Come Far Away or Groundhog Day

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/6/17 at 11:31pm

Hello, I only have one night in New York City and I can't decide which one to see Come Far Away or Groundhog Day. Please advise.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 6/6/17 at 11:36pm

Come From Away. There's nothing like it on Broadway and it's a gorgeous and inspiring piece of theatre.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/6/17 at 11:38pm

They are pretty wildly different shows, you have no opinion either way?! Hmm, do I want to see an optimistic one-act 9/11 musical or a more cynical, funny existential comedy... I'm not sure anyone can answer that one for you. People will have opinions about each, but it seems like with shows that different, you should have some gravitational pull towards one more than the other. If not, why pick from those?!

[Rainah]

Posted: 6/6/17 at 11:39pm

You have to give us more info than that. What other shows have you enjoyed? What shows have you disliked, and why? 

Otherwise, listen to the cast recordings, read the summaries and make a judgement call. They're both good shows

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/6/17 at 11:47pm

Come From Away has the critics charmed and threatens the front-runners for the Tony Awards. It is also warm and life-affirming. Groundhog Day is more a carefully crafted theme-park ride - with something for everyone: cynicism, hedonism, romance, redemption. Either show is money and time will spent - so in that sense you can't go wrong. As with most things in life, make a choice and then commit to it.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 8:46am

I enjoyed both tremendously. Either way, you'll likely leave the theatre with a smile and a warm heart.

[Dave13]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 8:57am

Seen both.  I would give the nod to Come from Away. It is a great show.  For some reason, I didn't care for Groundhog Day as much as others.  

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 9:04am

Groundhog Day has IMO the much superior score and a remarkable performance by Andy Karl. The show however has some structural problems especially in the second act.

CFA is tightly focused, but IMO the score is not as memorable. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 9:10am

Groundhog Day. I loved Come From Away as well, but I enjoyed Groundhog Day more because I think it has Andy Karl and (in my opinion) a superior score.

[kellyhallo]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 10:48am

I loved both shows but, if I had to choose one, would go with Come From Away.

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:03am

Thank you all for all your input.  Based on all the replies I will see Come From Away. I'm sure Groundhog Day will tour and will see it then. Have a good day and be safe. and dont forget Tony this Sunday!

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:08am

NO contest, DEFINITELY go see GROUNDHOG DAY. You'll never see that performance or staging anywhere else, even when it tours. CFA you can see anytime with any cast, without noticing the difference as much. And their set is a just a bunch of chairs. Andy Karl's performance is definitely worth seeing, so memorable that people will remember it for years to come. 

[10086Sundays]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:10am

Personally, I have my doubts about Groundhog Day touring.  If it does however, it would be a very different show from what's on Broadway.  Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can say if I'm right or not, but I don't see how they can afford or logistically tour with 5 turn tables. It's not Hamilton and won't be able to do months long stretches in each city.

Regardless - Come From Away is a good choice and please come back to let us know your thoughts on it.

ETA - What theaterdude2 said.  Darn my slow typing skills.

Updated On: 6/7/17 at 11:10 AM

[theaterdude2]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:17am

That's exactly why I suggested Groundhog Day. Even if it tours you won't see all the cool staging on display at the August Wilson Theater ever night. Add in Andy Karl and it's win win.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:21am

I think you should see Glenn in Sunset BLVD.---but between those 2, Come From Away was definitely more enjoyable to me. Although it feels like regional theater, the material is much better than Groundhog Day, which feels like a boring Universal Studios' attraction.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:28am

Hands down GROUNDHOG DAY.  A musical with sets, costumes and Andy Karl's performance.  Love traditional musicals.  

COME FROM AWAY bore me to no end.  It felt and sounded like an SNL skit and it just needed Cecily Strong doing her spot-on obnoxious contemporary musical theatre musings to make it even more complete.  It just felt like really bad community theatre trying to be Off-Broadway and theatrical.  

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:46am

wow. so right once they start touring they will downsize and will not see the total package.  With chairs as props for Come Far Away, it can wait. so for now I go with Groundhog Da. I must add I saw him in Rocky and recently On the Twentieth Century. He is class on his own. Never saw the movie to which it was adapted on ... so ... I am in for a treat. Thank you all. with so many to choose from it is not easy.

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:48am

I meant Andy Karl .... 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:49am

I've never heard of Come Far Away. Is it good? Play, or musical?

[HSky]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:51am

I love both of them but CFA is a tougher ticket at the moment, so that may be a consideration, too.

[theatered100]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 11:54am

I saw both and loved both, even though they are different in so many ways. (Ensemble piece vs. great lead Andy Karl, almost no set vs. very artistic set, etc.) I found Come From Away tremendously moving and Groundhog Day fun and nicely touching.

You can't go wrong either way. Have a great time!

[Comden Green]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 1:43pm

I have to agree with those here who endorse Groundhog Day.   And for the same reasons.  This production will have to be changed dramatically for a tour.  Andy Karl won't be in it.     Even the stunts will probably change.   This Is your one chance.   

I loved the music and even the ideas presented (if one cares to pay attention to those things).    So much to think about in the hours and days after you see it. 

One quibble.   I had listened to the cd before I saw it and was surprised that the audio in the show was not as easy to listen to.  Glad I knew the lyrics before I saw it.  It would have missed out of some.  

[A0326T]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 2:00pm

thank you all. It will have to be Groundhog Day. I do hope the Tony will spread its love and give some to GD. Perhaps the Tony for Andy!

[sparepart973]

Posted: 6/7/17 at 2:26pm

Definitely Groundhog Day!

Great score, innovative staging, and intellectualized approach to musical storytelling. 

Come From Away sounds like Lord of the Dance, and was too much of a crowd pleaser. And there's no plot. Or lead. But if you're into ensemble shows..