Mixed

21%

Negative

Members say

Clever, Entertaining, Funny, Quirky, Great singing

About the Show

This deliciously dark new musical comedy, based on the cult film (and the bard's "Macbeth"), tells the story of a burger-joint manager and his wife, who cook up a plan to super-size their lives.

From the show:

This deliciously dark new musical comedy, based on the cult film (and the bard's Macbeth), springs to life in a sleepy Pennsylvania town (population 1,203—and dropping), where a burger-joint manager and his wife cook up a plan to super-size their lives. As their ambitions grow and the bodies fall, the couple finds out just how far they’ll go for a taste of the oh-so-tempting American dream.

Member Reviews (316)

Funny, Clever, Great staging, Entertaining, Quirky

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.

What happens when you combine musical comedy format w macbeth-like story, one of shakespeare's darkest? wholly succeeds in 1st act as send-up, much less successful in 2nd as tragedy unfolds

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

Good sets, Forgettable, Disappointing, Quirky, Moderately entertaining

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?

Disappointing, Interesting concept but quickly becomes boring, Clever

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.

Darkly fun, Great staging, Quirky, Great singing

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.

Cliched, Quirky, Great acting, Disappointing, Banal

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.

Funny, Great singing, Great staging, Entertaining, Clever

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); Read more

Entertaining

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. Read more

Critic Reviews (16)

CRITIC’S PICK "Double, Double, Burger and Trouble in ‘Scotland, PA’: When 'Macbeth' meets McDonald’s, a meaty new musical is born."
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3/5 Stars "Gwon and Mitnick don't seem attuned to how greed and comeuppance hang differently on disaffected working-class schmoes than on restless lords and ladies. Set in 1975, like Billy Morrissette's 2001 movie, the musical feels less nostalgic than simply out of touch."
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"Fire Burn and Fryolator Bubble: 'Scotland, PA,' Is a McNugget-Size Macbeth"
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"This world-premiere musical, directed by Lonny Price and featuring a score by 'Ordinary Days' composer Adam Gwon, is adapted from the darkly comic 2001 indie film of the same name, inspired by 'Macbeth.'"
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"'Scotland, PA,' often seems to have been assembled from a how-to-write-a-musical guidebook, with directions about where to insert the "I want" song and how to bring down the curtain on Act I. It has everything but inspiration and a point of view."
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"'Scotland, PA' is ragged around the edges, marred by character motivations that don't always make sense and changes of tone we haven't been adequately primed for...But how many literate, funny musical comedies are out there right now? And have you seen what's coming in? We'll take this."
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2/5 Stars "The problem the musical presents: the strong resemblance between it and the much superior 'Little Shop of Horrors,' which, by dizzy coincidence, is running in a picture-perfect revival only a few blocks west."
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