See it if You love Len Cariou, enjoy seeing Broadway vets reminisce, have a thing for Shakespeare and chase old show tunes rarely heard.
Don't see it if You have no familiarity with any of the above; if you want a polished performance. He's like your tale-telling grandpa but his voice is gone
See it if Dull slow, a sleeper.
Don't see it if You are looking for excitement.
See it if you love Shakespeare well-spoken and don't mind great songs poorly sung. The premise is very clever, and the life stories are engaging.
Don't see it if you feel embarrassed for entertainers whose talents are wanning. Cariou shouldn't sing any more. His black shirt did him no favors.
See it if Let's face it, the old man doesn't have a great voice, so what's the point? That's it, there is no point to this show.
Don't see it if you really hate Shakespeare...or musical theater from the past.
See it if You love Shakespeare combined with show tunes. Witty and entertaining one man show by the always enchanting Len Criou
Don't see it if Shakespeare is not your cup of tea. Music and recitation do not interest you. You want to hear the voice of Len as good as it used to be
See it if Love Shakespeare, classic show tunes or a broadway greats!
Don't see it if You're not a Shakespeare fan!
See it if you're a fan of Cariou, Shakespeare, and/or show tunes; an interesting pairing of songs and soliloquies, though some work better than others
Don't see it if you're looking for a really deep exploration of the subject, or are bothered by Cariou's less-than-perfect vocal technique at almost age 80
See it if You like Shakespeare, you like Len Cariou, you know/appreciate older musicals.
Don't see it if You like a big production with a plot, don't like Shakespeare, expect to hear Cariou's good voice (he lost it), don't like older shows
"He gives everything he has, despite a baritone that has seen better days and high notes that now come as whispers...The work is a strange brew...The thematic structure is loosey goosey...He often seems to draw a blank when delivering the short transitional pieces of dialogue between scenes. These moments are betrayed with such looks of panic that at one point I honestly thought I was about to witness a medical emergency."
Read more
"Mr. Cariou and Mr. Janas are a successful team and have a genuinely good time working together. This authenticity and pure honesty translate to the audience in remarkable ways…The iconic stage actor and accompanist, in collaboration with director Barry Kleinbort, triumph in achieving Mr. Cariou’s idea of combining his two great loves – Shakespeare and the American Musical. The eighty-minute melding of superb soliloquy and memorable song could not be finer."
Read more
"A highly diverting 80-minute solo show at that takes advantage of the actor’s many talents. While Cariou’s baritone voice has dimmed in power from his 'Sweeney Todd' days, it can still boom when needed, and his facility with the Bard’s language makes one wish that someone would cast him in one of the umpteenth Shakespearean production New York sees every year...You needn’t brush up on your Shakespeare to enjoy this outing; just sit back and take it all in."
Read more
"There are few surprises among the speeches but the songs are all a delight...Mr. Cariou is as good an actor as he’s ever been, providing honest, clearly spoken, insightful readings of his dramatic pieces, but, sadly, his vocal instrument is no longer the rich baritone it once was...This forces him to act his songs as much as he sings them; happily, in this he never falters, squeezing so many nuances from the lyrics that you willingly forgive what the years have wrought."
Read more
"Although the revue title may suggest otherwise, the songs aren't always plucked from musical adaptations of Shakespeare...The fathomless pathos Cariou instills in it is show stopping as well as heart stopping...As might be expected, Cariou no longer has his second age voice. The sixth-age one, however, is well worth hearing. The veteran performer continues to exert masterful control over the lines in Shakespeare plays to which he's committed so much of his distinguished career."
Read more
"A highpoint of this evening is simply listening to Cariou put each of the Bard’s contributions in context. He’s a natural and enthusiastic storyteller…Engaging performance is marred by a denouement of volume wherein Cariou pushes his vocal to places it won’t comfortably go…Playing is deft. Director Barry Kleinbort’s excellent contribution to the shape of this piece is almost visible...If only a more consistent performance could be achieved."
Read more
"A production of pure genius. The melding of Shakespeare’s lyrical iambic pentameter combined with the melodies of some of Broadway’s most enduring songs and the mastery of a seasoned actor creates an evening that I will not forget for a very long time...I finally saw how Shakespeare should be spoken – with a lyrical truthfulness and extreme attention to detail. His visualization in the throws of various monologues was spellbinding...Kleinbort’s direction is sophisticated and sublime."
Read more
"'Broadway and The Bard' ultimately succeeds because, throughout, Cariou commands attention during the spoken portions of the piece (one longs for him to take on some Shakespeare in the city soon). And when singing, his voice has a suppleness to it that charms."
Read more