Should I See Something Rotten or Waitress?

[fnm1106]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 8:55pm

I'm seeing a show for my birthday soon, but I can't for the life of me choose which one. I've been listening to waitress and I love it with all of my heart -- it's my favorite musical right now. I absolutely love Jessie Mueller, and I'd love to see her as Jenna. 

Then again, Something Rotten is closing soon, and I've only heard great things. I've heard it's hilarious, and a huge blow out show (which I adore -- I've found that my favorite parts of musicals are when I'm overwhelmed it all), whereas Waitress is more of a feel good show. I'm really at a crossroads. Help! 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 9:21pm

"Waitress," no contest.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 9:33pm

Love Something Rotten but absolutely Waitress. 

[suzycat]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 9:33pm

They are both great. Will you have another opportunity to see Waitress? If so, go for SR. Based on your taste, SR is not to be missed. Hopefully Waitress will be around long enough for you to see it next time. 

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 9:35pm

Waitress, hands down. 

[@z5]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 9:43pm

SOMETHING ROTTEN! Waitress was good, but very generic and annoying at times. Something Rotten is one of the most unique and brilliant pieces I've seen. Such a fun time.

[CassandraReads]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 10:41pm

Something Rotten! Smart, fast-paced, funny!! Especially if you know a little Shakespeare and a little Broadway! I've seen it 3 times and will see it again before January. Loved Waitress, too, but SR is just fantastically fun!! 

[mpkie]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 10:53pm

Something Rotten. The Waitress was really ho-hum.  My friends who wanted to see the Waitress were really gungho about it, I came out not liking it (can spot the entire plot a mile away), and my friends were extremely lukewarm about it. We were a group of six with varied tastes, backgrounds, and varied theater experiences, and... none of had anything in particular that we liked about it.

Meanwhile, I loved Something Rotten. Absolute riot. Highly clever and refreshing. And I have a huge soft spot for wordplay.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 10:58pm

Waitress. Jessie Mueller's performance alone is worth the price of admission. Something Rotten is a lot of fun in the first act, but it loses momentum in the second and becomes a bit of a chore to sit through. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:06pm

I didn't love either of them, and, in fact, put them on par with each other.  I'd still pick Waitress, however, as it packs an emotional punch.  SR is just one joke, which does get thin.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:15pm

Having seen both, I'd definitely recommend Waitress. The score is stronger and Jessie Mueller is NOT to be missed. at all.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:17pm

I haven't seen Waitress yet, but I have seen Something Rotten. 

So I recommend Waitress.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:43pm

Waitress. Something Rotten!  is one of my least favorite things I have seen on Broadway in the last few years.

[BakerWilliams]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:59pm

Skip them both and go see something better off-Broadway for less money.

I'd recommend Sweat, Finnian's Rainbow, Master Harold and the Boys, Love, Love, Love, Plenty, Sense & Sensibility, Afterplay, The Roads to Home, Vietgone, and She Stoops to Conquer

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 12:01am

Waitress, if you don't want your IQ to drop over the course of two and a half hours.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 12:06am

CindersGolightly said: ""Waitress," no contest."

Amen to that!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 12:08am

Something Rotten is much more original. Waitress is cute, but very generic and annoying at times like someone else mentioned.

[mmFan]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 6:13am

I'm surprised of the negative comments. We happened to see both of those on our trip this past June and loved them both. It depends on your tastes. Something Rotten is one if the funniest musicals I've seen. Great music, and cast (but different cast now so can't comment). There are lots of references to other musicals so if you don't know many, some jokes may go over your head. Waitress has serious content but done in a lovely way also with great music and cast. I actually listen to both CDs regularly.

If I had to pick one? Not even sure. Guess it would depend on my mood.

[kreichelt]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 7:58am

Loved Waitress.  Truly disliked Something Rotten.  As in, for the first time ever, wanted to leave.  Just juvenile and not funny.

So if you're picking between the two, definitely Waitress.

[djoko84]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 8:17am

Something Rotten was amazing. Waitress was good. I enjoyed every second of Something Rotten. You must go see it.

[mcsquared]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 10:52am

Why do you have to choose? Make a day of it and do one in matinee and one in evening. Or if you're coming from out of town, Something Rotten will be going on tour soon while Waitress will be in another season.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 11:30am

Yes but you'll presumedly miss Jessie Mueller and Christopher Fitzgerald  if you wait (though their understudies are simply outstanding along with the rest of the cast)  and the original cast is mostly gone from SR already. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 11:33am

How "into" theatre are you? If you have a general understanding of musical theatre history and popular scores, you'll have a BLAST at Something Rotten. It's obscenely hilarious. If you're more of a mild theatre fan, though, then Waitress is also great. Can't go too wrong either way, but give due consideration to Rotten! since it's closing and just really, really funny.

[GhostXmasPast]

Posted: 11/4/16 at 7:51pm

Both are great shows!  With the impending closure of "Rotten" - could you not delay Waitress and see Rotten before it is gone?

If you must choose only one - Waitress is the way to go.

[hork]

Posted: 11/5/16 at 12:01am

I haven't seen Something Rotten, but I have seen Waitress. 

So I recommend Something Rotten.