February Trip - Help Rank These Shows

I'm headed to NYC the weekend of February 9, and I've got a handful of shows I'm considering. Looking to get input from the board on my current list. I'm planning on seeing three shows over the weekend, and I've got a trip planned in March as well - most of this list can't wait until then since the shows I'd like to see in March will make it simply impossible for me to catch everything I'd like to. Here's what I'm looking at, listed in the order I've currently got them prioritized:

1. SpongeBob - looking at grosses and the discussion in that thread, not sure I want to put this one off

2. The Band's Visit

3. Jerry Springer the Opera - Really enjoyed Terrence Mann in Pippin

4. Latin History for Morons

5. Once on this Island

6. Farinelli and the King - Know very little about it, but Mark Rylance!

Since I mentioned March, the candidates for that trip include Carousel, Angels in America, Lobby Hero, and Good for Otto. I may only have room for 1-3 shows on that trip. I may be back again in April to see the Brewers play the Mets, but I'd shoehorn in a show or two then as well.

As always your insights are appreciated!

SpongeBob is really the only one I can personally recommend on your list (I did not see Jerry Springer, though)... Latin History for Morons and Farinelli and the King were two of my least favorite things this season. Latin History was poorly executed, offensive, and just awful. Farinelli and the King was terribly written, anachronistic, and meandering. While I personally did not care for The Band's Visit and Once On This Island, I would recommend either of those over the two plays I just mentioned.

The Band's Visit is amazing and echoing what others have said a must see at some point. If you have the time I would highly suggest it. Great music, interesting plot, and a great cast.

Can't speak for the other ones expect Latin History for Mormons. The best way I can describe it is it's basically John Leguizamo seemingly going off a few pages of notes for two hours. I know it's scripted and all but that's what it feels like. It's aimed at Latinx people and has a good amount of jokes you have to speak Spanish to understand. It's fine overall but it tried to be educational, about family, and funny and it kinda did meh at all of them. Not bad if you're looking for a cheaper show but I wouldn't suggest it if you're offended by racial humor and things along those lines. Or if money is not a consideration.

My husband and I recently saw both Once on this Island and Spongebob SquarePants.

We enjoyed Once on this Island more than we were expecting to. The staging was unique and immersive and the cast was quite good (the actors playing Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian were particular standouts). We went in without much advance knowledge of the story and were pleased to discover that the show does not end with a trite, fairy tale wrap-up (i.e., despite the "we're telling this story to a child" structure, this is not an Anastasia-like cartoon show).

We saw Spongebob SquarePants with friends who had already seen it and encouraged us to do so. Unfortunately, I can't say that we share their enthusiasm for this show. The principal cast is very strong with some great vocal performances (the girl who plays Pearl being a standout) and nice choreography, but in the end we thought it was essentially a theme park show with eight times the budget and eight times the running time. Virtually nothing happens, plot-wise, in the entire first act; that hour is simply a series of "I'm so-and-so and this is my take on life" numbers for each of the main characters. There is mention of a looming disaster for Bikini Bottom, but nothing is actually done about it until the second act. Even with the BroadwayBox discount code ($99), we didn't feel it was worth it. Also, we went on a Friday night and the place looked like a day care facility; I've never seen so many kids in a Broadway theatre in my life.

Updated On: 1/31/18 at 09:22 AM

delanemb said: "I will be in town next week and have Saturday free and was thinking of trying for rush tickets for Come From Away or The Band's Visit. Reviews for both have always been glowing but for someone from KY and one chance to see the show which would be recommended?

Seeing DEH on wednesday matinee and Waitress friday night."

I haven't seen The Band's Visit yet, but do have tickets to see it in June.

I've seen Come From Away twice and would happily go again. I like it better than Dear Evan Hansen and feel that it should have won Best Book and Best Musical at the Tonys.

delanemb said: "I will be in town next week and have Saturday free and was thinking of trying for rush tickets for Come From Away or The Band's Visit. Reviews for both have always been glowing but for someone from KY and one chance to see the show which would be recommended?

Seeing DEH on wednesday matinee and Waitress friday night."

If you want to see another crowd-pleaser along the lines of DEH and WAITRESS, I would recommend COME FROM AWAY, without question. I also liked THE BAND'S VISIT, but I enjoyed CFA much more.

I can't speak for the plays but --

1) Once on This Island is beautiful. I've seen it twice, and I'm looking to go back soon. The whole production is incredible. The immersive elements are stunning, and the cast does such an incredible job bringing this show to life.

2) I actually wasn't a huge fan of Spongebob or TBV but I would probably pick TBV over Spongebob. TBV is subtle, and relies a lot on the silences, which I thought there was too much of. I loved the music of the TBV though, and the cast is great. As for Spongebob, it was fun for a bit, and I liked some of the music, but none of it felt very cohesive -- I felt like there was really no strong plot. Wesley Taylor as Plankton was great though.



(OH -- and CFA is AMAZING. One of my favorite shows currently open!)

Quick update - my trip has begun. I was going to go with Jerry Springer if I won the lottery or The Band’s Visit with a cheap ticket via stubhub for tonight’s slot, but I hedged and entered the SpongeBob lottery and because I’m a glutton for punishment I guess, The Parisian Woman. As it happens, I won all three!

I am going with SpongeBob as the lottery thread has me optimistic about the potential seat location and it was a must see for me (Thanks, Wesley Taylor). TBV is still fairly affordable for the remainder of the weekend so it’ll continue as #2, while Springer will probably sneak in there if I win the lottery again. OOTI seems plausible for Sunday with that dynamic pricing they’re using.

yesraccoons said:

“Can't speak for the other ones expect Latin History for Mormons."

Well this is my favorite typo of the day!

Skip23 said: "Wait - you can TOTALLY go wrong with THIS cast of Carousel.

"

I’ll bite. Why?