Unexpected Joy

See it if Great musical with a Bonnie Raitt sound about 3 generations of women’s relationships, with a twist

Don't see it if This is an all women cast but men do play important roles in the story. Give this little gem a chance!

See it if You like folk/rock/gospel artists like Carole King,, Mavis Staples. Want to see 4 great female leads. You want to see a show with your mom.

Don't see it if You want a really well written book. You don't like the musical genres above. Want to see a big show.

Also I went to see this on Mother's Day with my mom. On the whole I enjoyed it.

The singing is great almost across the board. Luba Mason though, while she has an amazing voice, makes a weird choice with her character's singing voice. She's supposed to be a folk singer, but she sounds like she's impersonating a Vegas lounge singer. But perhaps she's drawing inspiration from an artist that I just don't recognize. In any case, it's a weird and distracting choice.

Celeste Rose and Allyson Kaye Daniel in particularly shine vocally.

The band is wonderful and really bring that authentic folk rock sound.

The script though, treats the audience with kid gloves. It painstakingly reiterates information we either already know, or could have deduced by context. In so doing the characters say things like "remember the time" and "your father wrote this song" so many times it's like a family of amnesiacs.

But in any case I say go see this with your mom!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a compelling story about the relationship between four very different women

Don't see it if You want a conventional book musical. The songs did nothing to advance the plot, and were very irritating in disrupting the narrative flow

See it if You want a wonderful, heart warming show featuring great actresses and singers, a day at the York Theatre, and wonderful music.

Don't see it if You want elaborate sets, don't want to go to the E Side. No reason NOT to go.

See it if You like musicals about inter generational family dynamics in 90 minutes with strong women characters

Don't see it if You want a searching deep exploration of the choices we make

See it if you like the idea of seeing 3 generations of women, all of whom have great voices; if you love The York Theatre, Where Musicals come to Life

Don't see it if you are homophobic; if you only like big Broadway splashy musicals (in which case you're missing a lot of great entertainment)

See it if I so enjoyed this musical. Plus I loved what it stood for - finding “common ground” in a time of such divisiveness.

Don't see it if If you don’t love small non flashy musicals.

See it if you want to see a well sung small cast musical that tells an interesting family story.

Don't see it if you like large scale musicals with lots of scenery and costumes.

See it if If you want to see an all woman musical. Great songs

Don't see it if If you are interested in seeing something believable, the story is not very believable

See it if you want to see a tale that is extremely relevant to our times

Don't see it if you don't approved of same sex relationships

See it if family dramas appeal to you, and you want to hear a lot of punch, on a small stage. Great singing, sweet musical, enjoyed even by jaded teen

Don't see it if you find inter-generational conflicts tiring, if you want jazz fingers and a big production

See it if you like musicals with a feminine theme...

Don't see it if you don't like shows about the narrowmindedness of Bible thumpers and their hate for those who are different than they are...

See it if you have a particular interest in inter-generational relationships with complications.

Don't see it if you don't care for a story about an aging hippie and her right wing, religious daughter and open minded granddaughter.

See it if For Unexpected Joyous production portraying 3 generations of talented women & the "Unexpected" 4th woman a knockout bluesy gutsy singer

Don't see it if Don't like musicals-are offended by unexpected relationships (gay & multi-racial) But--see it--a gem of a show.

Also This small Off Broadway production is big on talent & originality. Better then Broadway jukebox musicals.... Read more Read less

See it if you are up to just another one average musical with no sparkle, creativity or imagination. The acting is forced , the voices average.

Don't see it if I wouldn’t recommend to spend your time on this one. It doesn’t deliver anything new or will touch you in any way. Boring.

See it if You like plays about family relationships

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with plays about a gay relationship

See it if You like shows with strong female leads. Like good singing.

Don't see it if You expect a complex story with complex characters.

See it if You want to relax and enjoy a handful of enjoyable songs with a capable cast.

Don't see it if you want to have something to chew on beyond "it's okay that we're all different if we tolerate each other"

Also The play's lack of any distinct political or philosophical stance might prove beneficial for regional/community theatre licensing down the road, but it makes the whole evening seem inconsequential. The casting of a black actress in the role of mistreated lesbian fiance has also not been taken into account as she is the only character who never truly gets to have her own stance or concerns other than "I'm angry that my fiance won't tell her Christian daughter about me." It's quite a lost opportunity.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in a musical about three generations of women. The characters are stereotyped. The singing, music and acting are terrific

Don't see it if You are conservative or don’t like all female casts

See it if you enjoy a great singing and an intergenerational family tale. Solid performances from the entire casts. An enjoyable evening out!

Don't see it if you are looking for a big production musical. If you have issues with diversity.

See it if You’d enjoy 3 generations of white women reflecting on how the 60s free love/folk rock phase impacted their lives. (As you’d expect.)

Don't see it if You’ve seen anything like this before. The performers are good singers, but there’s not much new here, and you can see what’s coming. Yawn.

See it if you want an entertaining , predictable musical about mother/daughter relationships. Most characters are tropes. Celeste Rose was great

Don't see it if you are looking for something with great dialogue. this at times felt stilted.

See it if You want to hear some good singing.

Don't see it if You don't want to see a mother trying to open the eyes of her daughter to real love.

See it if You were a "challenging teenager" or parent of one.. if you enjoy pop culture music sung by four very talented women

Don't see it if You are homophobic, offended by cursing, or are a devout evangelical christian.

Also This show was a delight....a fascinating intergenerational tale highlighted by wonderful music, good staging and superb singing.r... Read more Read less

See it if you want to hear some lovely voices

Don't see it if you don't like musicals