IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T

[hachot]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#1

Posted: 2/15/15 at 1:43pm

Friend coming into town next weekend and want to see a Broadway comedy. The only three I see playing are "It's Only a Play", "A Fish in the Dark" and "You Can't Take It With You." Enjoyed them all in varying degrees...which would you recommend?

[ethan231h]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#2

Posted: 2/15/15 at 2:24pm

YCTIWY

[bfreak]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#2

Posted: 2/15/15 at 2:42pm

I haven't seen any of them, but most of the posters say that You Can't Take It With You is great and It's Only a Play has its moments but is overall pretty bad, especially one particular performance (cough, Broderick). Fish in the Dark looks like it should be funny since Larry David is always hilarious, but it's gotten some mixed buzz on here, and is a VERY tough ticket to get into right now.

[dramamama611]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#3

Posted: 2/15/15 at 2:49pm

You've seen all three and still don t know what your friend would like?

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[Seperite]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#4

Posted: 2/15/15 at 3:19pm

You Can't Take it With You is brilliant. Particularly amazing that they took an 80 year old script and, with phenomenal directing and acting, made it seem entirely contemporary, timely, and hilarious.

It's Only a Play is one joke repeated throughout, and will be particularly unsatisfying to someone who doesn't have knowledge of and appreciation for theater.

Fish in the Dark is weak. Larry David is Larry David, so there are some decent lines and humorous moments interspersed throughout, but overall it is not a good play. It elicits chuckles, not hilarity.

You Can't Take it With You, hands down. Not even close.

[newenglandgal]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#5

Posted: 2/15/15 at 6:46pm

I've only seen You Can't Take It With You and that was barely a month ago. I have to say I loved it ! I loved it so much I actually bought another ticket to see it again on that same trip.
It is such a great comedy that is so applicable to how to live your life today, yet it is decades old. That speaks volumes for the adaptation of the play.
I would run to see this one again !

[JPeterman]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#6

Posted: 2/15/15 at 10:55pm

I have seen You Can't Take It With You and It's Only A Play. I liked them both. I laughed my butt off in It's Only A Play, but my wife thought it sucked donkey b-lls.

I think your decision is simple. If your friend is a big theatre buff, maybe someone who spends way too much time online on Broadway - based message boards (I don't know anyone like that), they will probably appreciate all of the theatre-centric humor in It's Only A Play. If they are not a huge theatre fan, then I would definitely not pick It's Only A Play.

If your friend is a huge Larry David / Seinfeld / Curb fan, maybe someone who's online message board Name is a fictional character from Seinfeld (I don't know anyone like that), I would pick Fish In The Dark. If your friend is not a huge Larry David fan, they will probably not like it too much, based on what we have all heard about it so far.

So, to summarize, I think that if your friend is not a huge theatre buff or a huge Larry David fan, pick You Can't Take It With You.







Updated On: 2/16/15 at 10:55 PM

[South Fl Marc]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#7

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:00pm

I'm a huge theatre buff ... take them to "You Can't Take It With You". ""It's Only a Play" is a so so play marred by another TERRIBLE performance by Broderick. "You Can't Take It With You" is a great play that is being done beautifully by a perfect cast.

[Mr Roxy]

IT'S ONLY A PLAY, FISH, or YOU CAN'T#8

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:05pm

Donkey Balls?

Fish to me sounds like one extended Curb episode. If your wife is not a fan, I would stay away. This is especially true as those who have seen it on the board have not been kind in their reviews

YCTIWY looks & sounds good but I have not seen it

Saw It is only a play & enjoyed it. To me it is between the last 2 mentioned. YCTIWY is a classic. Play is basically an ode to the theater . Hard to choose

Good luck

Poster Emeritus