Posted: 10/26/18 at 2:59pm
Coming to NYC soon and have seen the majority of musicals out now. I know these are all totally different types of shows. Curious for feedback. Thanks.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 3:03pm
Posted: 10/26/18 at 3:11pm
The Band's Visit. Without question.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 3:13pm
Posted: 10/26/18 at 3:13pm
I would definitely cut out Summer, but the other two are more difficult to decide between and come down to personal taste. Yes, Band's Visit is the superior musical and has the accolades to prove it. But it is certainly not a piece for everyone. Its much slower paced and lacks a traditional narrative structure with a clear "ending," but I personally found it refreshingly different and beautiful.
Mean Girls is a big dumb musical with mediocre, but definitely catchy, songs and some decent jokes sprinkled in for good measure. I actually liked the book scenes more than the songs and was looking forward to them ending so I could hear more of Tina Fey's writing. It's fun, especially if you like the movie, but Band's Visit feels special in a way Mean Girls isn't.
Essentially, you're looking at two very different nights of theater. If I were to pick one to see again, it would be Band's Visit.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 6:22pm
The Band's Visit, absolutely. It's small and special and incredibly moving. In my opinion, Summer is kind of tacky and boring, and Mean Girls has some clever dialogue but is incredibly mediocre otherwise.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 9:32pm
The Band's Visit is in a completely different league than the other two.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 10:22pm
I don't think this question can be answered without knowing anything about you.
If you are a 10-15 year old gir (and maybe boy) l... Mean Girls is your ticket.
I found it the least interesting of the three but but I am not a 15 year old girl.
Band's Visit is the most high brow of the three and did win the Tony Award. But it is a small musical and you have to know that going in and be ready for it. If you like a good intimate musical than Band's Visit is your ticket. If you like to see the gap bridged between Israelis and Egyptians in a unique way. than this is your ticket. But know it very unlike a typical Broadway Musical and is very low key.
Now Summer the musical is probably the most entertaining of the three even though its flawed in many departments. For example the book is embarrassingly bad and seems thrown together but the performances and songs are so top notch that they kind of make up for it. It has the best music of the three and if you remember Disco. than this is your ticket. It also has the bang for you buck in terms of spectacle.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 10:27pm
Personally, I really didn't like TBV. I know that this is an unpopular opinion because the show has received praise, but I just did not feel the way most people felt. Of the three I would recommend Mean Girls because it is the only one of the three I like.
Posted: 10/26/18 at 10:28pm
Posted: 10/29/18 at 4:38pm
Thanks for all the input. We are a suburban baby boomer couple visiting from Boston. Had to delay the Band's Visit for another time with a different theater companion. I think it might have been too slow and quiet for my husband. He tends to like big bold musicals. I like a broad range. Ended up with Mean Girls. It was fun enjoyable fluff or a rainy Saturday. Then saw the Prom on Sunday due to the responses on this board. Extremely enjoyable and would definately recommend over Mean Girls.
