NYC play advice
 

I could no longer plan a trip without the help of all of you. We will be in NYC for 4 nights and hope to see 4 plays.

I thought it might help if I listed plays I've seen and whether I liked them.

Mamma Mia! - Las Vegas – liked a lot
Movin' Out – NYC – OK
Avenue Q – Las Vegas- liked
Wicked – Chicago – had trouble hearing
Monty Python's Spamalot – Las Vegas – not wild about
Jersey Boys – Las Vegas – really really liked
Mary Poppins –Indianapolis- loved sets- disappointed in changes from classic movie
In the Heights – NYC - really liked
Billy Elliot the Musical – NYC - really really liked
Rock of Ages – Indianapolis - not wild about
Memphis –NYC - really liked
Million Dollar Quartet - NYC – felt it was slow until the end
Anything Goes NYC. liked
How to Succeed. Nyc. Just ok to me
War Horse. Nyc. Really liked
After the rainbow NYC. Really liked
Priscilla. NYC. Just ok.

We saw the last 5 last year upon everyone's advice.

I'm thinking Peter and the star catcher and Once, but need a couple more ideas. I was sorry that we didn't have time for those last year, when I watched the Tony awards.

Peter will be even better now that it is back off Broadway where I saw it.

You don't mention when you're traveling and a lot of new plays are opening.

As far as what's already on (including in previews), I would recommend 'Matilda' and 'Vanya and sonya and Masha and Spike.'

Avoid 'Breakfast at Tiffanys.'

I didn't love 'Cindarella' because of the changes in the plot, but it did get decent reviews.

Peter is a good choice.

DD and I saw "Once" last month during our short visit. It's not a "traditional" musical, but we really enjoyed it. The musicians are onstage the entire show (not in a pit)and are part of the story. Before the show starts you can have a drink with them (we did not arrive early enough to do this). You can also go onstage at intermission to buy a drink (the set is a pub in Dublin). It was funnier than I thought it would be and the performances were wonderful. No big dance numbers. The same set is used throughout. It won 8 or 9 Tonys last year including Best Musical.

Thanks.

I'd read elsewhere about Peter moving and we wil have to figure out how to get there.

CP girl we are enroute. Thanks for the tips on Matilda and Vanya et al. I had been wondering about Matilda as a friend was planning a trip in order to see it, but I hadn't heard of the other show.

Musician. I wouldn't have thought about going early to Once. Thanks for the info.

Highly recommend Matilda. Good article in the times this weekend about "will it be the next big hit?". Regardless, right now the actors who play Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey are from the west end production -Bertie Carvel won the Olivier award for his performance, so I was thrilled to see him. I loved Once but if you are short on time, consider Peter and the Starcatcher (which I also loved) instead, only because Once is already scheduled to tour-though there is nothing like seeing it on Broadway!

Previews for Pippin started this past week. So far early reports are pretty much raves. Andrea Martin has stopped the show every night with a standing ovation -- pretty much unheard of on Broadway. I'm anxious to see this one in May.

By the way, I saw Vanya, et all, at McCarter just before opening in NYC. One of the best and funniest plays I've seen in years. LOVED it. But if you don't like "silliness" you may not.

I saw "Pippin" in Boston, and I loved it. And Andrea Martin deserves the raves, she's the best part of the show. This is a new production, which is no longer using the Bob Fosse choreography, but is done with acrobats and dancers and a sort of cirque du soleil flavor (the choreographer did work with Cirque, among other similar groups).

Another vote for Vanya etc. A bit of fun in these grim times.

Gwendolynn - if you want great fun, see David Ives' 'All in the Timing' at 59E59 extended until the end of April. It is totally original, clever and you will forget grim times!

Many thanks for the tip!

Peter, check.
Once, leaning towards

Can only pick 2 of Vanya, Matilda and Pippen. Thoughts?

Since your initial list is all musicals ( with the single exception of War Horse), I wonder if seeing both Vanya and Peter could be a mistake for you if you just aren't into over the top comedies or farce. I know some people aren't, but don't know about you. Would you prefer Pippin or Matilda or both? Maybe. Maybe not.

Thanks. It's hard to know what someone else will like! Otoh the advice I've gotten here has been spot on to help me pick previous shows.

I didn't like Spam a Lot much and wonder if Vanya would be similar. I did like Funny thing happened on the way to the forum.

I hadn't thought about my list being primarily musicals. I do go to playa too, but just local or regional productions, I guess.

Hard to compare the musical, Spamalot to the non musical, Vanya.

Got ya. I guess I was thinking of the British humor. I saw it long enough ago that I don't remember details except that the humor wasn't to my taste.

We now have tickets to Once for tonight and Pippen for tomorrow night. We still can fit in a Wednesday matinee.

Looks like Matilda is out as it doesn't have a Wednesday matinee.

We enjoyed Peter last night and are looking forward to the next show.

If you enjoyed Peter, I'd think you'd REALLY enjoy Vanya, etc.
I'm 99% sure it will be available for tomorrow's matinee at TKTS.

If you want a big splashy dance musical, you might get Newsies at TKTS as well. I got a great "house seat" two weeks ago for the matinee there.

Oh my goodness, we are back from seeing Once.

It was my first choice in the tkts line and when we got to the front, the cashier said there was only one ticket left. Fortunately, she changed that to three singles and quickly put in for two of them before they were gone.

The pauses of Once seemed as important as the messages between the pauses. I don't think it would have come over as well in the huge venues of Broadway Across America. It is now a new favorite. I loved it.

We stopped by box offices to get tickets for Vanya and Pippen for tomorrow. I used the broadway box coupon codes.

We saw Newsies last year while it was in previews. I especially liked the dance with newspapers.

The tkts people (the ones answering questions while you stand in line) told someone near us that the family oriented shows are all selling out and not going to them due to spring break.

What are the house seats?

Apparently Once sells standing room only seats. I was in the back row of the main floor and about halfway through realized that there was a while line of people behind me.

There was a recurring joke in Peter that I didn't get. it was similar to the ttfn which I did understand. it had something to do with STAR, I think. Guess I need to read the book.