A New Brain (Gallery Players)

See it if You love a brilliant musical by William Finn. Great songs "Don't Give In, Sailing"

Don't see it if You don't have taste.

See it if You enjoy seeing rarely revived and cutting edge musicals in an intimate theater performed by a great cast of young talent.

Don't see it if No reason not to see A New Brain

See it if Lovely tale about a gay songwriter's brain operation. Enthusiastic performance by a large cast having a great time. Wonderful music.

Don't see it if You demand Broadway-quality performers/production. You don't want to travel to Brooklyn. I thought this was so charming & well worth it.

See it if You wish the difficult parts of life were set to music.

Don't see it if You're the type that sees 14th Street and assumes it's in Manhattan (I made it, but just barely).

See it if you like Bill Finn's idiosyncratic through-sung yet talky style, are pro-gay, or liked Falsettos.

Don't see it if you are too squeamish about brain surgery, don't like depictions of romance between men, or didn't like Falsettos.

Also Going in, I knew only one song ("Sailing"), and I have the original cast album; what I knew about it I had read in the liner notes. Bill Finn's vocal writing is interesting and idiosyncratic; he has an accessible pop style, except when he doesn't; his lyrics are very much like speech, except when they aren't; his characters are very plain-spoken, except when they aren't. He rhymes in a way that makes punch lines land, because you can't see them coming (unlike with many lyricists).

You are drawn in from the start by his at first not-very-likeable (and somewhat autobiographical) hero, Gordon (an engaging Jesse Manocherian), and there is suspense in knowing that his first scene's day-to-day travails will be interrupted by an alarming brain episode. From there on, the story is told through linear scenes, dream sequences, flashbacks, and supporting-character vignettes, with a poignant conclusion.

The production is bare-bones but lovely, not without its flaws, but ABSOLUTELY worth seeing.... Read more Read less

See it if you've never seen a production of A New Brain.

Don't see it if you've already seen this production of A New Brain.

See it if you want to see a talented cast sing and dance in a well constructed, well choreographed show. Impressive for a small neighborhood theater!

Don't see it if you believe that only Broadway can present a quality musical.

Also I don't know if Gallery Players has a new director but the result was unexpectedly fabulous! I have seen at least a half dozen of their show and this one is head and shoulders above the others. This is a big show in a small theater.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a William Finn fan, as I am. Ambitious -- cast of 15, only 10 in original Lincoln Center 1998 production.

Don't see it if you dislike sung-through musicals and are uncomfortable with same sex relationships depicted on stage.

Also Great score and some good singing. During a few moments the lyrics were inaudible.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy a well thought out show that is nicely executed with some fine performances. If you are already a fan, this is worth a look.

Don't see it if you are not a fan of William Finn or don't appreciate very good community theater.

See it if you can handle vibrantly intelligent lyrics with engaging melodies that are staged with style and enacted by a first-rate cast. Enthralling.

Don't see it if Fast & Furious is your favorite film or if you want to miss the award-worthy performance of Jesse Manocherian as a persnickety songwriter.

See it if Nonstop singing from start to end from a talented cast that often break into a full choreography involving everyone. Such a delight

Don't see it if There’s a very annoying rattling fan from the ceiling that slightly ruins important moments. Nearly all lines are sung

Also The lead, Jesse, is an incredible singer. Unconventional storyline that isn’t just about boy meets boy but instead raises important awareness on frail health care system and the need to reflect yourself with time while being utterly charming at the same time.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy song thru shows. lead male Jesse M. is back at Gallery & is great Barrie Gelles. gives her best directing and choreography

Don't see it if too late.. we caught the final performance. Gallery is so good. Rating is partner's 90% & my 80%

See it if you want to see an Encores-like musical in a "workshop-plus" set.

Don't see it if need full production values to make you think you belong.

Also Can't help but use the word "workshop," but need to explain what it means to me. THIS IS a reasonably polished production of a play that probably was only worked on until the team realized it had near zero likelihood of making anybody any money. (Perhaps unfair of me, but I happen to know how many years may have been sunk into it.)

So, there are some "rough edges," all the more in a production with a mix of VERY SKILLED professionals and ... others less gifted. FORTUNATELY, the 2 biggest roles - the lead and a homeless woman (she'd have stolen the show had the lead been any less strong) - are played to perfection. Not just fine singing, but believable acting ... with roles that still show some pencil marks.

And the whole show has an immediacy that suggests that the cast KNOWS they will likely not have material this good in the future ... and were well-directed.

I'm a big fan of the theater company, and/but I think the set was a little more minimal than it should have been.

SEE IT!... Read more Read less

See it if Wow! I definitely misjudged Gallery Players. The lead is sensational. Go for William Finn, stay for the cast. And the kick-ass band.

Don't see it if You don't want to haul ass all the way to Brooklyn. Also, the Roger and Mimi were pitchy at times.

Also Can't wait for Chess!

See it if You enjoy an excellent musical with great songs

Don't see it if You only want a Broadway musical or you only like dramas

Also I would have scored this 5 points higher but there was something (probably a spot light's cooling fan) that was clicking annoyingly right above me the entire time.... Read more Read less

See it if you like lots of singing, almost every line was sung ; musicians did an excellent job, as well as the actors

Don't see it if you have trouble sitting through 1 hour and 40 minutes without a break. An intermission would have been good...

Also I liked the songs with most of the cast best. A few of the solo/duet songs were a bit too long in my opinion and it was difficult to hear/understand the lyrics in some sections.

Just FYI - seemed like there was only 1 toilet for ladies, unless there was one somewhere else in the building. As others wrote, this is a "community theater" type setting.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy the wonderful and creative lyrics of William Finn, great acting and singing

Don't see it if if you do not like shows dealing with medical issues or gay themes.

See it if you enjoy good community theater, mostly well acted, sung and danced but not always audible or perfect.

Don't see it if you are disturbed by an ensemble that sometimes has breakout members looking to "star." Good, four-piece band overpowers singing at times.

See it if Good singing by lead and relaxed choreography with a slightly quirky story intrigues you. Worth a trip to Brooklyn.

Don't see it if You only want high value Broadway quality.

See it if you enjoy William Finn's shows, want to see something that is both serious and funny, want to be entertained by a rarely-performed musical

Don't see it if you're looking for a big production with elaborate sets, you don't like sung-through (or mostly sung) musicals

Also The cast on this production was amazing and the director did a great job with the show. Like others have mentioned, I did have trouble hearing the lyrics in some spots because the band was overpowering the singers. Overall, very impressed with the Gallery Players though and will have to check out their future productions.... Read more Read less

See it if Youve never seen this show before (rarely done) & are interested in works of Bill Finn. Director & lead actor were great! Loved the company.

Don't see it if You would be bothered by not hearing everything, it’s a small theater. This is the original production staged, without the cuts from 2015.

See it if You'd enjoy a large cast & a sung-thru musical about a guy who needs a serious brain operation. Kudos to the lead guy & the Mom!

Don't see it if Could use a 5 or 10 minute trim, as it runs 1 hour 50 minutes no intermission.

See it if you love gems of local theater, have a good sense of humor, and are open to unusual plots that wildly vary from downer to campy in seconds.

Don't see it if you hate when endings go on too long. You can't deal with weird. You are looking for an over-the-top set or fantastical experience.

Also The cast was phenomenal, and I will definitely be seeing something else by the Gallery Players soon. The show itself didn't really do it for me, but it was certainly something different and interesting, and I'm glad I had the experience. Do check it out, but with an open mind and a tolerance for a script that could be tightened up a bit.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to support a wonderful community theater and enjoy a good musical.

Don't see it if You don't like a show without any spoken dialogue---all the dialogue was sung

See it if you enjoy this lesser-known William Finn show.

Don't see it if you don't enjoy all-sung shows.