Fiorello! NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (76)
See it if you want a classic musical with a great score, beautifully staged, acted and sung with a great young energetic cast and small effective band
Don't see it if you don't like sweet musicals evoking an iconic figure with style and sass
See it if You like nyc history and great music
Don't see it if You like big productions
See it if I wasn't familiar with this musical even though it had won awards. Excellent production.
Don't see it if A little corny but mostly in a good way.
See it if You want to see a lesser known show by Harnick and Bock.
Don't see it if you dislike old-fashioned musicals
See it if Charming distillation of a classic. Audience chatter: I came to hear 'Little Tin Box'; have they done 'Politics & Poker'? Cheers for BTG.
Don't see it if If you're not interested in this aspect of our NYC, political, musical history.
See it if You want to see a seldom produced show that's really an old gem. Like watching a classic black and white movie.
Don't see it if You can't appreciate a show on a shoestring. The music is a little on the light side with just a piano and a violin but voices are 1st rate.
See it if you need some 'uplifting' this political season (!), enjoy old school shows, enjoy NY history and want to leave the theater smiling
Don't see it if you can't sit in a small seat for 2 1/2 hours or have zero interest in the (wonderful) fiorello laguardia
See it if A classic, enjoyed seeing it again all these years later, historical, some wonderful singing and memorial songs, infomative. Leave humming.
Don't see it if You dont like small theater productions, summer stock feeling, but still a memorable enjoyable play.
Critic Reviews (34)
"A rewarding evening—but one where you may find yourself making allowances...It’s still a gripping political and romantic tale...And, bless us all, it’s all punctuated with the music of Jerry Bock and the lyrics of Sheldon Harnick...It’s a youthful cast, sometimes disconcertingly so...Director Bob Moss might want to encourage his cast to dig down deeper into characterization...Berkshire’s 'Fiorello!' plays like a good college production of the show."
Read more
"Despite some good performances and charming moments, 'Fiorello!' suffers from a dated book, while the songs seem repetitive...The production is too peppy, given the darker elements of the story. Austin Scott Lombardi does his best as Fiorello, and he has his moments. But the musical feels like a summer-stock production by college students just eager to put on a show."
Read more
"It seems an ideal time for New York’s first fully staged revival of 'Fiorello,' a musical that celebrates a politician who walked the walk and talked the talk...A confident Austin Scott Lombardi leads the cast of 20-something actors, wearing the suspenders of the 'Little Flower,' a half-Italian, half-Jewish, 5-foot-2 politico...The BTG’s transfer is sweet, lively and timely."
Read more
"Moss’ adroit staging fits nicely into the intimate confines of the space, as does Michael Callahan’s often bouncy choreography...Where Moss apparently succeeded most importantly is in guiding his cast into performances that abound with confidence and bravura. What he can’t give them is the seasoning and depth that generally come with experience, the kind of seasoning that the script and many of the musical numbers demand to be fully realised."
Read more
"The idealism underpinning Abbot and Weidman’s original book is heightened by this very young cast. It’s fun to watch these youthful performers take on New York stereotypes of old usually fleshed out by seasoned character actors, but each of these 'kids' is of fully developed voice, so the wonderful songs with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick get the full expression they deserve."
Read more
"Taken what is in essence an old-fashioned and somewhat creaky show and whipped it up into a sprightly and engaging concoction...What makes this 'Fiorello!' even more winning is the fresh-faced group of twentysomethings who comprise the show’s talented cast. It’s a wonderfully appealing group...As for the show itself, its main attraction as a piece is the splendid score...Quibbles aside, this is a production that no fan of classic musical theater will want to miss."
Read more
"There are marvelous songs and excellent performances in this production that make it worth seeing. The period costumes, choreography and sets will impress you. Some of the bad accents will make you cringe. However, it is not every day, every year, or even every decade that you get to catch a full-scale production of 'Fiorello!' So I highly recommend you take this opportunity to see it. Sure, it's far from perfect but you will still have a very good time and be glad you went."
Read more
"The cast of 'Fiorello' was young, attractive, eager and talented, but not polished...The movement seemed forced, particularly since Michael Callahan's choreography throughout the show was mediocre and the dancing not very good. Bob Moss's staging is fluid and effective though everyone needed more character work...Worth seeing if you've never seen 'Fiorello' or if, like me, you love the score and were hungry for a revival."
Read more