Nuclear Follies

See it if a show that has comedy. A skit type of show.Some funny skits.

Don't see it if If your not into dated shows that past there prime.

See it if Fun songs by Broadway cast and pre-show by comedian. Some fun skits in between songs.

Don't see it if Ran way longer than scheduled 90 minutes (my performance was 2 hours 10 min)- need to cut the intermission & some skits. Dragged in spots.

See it if you're looking for the perfect satirical musical for election-nite/week. A revival from the 80s, this small (very SNL) revue is a HOT mess.

Don't see it if you wouldn't enjoy a comedic musical in a church featuring political humor (real or satirical), & don't want to revisit the Reagan-era.

Also No one said 'new-cue-ler'. Everyone said 'new-clee-er'.

Amen & thank you.

We DEF weren't expecting to enjoy it so much. Just looking for something fun to keep us out of our caves on election-nite. THE perfect show.

Stage-veterans gave it their all (6th out of 7 total nights... KUDOS). Absolute stand-out vocally was Derek Ferguson ("Phone Guy", among others), but everyone kicked ass, especially William Michals ("General Stiff", among others) w/his punny scene-changing radio station breaks (WDUL) while Charles Czarnecki played "Feelings" on the piano.

Director Daniel Neiden introduced the show & tonight's pre-show stand-up performer Julia Claire. Show ran exactly 2hrs tonight - including Julia - & a 10min intermission.

Minimal set/props, but it all worked on the small stage. They even had snacky-snacks... red white & blue jellybeans, plus yogurt-covered pretzels.. on every table. Come on!

Show's tagline, "Everything old is news again" is very befitting.

This show MUST come back!... Read more Read less

See it if You like politically based humor presented by an awesome multi talented cast with creative direction.

Don't see it if You prefer shows with a more of a story line. This is more like SNL sketch comedy.

See it if You want to see a surprisingly well-conducted revue that all seems new again, in spite of having been written in 1984.

Don't see it if You don't have a sense of humor.

Also I came in with relatively low expectations and was pleasantly surprised!... Read more Read less

See it if Broadway performers perform throwback songs to a simpler time when "only" problems were nuclear war and Russians.

Don't see it if You're looking for deep meaning.

See it if I dislike writing bad reviews but this really was one of the worst shows I have seen in a long time.

Don't see it if Fortunately it's already closed

See it if you want to see a revival. This show is too dated for me. The actors were good & some of the singers were also good, but nothing stood out.

Don't see it if looking for something to wow you. The actors were talented, but the story is too dated.

Also A show that was suppose to last 1 1/2 hours was over 2 1/2 hours due to an incident at the theater. The initial comedian that came on stage, I didn't find funny in his first act, but liked his material the 2nd time (which was not planned, but just a time filler. ) It's hard to have a comedian start a show, since if you don't like them it sets the tone for the rest of the show. The show is quirky. I got a lot of the references, but not all of them. My friend I took, was completely lost in the story and references.. So this is def a show for an older generation.... Read more Read less

See it if You feel nostalgic for the 1980s.

Don't see it if You hate gimmicky revues with comedians opening the show and directors obnoxious introductions. Let the work speak for itself.

Also Show is as dated as Grease reunion. Too tired, lame, and stale, as material does not hold up. Just got lucky with cute Julia Claire as comic opener. Director Neiden's ego prompted his unnecessary intro. Derek Ferguson was the show's high energy smurf. William Michals terrific as Stiff and on WDUL. Lainie Munro was fine as lone female. McVety a convincing Pres. Love the yogurt pretzels and jelly bean snacks. Show did not need a remounting. Elderly comped crowd.... Read more Read less

See it if You are left wing, remember the 1980s nuclear freeze movement, like time capsule plays. Like political satire in stand up and song form.

Don't see it if You don’t enjoy left-wing humor. Mind dated references. Songs that are pretty good but not great some build problems during the show.

Also Show has a left-wing comedian open mine had Justin Williams and I thought he was pretty good. He had to do an extra set due to a delay and he did a great job keeping us happy while we waited. The show is not overly mean spirited so I think the broad satire basically still works. I will say some of it is very dated and so if you are not older or very historical it might go over your head. I think as to relevance that’s complex to say. I think they view it as relevant because it was sticking Reagan another Republican and Trump is a Republican. However looking back the nuclear freeze movement was overreacting and Reagan wasn’t a warmonger who was unwilling to negotiate. The world didn’t end and the USSR went to the dustbin of history not the world. Maybe people are overreacting now. We can only hope and vote.... Read more Read less

See it if You like comedy

Don't see it if You enjoy dramas.

See it if you like SNL format/comic skits - watching a musical version live, up close & almost personal. The opening comic act by guest is addl treat.

Don't see it if you don't like political jokes, some dated themes, & a non conventional theater venue but the great talented cast is worth checking it out !

See it if You like musicals that poke fun at politicians and deal with serious issues (like WW III) in a funny way.

Don't see it if You don’t like silly musicals or won’t understand the 1980s references. It’s still enjoyable, but it could use some updating.

See it if You remember the 80's arms race and want to laugh about it. Or just to see incredibly talented comedic performers in dark & fun musical.

Don't see it if you dislike skits packed with goofy comedy (literally,) and comedic song and dance. Too young to remember the Reagan years or nukes.

See it if You want an intimate setting with snacks from 1984, a funny pre show and well written and preformed show

Don't see it if You are looking for a flashy big scene

See it if You like Tom Leher-style songs, sung by good performers; and can tolerate a dated "plot" about a nuclear holocaust.

Don't see it if You don't like cartoon-ish characters

See it if you like obscure revivals, musical revues and dark humor

Don't see it if you expect "production values" in the above

See it if you like satire, pastiche, political humor, revues

Don't see it if you need a linear storyline and complex character development

See it if you like political satire (eased by being Reagan-era, not Trump-era) smoothly delivered by five top actors in musical revue-skit format.

Don't see it if you don't like watching people sing, dance (a little), and impersonate recognizable (as types) political and media personalities.

Also The five Equity actors are almost always all on stage together, and do a great job of singing and swinging as a team, with a couple of numbers featuring outstanding solo singing as well. The dialogue's smart, and the actors are fun to watch. At the same time, there's the impact of thinking about war, thirty years ago or now.... Read more Read less

See it if well versed in Reagan's nuclear stunts (Star Wars, SDI etc.), remember the fear of nuclear destruction, like satirical, small musicals

Don't see it if you want something about today's political climate, a bigger show, a warm venue

Also Each show starts with a different stand-up comic and I really enjoyed Justin Williams. The cast members were very talented and totally committed to their characters. The church venue made it feel like a high school production. The unexpected delay at intermission (maybe 45 mins instead of 15) made it feel like the show was the intermission and the rest was church social but that isn't likely to happen at future shows.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a friendly, ultra-sincere revival of a yesteryear satire revue, smartly contrasted with contemporary stand-up

Don't see it if You're looking for a narrative plot, or a polished production (fwiw, I thought the lack of polish made this all the cooler)

Also Five talented and funny actors take on a really silly set of scenes in a church. The audience sits at cabaret-style tables with yogurt pretzels and red, white & blue jellybeans. The piano player makes like four costume changes for no reason other than for the joy of it. And the playwright introduces the show!
The production is eager to please on all levels and, with a community of people this game, it succeeds.

Also, there's a song where Goofy sings about the causes of death at different radii outside a nuclear blast. This is a memory my friend and I have already decided we'll cherish and take to our graves.... Read more Read less