Enter Laughing or Marvelous Wonderettes?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 8:47pm

I'm going with my dad to NYC next week and we would love to see an Off-Broadway show. I narrowed it down to Enter Laughing or The Marvelous Wonderettes. Which one would you choose? I'm also open to any other suggestions regarding other Off-B'way shows.

Thanks!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:20pm

I haven't seen The Marvelous Wonderettes, but I did see Enter Laughing on Wednesday evening and didn't care for it at all...a pointless, stupid show that should never be revived. However, it did get across the board rave reviews (in its last run at the York) and audiences are loving it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 9:59pm

I saw Wonderettes for the second time today. I had seen it on my own back in September and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to give my mom a ticket for Christmas. And today was the day I took her. She LOVED it as well. Laughed through the whole show. I don't know how old your father is but if the music of the 50's appeals to him I'd really recommend the show. The songs are recognizable and the book is utterly delightful.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 10:12pm

I have seen Wonderetts twice. My voice teacher is one of the understudies in the show. (Or as they call them there "wonderstudies".) And she is going on this weekend. As much I want to see her go on this weekend I don't know if I can.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/24/09 at 11:51pm

maybe i need to go see Wonderettes...

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 1:43am

Enter Laughing was painful to sit through (as are most shows at the York Theater). I was bored sick and found it extremely dated and very unfunny. A very long 2 hours 30 minutes in the theater. Felt like sub-par community theater, like something you'd see in a church basement. The quality of the acting was quite inferior and I never once felt anything for any of the characters. Don't understand the critics' raves at all for this show.

On the other hand, I loved every second of The Marvelous Wonderettes. I loved all the 50s and 60s songs; the plot with some minor audience participation was quite fun too. Highly recommended. All the women dress in different color dresses (the yellow girl, the green girl, etc). Look on their web site and I'm sure you'll fall in love with this show as much as I did.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 1:52am

I loved "Wonderettes." It's a great show, and I'd recommend it. The girls can SANG. They were belting their t*ts off and I loved it. Also, the show just has great production values and is pretty well conceived. You'll enjoy yourself.

I haven't seen "Enter Laughing" and after reading the reviews on this board, I really don't have any desire to see it. Are the production values even good?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 11:15am

I feel like I need to stick up for Enter Laughing. I saw it this week and absolutely loved it. I may have been laughing at it a little more than laughing with it, but it was such a fun night. (I enjoyed myself MUCH more than at Will Ferrell the night before.)

Sure the book is silly and some of the songs have a Cry-Baby-esque camp to them, but I will definitely go back for the performances. Bob Dishy seems like he's having a great time up there and Marla Schafel is hilarious.

I haven't seen Wonderettes, but I would recommend Enter Laughing to anyone looking for a fun time!

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 11:55am

I think both shows are terrific, so the real thing to consider is if you and/or your father have a strong connection to girl group pop music of the 50s and 60s. "It's My Party," "Leader of the Pack," "You Don't Own Me," etc. Wonderettes is entirely made up of this music, and it's not much of a show if you don't know the songs.

If you're unfamiliar with them, go see Enter Laughing.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/25/09 at 1:27pm

WithoutaTrace - I think you need to as well
Be Marvelous!