Sweetee

See it if Some good songs, well-sung. The young leads are talented; everyone tries hard. The band is good. Nice costumes.

Don't see it if you want a coherent plot with an emotional impact. This is a mess. Many of the dull songs should be cut. Other songs should be lengthened.

See it if You want to see a show that has a couple good singers but no great songs and a poorly written book. It's not a total waste of time.

Don't see it if You want a good show. You need to find things to like about this. Some good talent they were just not given good material to work with.

See it if You like supporting actors most of whom are making their off-Broadway debuts. You like slow musicals with tons of songs that sound the same.

Don't see it if You want a fast-paced musical, you want to feel the emotions (rather than one-dimensional flat & boring characters).

See it if You want to see a show early in its development that needs lots of work, that's what this run should provide .

Don't see it if You want character development and great singing , still not sure who or why we were watching these people

See it if Delightful and talented cast is enough to let you overlook the clichéd story.

Don't see it if Excellent musical talent isn't enough to overcome the tired same old story you know by heart.

See it if Not a bad seat in the house given three qtr thrust. Young cast supplies as much pluck as possible. Lead's suitor feels more like lead.

Don't see it if Mediocre, forgettable songs. Lead is sweet and charming, but lacked presence. How many shows about orphans can audiences endure?

Also Footnote: Footwear joke dragged out for entire show, but finally paid off at the very end.
Rev and wife are an attractive couple. Neighbor is a comforting soul, expertly played by a veteran actor.... Read more Read less

See it if You have a few hours to kill on bad theater

Don't see it if You want to see something written well

See it if Lots of money went into this production - successful veterans directing and producing - but the book/lyrics are hopeless + ZERO CHEMISTRY

Don't see it if you have no patience for banal lyrics and a confusing book even when the all aspects of presentation are highly polished.

Also This is NOT a total waste of time, primarily because of several good singers and a few fun melodies well-presented with fun energy. BUT what a disappointment in the writing. Even in the hands of a veteran well-respected director, the hard-working actors are utterly unable to create any chemistry anywhere. The writer understands nothing about how to represent emotions of any kind, not via words, not via mannerisms/bodylanguage... Simple one-liner sentences (with not a hint of wit) are expected to inform us of the characters' inner lives, and that doesn't work. Characters do insane things, make crazy decisions - and we are utterly in the dark as to their motivations. Bottom line: someone put in tons of money to build this very polished presentation and hire some obviously talented cast members, but it is hard to understand what led to the belief that this content was worthy of such a blessing....... Read more Read less

See it if You want to support young, up and coming talent, although I thought only the male lead stood out

Don't see it if You are expecting more than a simple plot, shallow characters, mediocre music. hoping for jazz, ragtime,blues & heard mostly a sappy musical

See it if You want to see a show that gets a little better in the second act.

Don't see it if You are hoping for a great musical

See it if you want a well-meaning musical with a superficial Disney-perfect ending & don't mind drowning in cliches to get there.

Don't see it if you want depth, emotional complexity, or surprises. So predictable it hurts. Could have napped, woken up, & still known how it would end.

Also This musical was so fluffy & cliched, at times it almost felt like a mockery of real world struggles. I think that's the total opposite of what was intended, but unfortunately that's how it felt several times.

At intermission, I did overhear some older women saying they were really enjoying it. If upbeat music & singing pick you up, maybe you'll enjoy it too, but the script needs to be much, much stronger to do the cast justice.

Other things: Lighting design was good. I liked how they moved around a lot (through the audience, entering/exiting through different doors, etc). I still can't believe they fit multiple musicians & a piano into a tiny side space, that was impressive!... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy seeing young, developing, and enthusiastic performers regardless of the material

Don't see it if You are expecting an engaging narrative and polished score

Also The cast was enthusiastic but the material was superficial and just did not draw me in.... Read more Read less

See it if you're interested in new musicals, know the movie, want to see young up-and-coming performers, are interested in a jazz-inflected musical.

Don't see it if you're expecting a full budget off-Broadway musical. This is an off-off or workshop production in an off-Broadway space.

See it if If you want to see some younger actors with great talent and one senior actor with great talent wasted on a mediocre show.

Don't see it if You're impatient with mediocre writing despite great talent on stage.

Also This show is full of cliches, poorly written yet cast with very talented musicians and singers. I stuck through the second act because I so enjoyed the singing, but was sorry that they had to work with a script that was so predictable and just not very good.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like a musical that's still in its workshop stage. If you like better-than-average singing. If you like shows that are slightly edgy!

Don't see it if You're not a fan of hearing the "N" word said by white men. If you're expecting a Broadway Musical Production. If you hate a minimalist set.

See it if I really thought that I was going to be blown away by this show! It has all the workings of a fantastic ride but it really fell flat for me.

Don't see it if The direction was just off...many times characters are just standing around not sure of what to do or where to go.

Also This play has tremendous potential. It really could use some rewrites so the audience is not so in the dark. There is a climax between the two main characters that comes out of nowhere and I felt was dealt with very poorly.
Jelani Alladin joins the band and I don't think the rest of the cast knows how to play off his energy. His character of Cat really wants to take the world by storm and bring the rest of the gang with him. For whatever reason they can never really match his enthusiasm, soul and talent.
Some of these challenges can be the space, staging and/or lack of a set. I also wondered if any of the characters were really happy? Most started life as orphans but one hopes that their life turned for the better but this never comes across. Despite an amazing and upbeat 5 piece band the actors never really connect with the music. I think the cast should drop the instruments and just sing. With some rewrites and tighter direction this show and story could be really wonderful!... Read more Read less

See it if Some extraordinary young talent, ambitious story

Don't see it if script not totally flowing, and some underwritten characters. Music inconsistent styles

See it if You never met a musical you didn't like. You somehow know nothing about the Jim Crow era, in which case this might be revelatory.

Don't see it if You set the bar a little higher than that. Seriously, the songs all blur into one another and the lyrics are so on the nose it hurts.

See it if You like corny, quirky shows

Don't see it if Like fast paced shows with a more action

See it if you dont mind work in progress production, not so catchy songs, simple small staging

Don't see it if you want better musical, big production, uncomfortable about race issues

See it if You appreciate actors who actually play live on stage.

Don't see it if You're looking for a captivating performance with a cohesive storyline.

See it if you like musicals, historical drama, good character actors, nice vocals

Don't see it if you don't like music without dance, don't like historical stories

See it if ... you are ok with an amateurish book and insipid lyrics... if you don't want any depth in the characters or storyline.

Don't see it if you don't like wondering throughout the show what could possibly have enticed the impeccably-credentialed cast/crew to get involved in this