The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Classic Stage Company)

See it if You are a fan of Brecht or Esparza. A very complex fast paced wordgame. See it if you like wordplay and accents.

Don't see it if If you are looking for an easy to follow piece. It is all over the place.

See it if you like Bertolt Brecht plays no matter how poorly they are done.

Don't see it if you want to see a well directed play. Director John Doyle did needlessly bizarre & confusing things that made the play difficult to follow.

See it if you want to see the similarities between 1930s Nazi Germany and the gangster cities of Chicago and Cicero.

Don't see it if you are disappointed by a play with too much symbolism, loudness and confusing dialogue.

See it if you like the writing of Bertolt Brecht and you want to see a play that parallels the rise of Hitler with Chicago corruption.

Don't see it if you want a play with a well defined plot, less symbolism and more action.

See it if you love Bertolt Brecht and you just don't get to see much by him in NYC.

Don't see it if you are not interested in a stilted translation and performances. It was a little hard to endure.

See it if Generally well acted, and a surprising characterization by an offbeat star role in Raul Esparza.

Don't see it if Too often it's just a flight of words that you lose the specific knowledge of what's going on. Thematically yes, specifically, no. Pass.

See it if You have an interest in Bertholt Brecht

Don't see it if you dislike stylized, self-indulgent theatre

Also This show, billed as "especially relevant to our troubled times" is anything but. I can't think of a single show I've ever seen where fully 10% of the audience, much of it in the front row, left at intermission.

The play is an allegory about the rise of Hitler. The marketing intends it to be a cautionary tale about the current occupant of the White House. That's a stretch. The writing is a self indulgent mix of an attempt at iambic pentameter by a non-native English speaker and heavy-handed moralizing in an absurdist setting. The performances are of a style that my late grandparents would have described as "real acting"--meaning, like high school students, or silent film stars, visibly gesturing and emoting. That's not a criticism of the performers, all of whom I've seen do superb work--it's a style choice, probably of the director, whose work I also generally admire. I found the show excruciating. I wouldn't go again if I were given the tickets.... Read more Read less

See it if If you like Brecht and know the play well.

Don't see it if You like plays with a clear narrative

See it if you are a fan of Bertolt Brecht or Raul Esparza and enjoy intimate theater were actors play multiple characters with minimal costume changes

Don't see it if you want a clear story that you can follow, or a performance that tries to parallel the current political environment.

See it if Important, thought-provoking themes. Great acting. Interesting and relevant. The announcers' notes on the actual facts throughout helped

Don't see it if Confusing. Actors playing too many parts without a costume change to denote it. Could be condensed and some parts cut.

Also The storytelling style felt a bit dated.
Even after having read a couple of synopses (one should have been part of the online program) it still got murky at points.... Read more Read less

See it if Great acting from Esparza & cast. Important show that is still very relevant today.

Don't see it if Would have been better as 90min. By the time the story picks up in act2 I began to lose interest. A shame b/c there is some great material.

Also If you aren't familiar with the play I would recommend reading the synopsis prior. I was very happy I did because this show requires a lot of concentration, if you don't know the story you could get easily lost.... Read more Read less

See it if you are an avid Brechtian or are curious to see Esparza in the title role

Don't see it if you don't like Brecht or plays that make lazy connections to current events.

See it if See it if You like Raul Esparza who gives a powerful performance. Good to see if you want to see a Brecht play.

Don't see it if Don't see it if You want scenery (John Doyle’s typical sparse set). Uneven acting. Feels amateurish. Strange staging, very harsh lighting.

Also Also Characters seem dressed in their own old clothes. An historically interesting work but not very dramatic. Very wordy, sometimes hard to follow references...is based on Hitler and true events but this play takes place in Chicago. Some words garbled.... Read more Read less

See it if You are a big Raúl Esparza fan; if you love Brecht no matter what; if you like allegories

Don't see it if If you like allegories w/ subtlety; if you hate John Doyle's work; if you don't want to see Nazi symbols & gestures performed repeatedly

See it if Everyone should, as the topic (evolution of a thug to a totalitarian leader) is so pertinent however hard to watch. Shakespeare buffs too.

Don't see it if You want light entertainment. Can't handle some heaviness that build to a strong ending. Shakespearean-influenced prose is not for you.

Also I found this play hard to watch, slow & squirmy for most of it - but it's a tough topic and extremely important in today's political climate. Wish they had a talkback (as they did after the performance I saw) at every show.

The original script was written in 3 weeks and it is confusing and slow. I saw this revival in previews so I hope John Doyle continues to shape the material.

Ending (& actors) are strong and haunting. I'm glad I went and hope you do too.

Found this show difficult to score as the show's purpose is important but the packaging cumbersome.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy Raul Esparza. He is in your face and creating a strong perfomance

Don't see it if you need a faster story - transitions. Don't want to sit through yet another politically mined show.

Also Great to hear Brecht. Acting is a mixed bag with Esparza doing a nice job. A lot of folding/unfolding plastic contemporary tables. Will get better with time but not for all - Brecht or not.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy political plays or want to see an amazing performance by Raul Esparza

Don't see it if you're looking for a light entertainment or if you're bothered by theatre that parallels the current political climate

See it if you like brecht-style writing, you enjoy political plays, you like intimate sets and staging

Don't see it if you want a cohesive and clear story that you can follow, you like characters you can connect to

See it if you like Brecht and/or Raúl Esparza, you appreciate a takedown of fascism that doesn't shy away from the nefarious complicity of capitalism

Don't see it if honestly kinda boring but intelligent and ultimately probably worth your time if you can swing for the tickets.

See it if you are desperate to see this Brecht play, regardless of the quality. poorly acted, TERRIBLY directed. Lifeless. Total lack of danger.

Don't see it if you are hoping for a quality evening of theater. Classic Stage, despite their reputation, disappoints again.