1969: The Second Man

See it if you want to see a folk music telling of buzz aldrin by clever young actors/musicians

Don't see it if want a conventional story arc

See it if You enjoy folk music (very well done) and want to spend a show thinking about how we judge success.

Don't see it if You are looking for a grand, traditional musical. This is a small show about a big idea.

See it if you are interested in the space launch and history but more than that it is a personal show about a man who comes in second, quite moving!

Don't see it if you hate music or you are so into the literal that you won't get how a black woman can play a white male astronaut - this is brilliant!

See it if you enjoy concert-style storytelling, deep dives into the people behind historical moments

Don't see it if you don't like folk-rock music, prefer traditional musicals

Also There is certainly some work to be done on the book to ensure that audiences empathize more with Buzz and on the music to introduce a little more variety, but overall the cast was super talented and utterly charming, and the music was pretty catchy too (a song about weightlessness in space in the middle was particularly great) -- Go see it!... Read more Read less

See it if you want a lively, musical, documentary-style show about Buzz Aldrin and the angst of being the second--and far less famous--man on the moon

Don't see it if you want a story arc or strong theme; this is about what happened. Whether it has real meaning for the rest of us is up for discussion

Also Really great actors and music, a very entertaining night

See it if On seeing a bare stage with instruments I wasn't sure what was up; but they did a credible job of telling a cohesive story. Much talent.

Don't see it if My date said, its basically an opera (big Opera fan he). It can be loud in the small theater. Really performers and instruments.

See it if You enjoy any of these artists: Glen Hansard/The Swell Season, The Bengsons, The Decembrists, Damien Rice, Bright Eyes.

Don't see it if You dislike musicals that live somewhere between concert and book-musical. You dislike folk-rock.

Also "Magnificent desolation." -Buzz Aldrin

These were Aldrin's first words after setting foot on the moon. It's also an apt description of the piece as well. It's not a nail-biting suspense tale about close calls in space. It's about the ruins of a brilliant man who couldn't put aside his ego.

The score is beautiful. Though it can get a little blurry at times, one song sounding a little bit too much like the next or last. So changes in orchestration work in its favor, The piece that stood out to me the most was a song that featured ukulele and voices.

The frame narrative is a sort of all-out play for honesty. And because of this frame narrative sometimes the musical takes on a rather TED Talk-like feel.

Brandt steps in and out of Buzz with ease. And the rest of the multi-talented cast serves the show well.

I personally cannot wait to see how this show develops. There's a beautiful score there, and something real and relatable in there.... Read more Read less

See it if you like folk/rock musicals or have an interest in outer space. This show is charming and full of really enjoyable songs.

Don't see it if you're expecting a musical–this is more of a song cycle in concert form.

See it if You are looking for an inventive concert experience with cool effect (film of moon landing projected on drum kit).

Don't see it if You are expecting a traditional musical as this piece has a very loose structure. Book narrative is practically nonexistent.

See it if You like song cycle shows. Great musicality, singing and playing. Clearly they enjoy playing together and sound great.

Don't see it if You want strong plot, or well written book. Songs are narrative in concept but not in lyric. It has a ridiculous framing device.

Also Like a Bengston's piece or the Pigpen Theater Company, everyone plays and sings and tells what little story there is. The show imagines how being the second man on the Moon ruined Aldrin's life but there's nothing in the book or character development that supports us sympathizing with him. We never connect with him via scene, and only sporadically in the music. Though the songs are well played and the cast gels wonderfully as musicians, it becomes sonorous as the songs are conceptual but not specific and most very similar. The book is slight, not funny or dramatic enough. I.e. in a few short lines towards the end we find out Buzz comes from a lineage of generational suicides, but then that info is left behind as quickly as it's introduced. A song about gravity is the amusing and well staged high point but happens 30 minutes in. And the unengaging framing device is tentative, weak and undramatic. Everything a show about going to the Moon - and how it changes you- shouldn't be.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy folk/rock musicals, non-linear narratives, and creative, thought provoking work.

Don't see it if you're looking for a big song and dance spectacle.

See it if If you want to see a clever musical telling of a true story that is absorbing and thought provoking, then this will be memorable.

Don't see it if You are bringing 4 kids under 5 years old. It's not for little kids, it's for 17-90.