The View UpStairs

See it if You want to see a play that celebrates the diversity of people that makes life so interesting

Don't see it if LGBT issues turn you off

Also Play could've been improved with some good New Orleans music of the time period... Read more Read less

See it if great songs from a promising new musical writer, w/ some great over-the-top performances in a story that reveals some important gay history.

Don't see it if an annoying framing structure that inserts a modern twist into the more interesting gay historical part of the story is bothersome to you.

See it if you want to know more about gay history and like the idea of spending time in New Orleans.

Don't see it if you hate immersive theatre.

See it if You want to see a new, different show with great music and performances. You want to explore LGBT themes and history with a twist.

Don't see it if You can't tolerate plot holes and pacing inconsistencies. You are uncomfortable with (relatively minimal) actor-audience interaction.

See it if Campy humor, gay history, energetic. Fun-house set and a few polished performers.

Don't see it if A revue of second-rate songs about the gay community with an unconvincing story and cliche characters to hold it together.

See it if A musical by a promising young talent, composer/writer Max Vernon. Based on a forgotten episode in LGBT history of the 1970s.

Don't see it if Some music and dialog are predictable and forgettable but a new musical with heart and good performances, if the subject appeals

See it if you're curious. Also see it if you want to be confused about a story and just want gay content.

Don't see it if you want it to be about the actual event that occurred at the UpStairs Lounge with authentic accents.

See it if you want an evening of amazing songs in an interactive setting. Based on true events.

Don't see it if A bunch of gay people in a bar offends you.

See it if GREAT ACTING AND VOICES MUSIC WAS GREAT

Don't see it if IF YOU ARE BIAS AGAINST GAY PEOPLE

See it if you like intimate, near-immersive shows; plays about community; great singing; amazing cast chemistry; history showcased via magical realism

Don't see it if you need a strong plot; you don't like works that paint a story (& many of its characters) in rather broad strokes; you are homophobic

Also the lead couple are stunning and practically sizzle throughout the show; every member of the cast is exceptionally talented; and the set is gorgeous (so many perfect raunchy details!). that said, there are some issues with the flow, the book feels underdeveloped, and direction comes across as uneven at times. (plus: no intermission, which is rarely a good call.) i loved the music, btw, and sincerely hope the score will be released at some point in the future.... Read more Read less

See it if you have a need to let out your frustrations since the general election.

Don't see it if you are intolerant others.

See it if You enjoy new musical about LGBTU issues.

Don't see it if You are homophobic, only like straight shows

Also I really enjoyed this show from beginning to the end. The main character was a little preechy at times but the I really enjoyed the story, every character was wonderfully developed and it's very relivant to want love, acceptance and find what you are good at. Also i really loved the set costumes and lighting. I highly recommend.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to delve into the LGBT world

Don't see it if Do not want to delve into the LGBT world

See it if want to have a worthwhile experience in the theatre.

Don't see it if Are expecting a great score, or a perfect book.

Also This show has heart. It's not perfect. The songs, especially in the beginning are not great pieces of Musical Theatre. The lyrics are often clunky or just bad. BUT.... I really enjoyed this piece. The cast is wonderful, some are better than others. The book is implausible, there are a lot of jokes that didn't land for me. But... at the end of the night I was really moved. I would recommend this if you can just ignore the things that don't work, and go for the ride with the very talented cast. It's an important story, based on a true, tragic event... it needed to be told. The set! did I mention the set! Delightful and beautifully lit.It reminded me of the way Off Broadway used to be. Quirky and imperfect. I'll that quirky and imperfect any day over the highly formulated stuff I see on Broadway nowadays. Go and support this show.... Read more Read less

See it if you love to watch a great. talented ensemble elevate occasionally banal writing into art.

Don't see it if You don't care about gay history, hate the 1970s.

See it if You like great immersive sets, thoughtful musicals, interested in gay history

Don't see it if You do not like gay themed shows,

Also I thought this was much better than Kinky Boots and with some tweaking could probably run on Broadway. It was almost as thoughtful and had almost as much character development two recent non musicals that were similar thematically, The Nance and Casa Valentina which I loved so much I saw both twice. This type of character development is unusual for a musical which at the same time had humor.
Problems? One of the leads was an understudy and he seemed to be acting, as opposed to real, but the script compensated so it was not that big a deal; the programs which gave some important background were not distributed until after the show; (this is the second time I have experienced this in recent weeks), if one does not know much about the historical gay scene it might be difficult to understand some of the jokes... Read more Read less

See it if you want to hear an up and coming composer, or if you are gay! Lot of fun references and characters!

Don't see it if You are highly offended by homosexual references. or if you are offended by drag queens. entertaining off broadway show!

See it if You love musicals with a 70's flair. You want to see some great singing and have fun.

Don't see it if You don't like musicals. You don't like LGBT themes. You don't like fun.

See it if ..you like a good love story, gay or not ..you enjoy intimate immersive sets ..you want to laugh and cry over the course of one evening

Don't see it if Nothing to say here, everybody should consider going.

See it if you want a beautiful and emotional night of theatre.

Don't see it if ...just see it..

See it if you like semi-immersive theatre. A clever, empathetic, insightful take on both 70s gay subculture (nods to Rent) & millennial coming-of-age.

Don't see it if you don't like the over-the-top aspects of historic gay/drag culture. The music & lyrics aren't extraordinary (but the book & set are great)

See it if You enjoy creative staging, and incredible singing/acting. Also if you like shows examining the LGBT community, and different time periods.

Don't see it if You don't like shows with intense subject material based on true events.

See it if You want to see a well crafted musical about a forgotten piece of gay history that is sadly all to relevant even 30+ years later

Don't see it if No reason not to see it unless you can't before it closes soon

See it if you don't mind some seriously boring lectures with your fun drag show.

Don't see it if you're looking for a coherent or moving gay fantasia. The cast is wildly uneven, songs are forgettable, story is muddled. Swing and a miss.

See it if you want catchy pseudo-pop musical theatre songs and some terrific performances (Nathan Lee Graham!) in busy but fun and flashy production.

Don't see it if you want to go deep. The overall idea is great, but the book needs help; it's a little too earnest to be as insightful as it thinks it is.